In this corner: the IFL, the first team-based mixed-martial-arts league—and they’re trying to show the UFC how it’s done.
Who’s the toughest guy on the planet? The year-old International Fight League is waging a battle to find out. We asked Bas Rutten, an award-winning fighter and IFL Battleground cohost, what makes mixed-martial arts so sick.
What’s the difference between the IFL and the UFC?
IFL fighting is in a ring instead of a cage, which makes for better technique. Also, you can see better becausethere’s no fence in the way. And we took one minute off each round because now the fighter can think, Hey, one minute less—I can throw out way more energy.
What makes an IFL fighter so hard core?
He needs to know boxing, judo, wrestling, and tae kwon do. I enjoy it when a mixed-martialarts fighter knocks someone out with a straight punch to the face, and then with a kick to the head, and then hits him in the body, and then uses, like, a leg lock and a choke—truly showcases what he can do.
Do many of the fighters come from the armed services?
MMA is very popular among the troops. You’d be surprised how many troops in Iraq are training at it. When they come back, it’s not a big step. It’s like, “Hey, I’ve been to Iraq, what’s going to hurt me here?� People say MMA is a tough sport—no, it’s those guys over there who are tough.
By Raegan Johnson
