WCL Fighters

[Cla68]

On the fighter biographies' page of the World Combat League website (Chuck Norris' new professional, sport MA organization), it lists several male and female competitors who appear to be active in regional and national kickboxing and other MA competitions. The site is at: http://www.worldcombatleague.com/fig...hies/index.asp.

Is anyone here familiar with any of the fighters listed there?

[Dennis Monk]

I have seen Pete Spratt fight in the UFc and other MMA venues.

[Iron Monkey]

On the fighter biographies' page of the World Combat League website (Chuck Norris' new professional, sport MA organization), it lists several male and female competitors who appear to be active in regional and national kickboxing and other MA competitions. The site is at: http://www.worldcombatleague.com/fig...hies/index.asp.

Is anyone here familiar with any of the fighters listed there?

Yes I am familiar with the WCL, over the weekend I went up to Atlantic city with my sifu for the Action Martial Arts Magazine Hall Of Fame. It was a good three day thing friday, saturday and sunday, during a expo, there were some people there, who were talking about the WCL. They did not have any dvds but they had some video clips on a big screen, one of them said they don't know when they will be having dvds but they said they are trying to close a deal with spike tv.

[Cla68]

I hope they do get a deal with Spike or someone. From what I saw of the clips on the WCL website it looks like it will have some good action. Because of the way their rules are structured, I imagine the WCL may get a reputation as the "professional high-roundhouse-kick-to-the-head" league.

[Iron Monkey]

truth be told in my own saying I like it better then the ufc.

[Cla68]

Based on anecdotal, very unscientific opinion surveys I've conducted (my family and friends), it seems that stand-up fighting as a spectator sport may have more fans than grappling does. If this is true, and the WCL can develop some "names" like K-1, Pride, and UFC have done, then I think it has a chance at staying around for awhile.

One thing I noticed in one of the promotional clips on the WCL website- it shows historic footage of Chuck Norris from one of his kickboxing tournament matches executing a seoi nage on someone. However, his WCL rules don't allow this technique, or any throws, grabs, or sweeps at all for that matter. Someone who saw that promo might think that they could see throws in the WCL, which as the current rules stand, they can't.

[Iron Monkey]

I agree 100%

[jjaje]

People laughed at Walker Texas Ranger when he started that. It was one of the most successful TV shows ever aired and he chose to end it after 10 years when ratings where still high.

In my teens and college years, I used to hit every Chuck Norris movie as soon as it hit the theaters. I never got a chance to watch Walker very much mostly because of the night it was on and I don't watch much TV. However, I remember being at Thanksgiving dinner at my Brothers house, and his wife's aunts were discussing Walker, and were wondering whether Walker would ever marry the D.A. lady. These women wouldn't know an armbar from a side kick. It was there I realized the show appealed to more than just Chuck's chop-socky fans.

[jjaje]

Like anything else the WCL needs Product and Marketing to determine it's success. It is an interesting idea, I'm not certain if there will be different team owners in different cities or what the set up for that is.

Seven fighters doing two three minute rounds. That's 42 minutes of fighing. Seems like they shouldbe able to do the whole event in 90 minutes or less. I'm not sure how beer sales will be in those venues.

One downside I see right away is that since they are taking individual competitions to make a team, the team owner withthe most cash should be able to put together the best team.

The video showed a "Detroit Desperados" - I'd go to an event to watch it. I prefer to watch boxing and kick boxing over grappling - but that's just me.

I hope it does succeed, I don't think it would be bad for the martial arts.