The International Fight League has announced additional changes for the 2008 season, chiefly concerning its rebranded logo and graphics as well as the addition of Bas Rutten (Pictures) in a newly minted position as vice president of fighter operations.
IFL President and CEO Jay Larkin was very forthcoming about the changes to the team concept.
"When I came on, there were teams here called Anacondas, Razorclaws, Pitbulls, Dragons, Scorpions," he said. "As an observer before I joined the organization, I felt that those teams were contrived and I learned later that a large majority of the MMA public agreed. We had teams with contrived names fighting out of cities that they had no connection to, in cities that neither team was from. So that did not make for a strong basis for fan support. It became irrelevant."
The IFL hopes that future events will be similar to December's Grand Prix, in which some of the promotion's best fighters were allowed to meet and provided a much more entertaining experience for fans. By allowing camps to challenge other camps and by keeping an open-door policy for fighters outside of the IFL, the matchmaking should improve significantly.
A challenge, however, will be keeping audiences in tune with which fighters are associated with the IFL, especially now that fighters won't be wearing team jerseys.
"It's about the fights, not about the lights," Larkin said. "So that's our mission: to get the best camps and the best fighters."
Larkin also discussed the expansion role for Rutten, who has been involved with the IFL since day one as a commentator and a coach. "For us to be successful, we need an icon in that leadership role and there is no one in MMA that has the experience, has the personality and the love of the fans like Bas Rutten (Pictures)," he said.
Rutten was even more succinct in his explanation of how he will benefit the IFL. "I just have really good connections with every fighter," he said. "The only thing I have to do is pick up a phone."
Rutten will continue his duties as commentator and will also be allowed to keep working on HDNet's "Inside MMA." Former IFL Commissioner Kurt Otto is still on board, but with the addition of Rutten as an executive, Otto's role will change to the self-explanatory title of matchmaker.
The top priority for the IFL, which begins its 2008 season Feb. 29 at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, is securing a television partnership. Fox Sports Net has renewed its partnership with the IFL, but the promotion is still hoping to find a network that will air IFL events live.