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Tap Out League: MMA Season Play
 Billionaire Telecom Magnet, Casino Mogul Set to Take Over World of MMA  New Tap Out Promotions partner Carlos Slim appears at a recent charity event with Columbian superstar Shakira and Howard Buffet, son of billionaire financier William Buffet. July 1, 1997 by Willie Makit Las Vegas, NV --The sport of Mixed Martial Arts was turned upside down this week as several of the world’s largest fight promotions were acquired by Las Vegas, NV-based Tap Out Promotions. Alpha-1, of Japan and GAMMA,of Las Vegas were amongst the biggest names in this sweeping move by the newest player on the international MMA scene. Tap Out Promotions is a jointly owned partnership between casino mogul Steve Wynn, and Carlos Slim---the billionaire Mexican telecom magnet. Slim, unknown by many to be a self proclaimed ‘huge’ fan of MMA is said to have approached Wynn about joining forces---with Wynn leading the way to arrange venues for future contests in Las Vegas and Slim heading up the multi media efforts. The first clues as to what this powerful partnership might be up to came to the surface only recently, when rumors began to spread about a financially limitless organization that was seeking to make a splash in the MMA world. MMA has long been cast in America as a niche, almost novelty sport—and no threat to enter the mainstream conscious as apart of the ‘big 3 sports’ of professional football, basketball, and baseball. In Japan, however, the sport has become wildly popular with fights often organized in stadiums of 30,000 and more. Though efforts to bring MMA to the American masses over the last decade have had a moderate level of success; attempts to bridge the gap to the sporting mainstream have failed. While reasons vary, the general consensus amongst sports fans is that it is simply too expensive to be a fan. A typical MMA pay per view event runs $50.00, and shows are often criticized as under-produced and badly organized. The newly formed Tap Out League, or TOL, plans to bypass this past criticism by featuring only the best fighters in the world (gleaned from the ranks of Alpha-1, GAMMA, and SIGMA to name a few) in a format that promises important matches every week, and on the best format for mass consumption---cable television. A television deal with the USA Network has rumored to have already been signed for the new league. The same effort is also under way in Mexico, Japan, and Europe with Slim using his vast connections and wealth to likely spearhead the operation. In a short press release today, Tap Out explains further the difference between the proposed Tap Out League, and the MMA-industry standard: “The Tap Out League consists of just one weight class—heavyweight fighters ranging from 186 pounds and up. While other weight classes could be introduced in the future, there are no immediate plans to do so. The TOL will be a season-based MMA league. Fighters will be challenged throughout a series of fights, including two season-ending tournaments in which a champion will be crowned. This means that every fight counts. There will be no endless strings of contender vs. can fights that have been so rampant in the industry. No more will you have a 20-0 fighter who built that record on the backs of inferior opponents. In the TOL, you earn your record---and a shot at a title-- against the best fighters in the world.” Certainly, the collection of talent this new organization has at its disposal is staggering to anyone familiar with MMA. Hassan Fezzik, the undisputed best fighter in MMA history is onboard along with familiar names like Yamada, Napier, Foster, and Hughes. In all, the top 10 pound for pound fighters in the world are all accounted for. “What they have accomplished is really remarkable. By acquiring these promotions, they control the current contracts, and likely the future contracts of the biggest stars in MMA. This means they can essentially set up any dream matchup you can think of---Fezzik vs. Oktay, for instance.” remarks Ned Charles, host of the weekly MMA radio program the ‘Big Cat Show’. He continues: “ The biggest thing they have done here, aside from capturing all of the talent—is to find a network willing to put them on the air week in and week out. Plus, they have resources that most promotions could only dream of---the idea of an MMA-season has been thought up before but no one had the money to gather that much talent or pay for that many fights in so short a time. This is a first.” It is expected that a large raise in pay for all the fighters, and even a collective bargaining agreement (a definite first for the sport) are in the works to ensure that the best talent flocks to the new league. What is unknown is if a change in format, and the impressive collection of talent, will be enough to change the minds of the American public---but for MMA fans, this promises to be a great ride. The TOL's inaugural season is set to begin next January. Last edited by vonpike : 06-27-2009 at 09:10 PM. 
