The Official Irish MMA League has returned and will have its first event in the Kingfisher Sports Centre, NUI Galway, on 12 March.
Created in 2004, the MMA League allows amateur fighters to build experience and test their skills before graduating onto bigger shows.
League owner Mark Leonard has announced a host of changes for the 2011 season, beginning with a rule change. In this year’s League, strikes to the head will no longer result in immediate disqualification as had been the rule, accidental or otherwise.
They will now be handled in the same manner as other illegal strikes, for example, a groin shot. The first round in Galway will see the rule adopted on a trial basis with the view to making it permanent if it benefits both fighters and referees taking part.
“This is a major change to one of the fundamental tenets of the League and while I am quite nervous about it, I think it will have a positive effect on the competition,” said Leonard. “I looked at feedback from all the events and on how I think the League has changed over the years, I decided that we can keep the event safe and fun, without being as strict as we once were.”
Side League
Next up, the MMA League has partnered up with a new sponsor, Ultimate MMA Supplies and finally, Leonard is going to run a side-line league for the clubs of fighters competing in the League. “I will begin tracking how many points each club has earned after round 1, and the winning club at the end of the year will be awarded a mega prize for their gym.”
The eagle eyed MMA fan will have spotted that the opening League fixture in Galway clashes with Cage Contender VIII in the National Basketball Arena in Dublin. But you won’t have to choose between the two and Leonard himself will be working at both.
“I have fighters on the Cage Contender card and I have no doubt that I can make it up in time to corner them, so that is a guarantee that the League will run off faster than ever before,” said Leonard.
John Ferguson, Cage Contender owner, has donated two tickets to Cage Contender VIII, which will be presented to “Fighter of the Day” at the League.
Fergus Ryan
