MMA League enters a new era with “Cage Contender”

The 2011 calendar year is almost at an end - and a newly-announced partnership between the guys at the Irish MMA League and Cage Contender means 2012 is already shaping up to be bigger and better.

There is some pretty big news before the Irish MMA League kicks off its 2012 Season on 3 March in Loughlinstown Leisure Centre in Dublin. It seems 2012 will herald a new era for the MMA League as they enter into partnership with Cage Contender, Irelands largest MMA Promotion.

Since its inception in 2003 the MMA League has been the starting point for many of Ireland's top ranked MMA Fighters. Champions like Owen Roddy, Chris Fields and Tim Murphy all began their MMA journey at the league. Over the years many of the country’s other stand-out fighters have featured too, including John Walsh, Clive Staunton, Paddy Holohan, Stephen Coll and John Redmond.

Under this new partnership agreement the winner and runner-up in each 2012 Veteran division will be automatically selected to enter a marquee "The Ultimate Fighter" style Cage Contender Fight Night event which will be held later in the year.

Much like "The Ultimate Fighter" there will be two teams of fighters mentored by different coaches and at the end no fewer than three prize packages will be handed out by Cage Contender.

Each prize pack includes three semi-pro fights on full "Cage Contender" events in 2013 plus a choice of two sponsorships which will include Fight Wear, Training Gear, Supplements, Career Mentoring and Sports Psychology.

MMA League's Mark Leonard said, "This is the most significant prize we have ever been able to offer fighters in the League's history. We created the League to give Irish MMA Fighters a sandbox to get some experience and begin to understand what it means to fight in the most exciting sport in the world.

"It’s a great source of pride for the League that so many of our alumni go on to become the big names in the sport and this partnership with Cage Contender will make that progression from League Champion, to full rules fighter, to Pro Champion even more seamless."

John Ferguson of Cage Contender added, "This partnership is about helping build the future of Irish MMA competition from the grass roots up. The MMA League is where many of our top fighters have taken their first competitive steps in the sport and we are proud to be able to add some value to the sterling work that Mark Leonard and his team do at the league. If it wasn’t for the league I have a real fear that we would lose much of our upcoming talent to other martial arts.

"The concept is that at the end of 2012 the winners from each section will be in one team mentored by Mark and his chosen guest coach and the runners up will be in a second team mentored by myself and my guest coach. These guys will then match off with each other in a semi pro rules fight night. We will then ultimately choose a minimum of three fighters to receive Cage Contender prize packs."

If you'd like the chance to be the next Contender, check out the MMA League website for more details.