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#2
06-24-2009, 12:31 AM
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 The Tap Out League (TOL) is a newly formed MMA league focusing exclusively on heavyweight fighters. 32 of the best fighters in the world have been selected to compete in a full season of MMA competition that is capped off by divisional tournaments, and finally a league playoff that determines that season's champion. That season's champion remains champion, uncontested, until the conclusion of the following season's playoffs. The are 4 divisions of 8 fighters each, each named for important MMA figures: Lee Division - Named for Martial Arts legend Bruce Lee. Some consider Lee the 'spiritual' founder of the sport of MMA. Lee was known for skillfully blending multiple styles in his fighting, best summarized in his own words: "The best style is no style, the best form is no form,". Gracie Division - Named for the famous Gracie family. The Gracie brothers, Carlos and Helio, staged some of the earliest MMA events in Brazil during the 1920's. Blatnick Division - Jeff Blatnick, a former Greco-Roman wrestler and Olympic gold medalist, is credited with coining the term mixed martial arts and helping to develop rules for the sport. Inoki Division - Antonio Inoki, of Japan, was a pioneer of mixed martial arts and faced many opponents from all dominant disciplines of combat from various parts of the world. His 'strong style' method of fighting is credited as the foundation of modern shoot wrestling. Each fighter will compete in 5 contests against others in his division. The 4 top fighters, as determined by win/loss record, will move on to the divisional tournament. The 4 divisional winners then move on to the league playoff--a single elimination tournament that will ultimately decide the season champion. Tiebreaker fights will be used to determine tournament spots should fighters have identical win/loss records at season's end. During season play, a match involving two fighters who have been eliminated from tournament contention will serve as a prelim for fights with tournament implications. Each fighter is guaranteed 5 matches each season. The bottom fighter for each division will be removed from the league at the end of the season. Initial division roster assignments were created in a two step process: 1. The top 10 fighters in the league, as determined by the Blurcat rankings, are split between the 4 divisions. The top 4 fighters each head a division, then the 5,6,7, and 8 fighters are assigned in the same order. So you have the #1 & 5, #2 & 6, #3 & 7, and #4 & 8 fighters distributed amongst the division. To help in balancing the 3-7 and 4-8 divisions, with the stiffer talent found in the first two divisions, the #'s 9 and 10 fighters are added. The next best fighter available is then added to the 2-6 division. Clear as mud? 2. The remaining roster spots are randomly assigned. At the end of each season, fighters who have finished at the bottom will be replaced with new call-ups. The Top 4 fighters will return to the same division, while the final 3 spots are assigned randomly. If a fighter becomes incapacitated, or is otherwise unable to appear for a fight, a replacement fighter will be assigned for that match. The match's outcome will still be reflected on the absent fighter's season record. If a fighter misses more than 2 fights in a row, he will be replaced for the remainder of the season. Divisional schedules are determined by random drawing and publicized at the beginning of each season. Alpha 1, GAMMA, SIGMA, XCC, and the BCF will be used as farm systems for future Tap Out League talent. Underperforming fighters (including the bottom 2 of each division) will be sent down after the season if a suitable replacement is believed to exist. Season length is determined by fighter recovery times, and is therefore constantly in flux. It is expected, however, that a typical season will run around 18 months. As for in game considerations (popularity, finances, etc.)......many of these WMMA2 features are going to be ignored in favor of maintaining the structure of the league. My justification would be that in real life, something like this would go over well enough that fans would be ok with a sub-par fight every now and then. Financially, we've established that money is no object. The league is essentially a pet project of two extrordinarily wealthy men who have decided that instead of buying baseball teams, that they would just create an entirely new sports league. Of course, this is in 1998. In 2009, this might be considered foolish. You have to love fantasy. Up Next: Division Assignments Last edited by vonpike : 06-26-2009 at 01:45 AM.
