New MMA Promotion, World Fight League, Update - It’s stupid as hell
It’s been a few years so yet again we have ourselves a new fight organization trying to get in on the billion dollar business that is MMA. The “Commissioner” and founder of the organization, Darren Owen, spoke with Ariel Helwani today. For those who don’t know, Owen has been associated or founded other fight promotions such as WSOF Global, Aggression MMA (Canada), and the WSOF Canada.
Here’s the weight classes for the inaugural season, which “should” start in February 5, 2023. Super bowl Sunday.
It’s going to be a team based MMA organization with the first season featuring 192 fighters. They want each team to have 3 fighters per weight class. That’s 24 fighters a team and 8 teams overall if my math checks out.
Currently the promotion has 0 fighters signed as they’ll start reaching out on January 1, 2022. From the sounds of it, they want to NFL-ize MMA? So instead of 1 card on February 5th, we’ll be getting 3. Also one on Monday night. Events are planned for Florida, Texas, and Nevada. They have no broadcasting deal.
So based off the Owens’ interview, this is going to be a shit show.
First off, 192 fighters? That’s like 1/3 of the UFC’s roster. Are they all going to be fighting? Are the 3 fighters per weight class for injury replacements or are they all competing regularly?
Their first show isn’t til February 2023. If a fighter signs up with them on January 1, 2022, do they have to sit on the shelf for the entire year? Can they fight on a regional show? Are they on exclusive contracts that ban them from going to the UFC should they get that last second call to fill in? Who’s going to sign away a year of their career? What’s the pay structure for the fighters? Are they salaried? Do they have to negotiate 192 contracts in a year? Who’s on your team helping you do that? What does the team format lead to? A playoff? Just an overall leader at the end? Is their a prize incentive?
Why are you doing an interview when you’ve got no partners in place? Why are you asking for networks to reach out to you in said interview? Who is going to sign with you when you don’t have a broadcasting partner? Because that partner is how you make money and pay your talent?