Super Fight League
|
Asia's Biggest MMA Organization | |
| Private | |
| Industry | Mixed Martial Arts promotion |
| Founded | 2012 |
| Founder | Bill Dosanjh[1] |
| Headquarters | India, UAE, USA, Canada |
| Owner | Amir Khan[2] |
| Parent | Super Fight Promotions Pvt. Ltd |
| Website | www.superfightleague.com |
Super Fight Promotions or Super Fight League (SFL), is an Indian Mixed Martial Arts promotion.[3] The organisation was formed in 2012 by British business tycoon Bill Dosanjh and Olympic Boxing Champion and Pro Boxer Amir Khan. The brand is the third largest MMA promotion in the world and the biggest in the Asian Subcontinent. SFL has produced close to 50 live televised events broadcast on Colors,[4] Neo Prime, ESPN Star Sports[5] and on YouTube live worldwide.[6]
Super Fight Promotions is set to launch the world's first Mixed Martial Arts League in India in June - July 2016, with expansion plans in other countries.
History
The SFL was founded by British Business Tycoon Bill Dosanjh and British Pro Boxer & Olympic Champion Amir Khan in 2012. Its intent is giving Indian mixed martial artists a platform to compete and grow in its home country whilst bringing in talented fighters from different parts of the world. They launched their first event on March 11, 2012, which was headlined by Bob 'The Beast' Sapp and James 'The Colossus' Thompson.[7][8]
On February 27, the SFL announced that they had signed Todd Duffee, Trevor Prangley, Baga Agaev,[9] Paul Kelly, Xavier Foupa-Pokam and Lena Ovchynnikova to four fight exclusive contracts.[10]
On June 23, the SFL announced that they had signed Jeff Monson, Satoshi Ishii, Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou, and Michael Page.[11][12]
It was announced by the Fight Network that they will show all of the SFL's events on Canadian TV.[13]
In September 2012 Pavia resigned his position as the CEO of the SFL citing "family reasons."
The SFL made three announcements on September 24, 2012. The first was a strategic alliance between themselves and Invicta Fighting Championships, which aims to bring the best Indian female fighters to Invicta, whilst Invicta will aim to send world class female mixed martial artists to the Super Fight League.[14]
The second announcement was the Friday Night Fight Nights. From October 12, the SFL will hold an event every Friday in a specially designed arena in Mumbai in front of an exclusive invitation only audience. This will replace the original model of holding arena events once aimed one a month. Programming will last for three hours each week with weigh-ins, live fights and interviews from Bollywood cage side guests. There will be 7 fights in total each event, with 1 of them being a female bout. It will air live on Neo Prime in India and on their YouTube page for the rest of the world.[15]
The final announcement was introducing Indian Olympic Female Boxing Bronze Medallist Mary Kom as the SFL's brand ambassador.[16]
At SFL 13: Night of Champions, the Super Fight League rewarded 5 titles in the men's and women's division.[17]
Launching on 4 December 2012, the Super Fight League announces a strategic partnership Provogue to set up a new company to jointly market all merchandise for SFL. The company has been named Pro SFL and the first product to hit the market is the New Deodorant Range ‘Aspire, Inspire and Desire.[18][19]
At the start of 2013, the SFL partnered with Indian news outlet DNA to promote women to get into martial arts and ran self-defence courses throughout Mumbai during mid-January as a result from the 2012 Delhi gang rape case that happened just weeks prior.[20]
The SFL signed a new TV deal with ESPN Star Sport in India for all events to be shown live, starting with SFL 14 on 29 March 2013.[5]
On October 4, 2014 Super Fight League held its inaugural show in the United States, with SFL 35 taking place in Tacoma, Washington, followed by Clash of Titans in Dubai, a historic fight night between two countries, India and Pakistan On February 27, 2015.
SFL Challengers
On August 5, the SFL aired their reality show SFL Challengers.[21] Similar to the Ultimate Fighter,[22] the show took 8 male and 8 female[23] up-and-coming Indian mixed martial artists, place them in the same house whilst they compete to become the winner of the show. Every alternate episode has 2 fights where 2 fighters (male and female) graduate to the next round whereas the other two have to leave the camp. The show went on for 50 days and the fighter will a be given tasks each week, as well as being trained by some of the best international trainers available. The winner received Rs. 20 lakhs (approx. $30,000 / £22000) and a 3-year contract worth Rs. 25 lakhs with the promotion. The show was aired on Neo Prime and Zoom TV. The inaugural season was won by Kario Isaac Maheo and Manjit Kolekar. The second season in slated to hit the floor in August 2016.