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#4
06-25-2009, 12:48 AM
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As for Ortiz and Shamrock......well there are plenty to choose from. I'm open to suggestion. Also, remember that this is a more or less alternate universe. So while I am open to suggestion about the names, try to not be too hung up on them either. I just figured it would be better than naming them the 'Blue' division or 'Western' division. Previews and more tomorrow. Last edited by vonpike : 06-25-2009 at 12:55 AM.
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#6
06-25-2009, 05:10 PM
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#7
06-25-2009, 11:56 PM
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Gracie Division Preview
 Roster: #1 Hassan Fezzik #5 Kunimichi Kikuchi Duke Aiona Sylvester Collins Mark Cohen Jack Cobblepot Norbet Vinkus Rick Stanley Summary For seven TOL fighters, winning the Gracie divisional championship is a tall order because of one man: the undefeated, and undisputed top fighter in the world, Hassan Fezzik. Fezzik is this league's presumed Babe Ruth. 26-0 in his professional MMA career, Fezzik presents few weaknesses for other fighters to attack. A talented striker, Fezzik is also the most dominant fighter on the ground in the TOL. If he gets you to the ground, your night is likely over. Kunimichi Kikuchi---a MMA superstar in Japan--- is no stranger to Fezzik's prowess, having lost to him 2 years ago in a 2nd round TKO. But that experience should prove valuable now, and Kikuchi may be the only fighter in the division who has a chance against Fezzik once the fight goes to the ground. The 35-year old veteran Mark Cohen may win some fights, but looks generally out-classed in this division in terms of ability and weight. Favorite Hassan Fezzik, by a mile. One to Watch Sylvester Collings is a relative unknown, and the only fighter in the TOL who does not come from one of the big-time promotions. However, Collins is no stranger to hard hits after a 7-year NFL career as a linebacker with the San Diego Chargers. A solid ground game is Collins' main weapon, but his footwork and solid punch give him a well rounded attack. Whether or not NFL toughness can translate to success in the TOL is yet to be seen, but Collins should certainly provide a challenge for those fighting him. Next Up: Lee Division Preview Last edited by vonpike : 06-26-2009 at 01:18 AM.
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#8
06-26-2009, 12:24 AM
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Lee Division Preview
 Roster: #3 James Foster #7 Zvonimir Asanovic Tim Boyer Tony McCall Elgar Tank Manu'a Marvin Stevens Christopher Sharp Summary: The Lee Division is notable for a general lack of skilled ground fighters, save a couple. US fan-favorite James Foster represents a problem to fighters like Zvonimir Asanovic, Elgar and Tim Boyer whose limited ground games will be a huge liability against a world class wrestler like Foster. Foster's biggest challenge may come from NCAA Division 1 wrestling national runner-up Christopher Sharp. Sharp's striking skills are unfortunately not as well developed, but if he can get close, protect his head, and get the to the ground....he might surprise you. The Lee Division is also notable for being the only division having a roster of nothing but traditionally heavyweight fighters. Favorite James Foster has the advantage in a division that doesn't feature a lot of wrestling or ground talent. He is also likely this division's best chance at a league title. One to Watch Zvonimir Asanovic possesses the ability to end a fight quickly with the incredible KO power in his strikes. If he can keep Foster standing long enough, it would not be a surprise to see Asanovic take him out. Next Up: Blatnick Division Last edited by vonpike : 06-26-2009 at 01:30 AM.
