You may realize that on this blog i tend to focus on the organizations which perpetuate the growth of Mixed Martial Arts. Typically people tend to disregard anything relating to the promoters (look at the state boxing is in) and tend to simply focus on the fighters. I however know this is a very crucial time in the short history of MMA, and that the reigning top tier org's are now really getting a run for their money. Like in football with the merging of the AFC and NFC, there are numerous organizations merging and making shared contracts with fighters, bringing giants together.
If you have been reading this page, you will notice that the UFC (with their recent acquisition of PRIDE) is the top dog in the MMA world. Their roster is deep in almost all weight classes, and despite controversy regarding their LW (Light Weight) division and its current title holder, Sean Sherk as well as Ultimate Fighter Reality show (which is considered to be a serious hinder to the weight classes and fight making), they are riding high currently.
My last post dwelled on the rising organization, Hero's produced by K-1 Kickboxing. It seems a few other organizations are riding on the coattails of Hero's however, and i will list them below and why they are a threat to the supremacy of the UFC*:
1. IFL - The International Fight League has recently made some new TV deals and is establishing its place in MMA culture. They have a good roster of fighters, however the team aspect and the coaches (which are all MMA legends by the way) is what really makes this organization and its approach to mixed martial arts interesting.
2. ProElite - The entity behind numerous organizations such as ShoXC, EliteXC, King of the Cage, SpiritMC, and Combat Sport. They also have recently acquired Cage Rage and have strong partnerships with Strikeforce.
This massive collection of organizations has established an incredible
talent pool featuring some of the most interesting and desired fighters
in the sport today. Some of their most famous fighters are: Nick Diaz, Ninja Rua, Robbie Lawler, Charles "Krazy Horse" Bennett, Joey Villasenor, Mayhem Miller, Frank Shamrock, Cung Le, Paul Daley, and Duane "Bang" Ludwig.
3. StrikeForce - With the partnerships with ProElite and its surrounding companies, this company is offering "super-fights" between organizations and has a good talent pool including Gilbert Melendez, who is arguably the most dominant lightweight fighter on the planet. With the resent addition of Renato "Babalu" Sobral, their heavyweight division now has a little bit more depth, but the fans are still left with some desired talent. This company may be able to establish itself as a credible top-tier competitor with its deep ties to ProElite.
4. Hardcore Championship Fighting - Recently this organization was completely unknown, but some life has been pumped into it with the recent additions of Aleksander Emilianenko and Antonio Rogerio (Lil Nog') Noguiera. Also the organization has established a shared contract with Strikeforce, allowing fighters to switch cages and bring together big fights. For a new company they are definitely taking the right steps into becoming a force in the Mixed Martial Arts world.
If you have been reading this page, you will notice that the UFC (with their recent acquisition of PRIDE) is the top dog in the MMA world. Their roster is deep in almost all weight classes, and despite controversy regarding their LW (Light Weight) division and its current title holder, Sean Sherk as well as Ultimate Fighter Reality show (which is considered to be a serious hinder to the weight classes and fight making), they are riding high currently.
My last post dwelled on the rising organization, Hero's produced by K-1 Kickboxing. It seems a few other organizations are riding on the coattails of Hero's however, and i will list them below and why they are a threat to the supremacy of the UFC*:
1. IFL - The International Fight League has recently made some new TV deals and is establishing its place in MMA culture. They have a good roster of fighters, however the team aspect and the coaches (which are all MMA legends by the way) is what really makes this organization and its approach to mixed martial arts interesting.
2. ProElite - The entity behind numerous organizations such as ShoXC, EliteXC, King of the Cage, SpiritMC, and Combat Sport. They also have recently acquired Cage Rage and have strong partnerships with Strikeforce.
This massive collection of organizations has established an incredible
talent pool featuring some of the most interesting and desired fighters
in the sport today. Some of their most famous fighters are: Nick Diaz, Ninja Rua, Robbie Lawler, Charles "Krazy Horse" Bennett, Joey Villasenor, Mayhem Miller, Frank Shamrock, Cung Le, Paul Daley, and Duane "Bang" Ludwig.
3. StrikeForce - With the partnerships with ProElite and its surrounding companies, this company is offering "super-fights" between organizations and has a good talent pool including Gilbert Melendez, who is arguably the most dominant lightweight fighter on the planet. With the resent addition of Renato "Babalu" Sobral, their heavyweight division now has a little bit more depth, but the fans are still left with some desired talent. This company may be able to establish itself as a credible top-tier competitor with its deep ties to ProElite.
4. Hardcore Championship Fighting - Recently this organization was completely unknown, but some life has been pumped into it with the recent additions of Aleksander Emilianenko and Antonio Rogerio (Lil Nog') Noguiera. Also the organization has established a shared contract with Strikeforce, allowing fighters to switch cages and bring together big fights. For a new company they are definitely taking the right steps into becoming a force in the Mixed Martial Arts world.
Other Orgs. Worth Mentioning
ROTR (Rumble on the Rock)
Shooto
*I did not include the WEC (World Extreme Cagefighting) in my list, due to the fact that they are owned by the UFC, despite their popularity.ROTR (Rumble on the Rock)
Shooto
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