Rules
SFL's current rules[24] are based upon the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts that were originally established by the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board and modified by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.[25]
Cage
SFL uses a structure called the 'O'Zone. The 'O'Zone is a circular cage of chain-link fence that has been coated in black vinyl. The height of the fence varies between 5 feet 6 inches (1.68 m) and 5 feet 8 inches (1.73 m), is 30 feet (9.1 m) in diameter and sits atop a 2.6 feet (0.79 m) platform. There are two gates on opposite sides of the cage to allow for people to enter and leave the cage.[26]
Title Belt Holders
India
Men's Division
| Division | Upper weight limit | Champion | Since |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavyweight | 265 lb (120 kg; 18.9 st) | ||
| Light Heavyweight | 240 lb (110 kg; 17 st) | ||
| Middleweight | 185 lb (84 kg; 13.2 st) | ||
| Welterweight | 170 lb (77 kg; 12 st) | ||
| Lightweight | 155 lb (70 kg; 11.1 st) | ||
| Featherweight | 145 lb (66 kg; 10.4 st) | ||
| Bantamweight | 135 lb (61 kg; 9.6 st) | ||
| Flyweight | 125 lb (57 kg; 8.9 st) |
Women's Divisions
| Division | Upper weight limit | Champion | Since |
|---|---|---|---|
| Featherweight | 145 lb (66 kg; 10.4 st) | Vacant | |
| Bantamweight | 135 lb (61 kg; 9.6 st) | Vacant | |
| Flyweight | 125 lb (57 kg; 8.9 st) | Vacant | |
| Strawweight | 115 lb (52 kg; 8.2 st) | Vacant |
America
Men's Division
| Division | Upper weight limit | Champion | Since |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavyweight | 265 lb (120 kg; 18.9 st) | ||
| Light Heavyweight | 240 lb (110 kg; 17 st) | ||
| Middleweight | 185 lb (84 kg; 13.2 st) | ||
| Welterweight | 170 lb (77 kg; 12 st) | ||
| Lightweight | 155 lb (70 kg; 11.1 st) | ||
| Featherweight | 145 lb (66 kg; 10.4 st) | ||
| Bantamweight | 135 lb (61 kg; 9.6 st) | ||
| Flyweight | 125 lb (57 kg; 8.9 st) |
Women's Divisions
| Division | Upper weight limit | Champion | Since |
|---|---|---|---|
| Featherweight | 145 lb (66 kg; 10.4 st) | ||
| Bantamweight | 135 lb (61 kg; 9.6 st) | ||
| Flyweight | 125 lb (57 kg; 8.9 st) | ||
| Strawweight | 115 lb (52 kg; 8.2 st) |
See also
References
- ↑ "Exclusive Interview with Bill Dosanjh, CEO and Founder of the Super Fight League" (20 February 2016). The Ring Side View. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
- ↑ "Boxing superstar Amir Khan named co-owner of Super Fight League, promises new MMA format in 2016" (11 August 2015). Vox Media, Inc. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
- ↑ "The Official Website of the Super Fight League (SFL)". Super Fight League. Retrieved February 8, 2012.
- ↑ "Super Fight League signs TV rights with Colors". Times of India.com. Retrieved March 9, 2012.
- 1 2 "ESS acquires Super Fight League broadcast rights for 5 years". Indiantelevision.com. Retrieved March 13, 2013.
- ↑ "India's Super Fight League announces YouTube stream for Sapp-Thompson event". MMA Junkie.com. Retrieved February 13, 2012.
- ↑ "Super Fight League to kick start in March". Daily News & Analysis. January 17, 2012. Retrieved February 8, 2012.
- ↑ Slack, Jack. (2012-01-16) Asian MMA Update: Honorio Banario Steps In For Eric Kelly At ONE FC 2, James Thompson vs. Bob Sapp In India. Bloody Elbow. Retrieved on 2012-01-26. Archived January 19, 2012, at the Wayback Machine.
- ↑ "India's Super Fight League signs Todd Duffee, Trevor Prangley, Baga Agaev". MMAJunkie.com. February 28, 2012. Retrieved February 27, 2012.
- ↑ "Super Fight League announces the signing of Paul Kelly, Professor X, and Lena Ochynnikova". ProMMANow.com. February 28, 2012. Retrieved February 28, 2012.
- ↑ Devlin, Craig (June 25, 2012). "Super Fight League signs, Ishii, Monson and Sokoudjou to exclusive deals". FullMount.co.uk. Retrieved June 25, 2012.
- ↑ "Super Fight League add four more fighters to their growing roster". TheFightLounge.co.uk. June 25, 2012. Retrieved June 25, 2012.
- ↑ "Fight Network Partners with Super Fight League". fightnetwork.com. July 12, 2012. Retrieved July 12, 2012.
- ↑ "Super Fight League to Develop Women's MMA Talent". mmapundit.co.uk. September 24, 2012. Retrieved September 24, 2012.
- ↑ "Super Fight League announces Friday Night Fight Nights". mmainterplay.com. September 24, 2012. Retrieved September 24, 2012.
- ↑ "Mary Kom brand ambassador of Raj Kundra's SFL". newstrackindia.com. September 24, 2012. Retrieved September 24, 2012.
- ↑ "Super Fight League Returns with Another Edition of Friday Fight Nights and Get Social Contest". MMAWeekly.com. November 26, 2012. Retrieved November 14, 2012.
- ↑ "Super Fight League announces a strategic partnership with Provogue". indiansportsnews.com. December 6, 2012. Retrieved December 6, 2012.
- ↑ "Provogue sews up jt venture with Raj Kundra’s SFL". TheHinduBusinessLine.com. December 11, 2012. Retrieved December 4, 2012.
- ↑ "Self-defence camp packs a punch". DNAIndia.com. January 12, 2013. Retrieved January 12, 2013.
- ↑ "Shilpa Shetty back in front of camera". HindustanTimes.com. July 15, 2012. Retrieved July 15, 2012.
- ↑ Fletcher, Daniel (August 2, 2012). "SFL (Super Fight League) Set to Host Reality TV show: The Indian TUF!". FightSportAsia.com. Retrieved August 1, 2012.
- ↑ "RAJ KUNDRA, SANJAY DUTT LAUNCH CHALLENGERS HUNT". IndiaBlooms.com. July 15, 2012. Retrieved July 15, 2012.
- ↑ "Unified rules and other important regulations of mixed martial arts" (PDF). Super Fight League. Retrieved February 8, 2012.
- ↑ "NSAC Regulations: CHAPTER 467 - UNARMED COMBAT". Nevada State Athletic Commission. Retrieved February 8, 2012.
- ↑ "The 'O'Zone". Super Fight League. Retrieved February 8, 2012.
External links
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