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#10
06-27-2009, 06:22 PM
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 Blatnick Division Preview Roster Tadamasa Yamada Jin Katou Terron Cabal Khru Duangjan Fautama Roy Harry Milne Linfield Ballard Palmer Lette Summary: The Blatnick Division sports a smaller line up than the other divisions, with several natural light heavyweight and smaller heavyweight fighters on the roster. The star of the group is Tadamasa Yamada. Yamada is the best light heavyweight in the world, and isn't looking at any huge gaps in weight against other fighters in this division outside of Palmer Lette, who dwarfs everyone here. He's an adept kick boxer, and that will be a great asset in a division that sports mostly up close fighters, save Linfield Ballard. Jin Katou won't meet Yamada in the regular season, but it would surprise no one to find him fighting against his fellow Japanese comrade for the division title. Katou is a complete fighter, with KO power in his hands, and supreme skill in submitting opponents on the ground. At 17-0 in his professional MMA career, Katou has yet to find his equal in the octagon; a divisional championship between Katou and Yamada would be a PPV-worthy event. As mentioned before, Palmer Lette is the lone mountain of the division, typically fighting at 265 lbs, but likely to fight closer to 280 lbs. here where there is no upper weight limit. The long round format of the TOL means that Lette will really need to go for the early win, as his weight will present a cardio problem if the fight persists. With an exciting group of fighters, this may be the most entertaining division to watch this season. Favorite Tadamasa Yamada is the early favorite, but this division sports a wealth of talented and dangerous fighters---Yamada will have a tough time conquering this group. One to Watch Jin Katou is undefeated and surpremely confident in his abilities. You can bet that he is burning up to face Yamada, who has overshadowed him in Japan thus far, despite a record that includes a loss. A win against Yamada in the division finals would do a lot to change that. Next Up: Inoki Division Last edited by vonpike : 06-27-2009 at 09:14 PM.
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#11
06-27-2009, 06:28 PM
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The updates are coming a little slow I know, but I just completed the schedule for the season, and of course having to do some graphics work on the divisional banners takes time too. Once the season starts, should be able to pump the updates out a lot quicker.
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#12
06-28-2009, 03:08 PM
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 Roster Neil Napier Raul Hughes Gunaar Nilsson Carter Potter Grzegorz Boniek John Rivero Lefter Oktay Leon Banks Summary: The Inoki Division will perhaps be the most competitive division in the league. Sporting fighters of all sizes and fighting styles, no one fighter looks to be the dominant favorite. Neil Napier, a natural middleweight fighter, has bulked up to 210-pounds for TOL competition. The added weight will make his fearsome ground game even more dangerous. Combined with an unmatched cardio fitness, Napier will be at his most dangerous in the late 2nd and 3rd rounds when his opponents are likely to be getting sloppy in their takedown defense. He'll face a stiff test early on this season against former boxing champ Raul Hughes. Hughes is 14-1 in MMA competition, which is remarkable considering his general lack of basic MMA skills. You won't see Hughes taking anyone down, or showing much fight on the ground. But so far, he has shown an adept ability to keep the fight standing, allowing him to lower the boom for the win in 9 of his 14 victories. Lefter Oktay, the freind and protege of Hassan Fezzik, will be interesting to watch. Sporting a similar style to Fezzik, Oktay is dangerous on the ground--he has submitted 11 of his 14 opponents for the win. Carter Potter, the New Zealand import, is a wild card in this division. At 15-5, he's not green, but is still a relative unknown in mainstream MMA circles. sporting a unique take on Jiu-Jitsu, called 'New Zealand Jiu-Jitsu', Potter is tough on the ground--but also more than able to stand and trade blows with anyone in this division. He'll be a tough customer for whomever he faces, especially if the fight goes for any time--Potter is a regular in triathalon competitions. The Inoki division is wide open this season, and certainly will be worth watching closely. Favorite Napier has to be considered the favorite on paper, but in reality there are several that could lay claim to the division. You can take your pick: Napier, Hughes, Potter, Oktay.....any of these guys are more than capable of coming out on top. One to Watch Lefter Oktay will finally have a chance to step out from the shadow of his mentor. MMA-fans would love to see a Oktay-Fezzik matchup, and whether Oktay can make this happen in a tough division will be must-see TV all season long.
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