MMA promotions and 'The Art of War'
Is there any doubt that the World Fighting Alliance (also known as the WFA) plans to directly challenge the UFC and become the dominant promotion for MMA in America? First, the WFA signaled its seriousness when it signed Quinton Rampage Jackson to fight Matt Lindland in the revived promotion's first card. That was quickly followed by an announcement that former UFC champion Bas Rutten would make a comeback to fight Kimo Leopoldo in the same card (which also includes Lyoto Machida, Ricco Rodriguez, Jason "Mayhem" Miller, Vernon "Tiger" White, Ivan Salaverry and Ron Waterman).
When you couuple the high quality fight card with the investment the WFA is making to launch the new 'Legends' MMA gym, its PPV deals and its almost certain plans to land a slot on "regular" television, it seems that the promotion is aiming straight for the UFC.
We saw further evidence of that today as the WFA launched a salvo aimed at garnering media attention by announcing that it signed former professional wrestler Bill Goldberg to be its color commentator.
Contrast the WFA's approach with the approach of the International Fight League (also known as the IFL). The IFL also wants to be the top MMA promotion, but it is trying to gain that position by using a new forumla: MMA as a team sport. Instead of going head to head against the UFC on PPV or trying to sign the best-known fighters, the IFL is counting on the team concept and its deal with Fox Sports to generate a deeper level of interest from new fans and propel it to the top.
So, my question to readers is this: Is it better to attack the UFC's position directly like the WFA, or to try to outflank the UFC like the IFL?
To give you and idea what I think, I'll offer this quote from Sun Tzu's 'Art of War': "Attack him where he is unprepared, appear where you are not expected."
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When you couuple the high quality fight card with the investment the WFA is making to launch the new 'Legends' MMA gym, its PPV deals and its almost certain plans to land a slot on "regular" television, it seems that the promotion is aiming straight for the UFC.
We saw further evidence of that today as the WFA launched a salvo aimed at garnering media attention by announcing that it signed former professional wrestler Bill Goldberg to be its color commentator.
Contrast the WFA's approach with the approach of the International Fight League (also known as the IFL). The IFL also wants to be the top MMA promotion, but it is trying to gain that position by using a new forumla: MMA as a team sport. Instead of going head to head against the UFC on PPV or trying to sign the best-known fighters, the IFL is counting on the team concept and its deal with Fox Sports to generate a deeper level of interest from new fans and propel it to the top.
So, my question to readers is this: Is it better to attack the UFC's position directly like the WFA, or to try to outflank the UFC like the IFL?
To give you and idea what I think, I'll offer this quote from Sun Tzu's 'Art of War': "Attack him where he is unprepared, appear where you are not expected."
