Archive for the ‘IFL’ Category

Ian Freeman to take Brits into IFL

Tuesday, December 5th, 2006

Found this on MMA Universe. Not the most factually accurate article in terms of Freeman's achievements (we know he beat Mir, but it wasn't for the title).

I think it's great that the Brits are getting a team in this. I really do like the team format.

The International Fight League (IFL) today announced the beginning of expansion into Europe by naming world champion Ian Freeman as the coach of the IFL’s English team, which will begin participation in the IFL in 2008. The English team will begin training and participating in IFL activities later this year.

"We are very excited that Ian Freeman has decided to become the first of what we expect to be several IFL entries from various countries in the next few years," said IFL co-founder and commissioner Kurt Otto. "The United Kingdom has fervent support for fight sports in general and is a growing hotbed for MMA, and we are proud to be able to begin to establish our European base with Ian and his athletes."

"Being a part of the team concept that the IFL has put together is an honor for me," Freeman said. "The UK is the perfect starting point for the league in Europe, and I am looking forward to working with, and competing against, some of the sports greatest legends as well as training many of its future stars."

A former boxer, "The Iron Ambassador," is arguably one of the most popular figures in the fight game in Europe. He began his MMA career training with world champions (and now fellow IFL coaches) Renzo Gracie and Marco Ruas and competed in amateur vale tudo before turning pro in 1999. He steadily gained notoriety, eventually taking the UFC title over Frank Mir in front of a record British crowd at Royal Albert Hall in July 2002. Freeman has trained, coached and competed in various organizations over the past few years, most recently taking the British Light Heavyweight title from Mark Epstein in September 30, 2006.

The addition of a team in the UK now brings the total of teams outside the United States to three, with more teams expected to be named in the near future. The Sabres, based in Tokyo and coached by Antonio Inoki, and the Dragons, based in Toronto, Ontario and coached by Carlos Newton, have already begun play and will be part of the IFL inaugural 12 team season that will begin in the first quarter of 2007. The final two entries for 2007, which will both be United States-based, will be announced shortly, with the full 11 date IFL schedule to follow.

Talk about Ian Freeman and the IFL here. 

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More than 150 hopefulls tryout for Ken Shamrock’s fight team

Friday, December 1st, 2006

MORE THAN 150 HOPEFULS PARTICIPATE IN TRYOUT FOR KEN SHAMROCK’S
INTERNATIONAL FIGHT LEAGUE (IFL) 2007 LIONS TEAM

Talented Athletes From Across USA On Hand; Team To Be Determined In
Coming Weeks

RENO, Nev., November 29, 2006- The International Fight League, the
world’s first team-based professional mixed martial arts league, and MMA
legend Ken Shamrock, head coach of the new Nevada-based Lions team,
today conducted an open tryout, with more than 150 athletes vying for
spots on his eight-member 2007 squad. The event, held at the Stadium Sport
and Fitness Club lasted more than six hours, with athletes at all five
official weight classes going through numerous drills and sparring in
several mixed martial arts disciplines.

“I was impressed with not only the depth of talent in the attendees,
but also with how many of the guys showed the desire and ability to
learn and work within the team framework,” said Shamrock. “Skills and
talent are important, but I’m looking for those guys that will be
willing to do the things that make a team successful, while knowing that
they can be the best and aren’t afraid to go out and prove it. I saw
a lot of that in the gym today.”

Shamrock will be reviewing the grades and notes he and his coaches took
on each athlete, as well as video of the session. He noted that he
would be determining his roster in “about a week or two.”

While many of the athletes came from as far away as Honolulu and
Harrisburg, Pa., several of the Reno-based contenders also impressed.
“B” Niimi, 33, got a long look, continuing to be called late into the
lightweight division drills, and was excited for the chance to test his
mettle against top competition. “This was a great opportunity to come
out and train with some of the top fighters in the world,” he noted.
“It was a fun thing to do.”

Shamrock met with athletes at each weight class, first giving a
synopsis of how the tryout would be conducted, then emphasizing the importance
he placed on teamwork and always working hard in determining the best
candidates for him. That was not lost on veteran MMA athletes like John
Gunderson, 27, of Medford, Ore., or relative newcomers to the sport
like Herbert Goodman, 29, of Green Bay, Wis., a former running back for
the NFL’s Packers.

“Training under Ken Shamrock was exceptional because he is one of the
icons of this sport,” said Gunderson. “The training was stern and
he definitely wanted us to work hard. I think that’s what attracted
so many elite guys to an event like this.”

Goodman concurred. “[Shamrock] brings so much experience, he
instills such confidence, you know he can mold you into the kind of fighter he
wants, and that it will bring out the best in you.”

Shamrock will select five starters and three alternates to complete the
Lions squad. He indicated that spots will be contested each year at
similar tryouts, with those surviving the tryouts going up against the
incumbent Lions for spots on the team the following year.

Shamrock’s Lions, competing for the first time as one of 12 IFL teams
competing in the 2007 season, will open on January 19 at the ORACLE
Arena in Oakland, Calif., with a match against his brother Frank
Shamrock’s Razorclaws, beginning at 7:30 p.m. Each IFL team will compete in
three matches during the regular season (January through June); the four
with the best records advancing to the postseason (August, September).

 

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