In 2007 the team with the most members in the Grand Prix were from the Los Angeles Anacondas with 4. The Toronto Dragons have 3 representatives while the New York Pitbulls, Nevada Lions and San Jose Razorclaws have 2. Due to injuries the Chicago Red Bears and the Seattle Tiger Sharks do not have a member representing them in the 2007 GP.
The inaugural IFL GP has been marred with injuries and contract disputes that of the original 20 fighters that were set to compete only 14 of them are still on the card with one entire tournament bracket being reduced to just one championship match (the Light Heavyweight division). At the same time 7 reserved fighters were even scratched off due to injuries.
Originally the GP was to determine champions in five weight classes, but the IFL announced on 11/13/07 that they will be crowning a sixth champion in the newly established featherweight division. No.1 seeded lightweight Wagnney Fabiano of the Toronto Dragons will drop out of the Lightweight GP and compete for the Featherweight title against Quad City Silverbacks L.C. Davis. Replacing Fabiano in the LW GP will be LW alternate Shad Lierley of the Seattle Tiger Sharks setting up the much anticipated rematch between Lierley and Chris Horodecki of the Los Angeles Anacondas. [1]
IFL Grand Prix Finals December 29, 2007 Mohegan Sun Casino, Uncasaville, CT | ||||
Wagnney Fabiano (Toronto Dragons) | W | |||
LC Davis (Quad City Silverbacks) | L |
Wagnney Fabiano became the first IFL Featherweight Champion
IFL Grand Prix First Round November 3, 2007 Sears Centre, Chicago, Ill | IFL Grand Prix Finals December 29, 2007 Mohegan Sun Casino, Uncasaville, CT | ||||||||
Wagney Fabiano (Toronto Dragons) | W | ||||||||
John Gunderson (Nevada Lions) | L | ||||||||
Ryan Schultz* (Portland Wolfpack) | W TKO | ||||||||
Chris Horodecki | |||||||||
Chris Horodecki (Los Angeles Anacondas) | W | ||||||||
Bart Palaszweski (Quad City Silverbacks) | L |
Alternate: Shad Lierley (Seattle Tiger Sharks)
* Originally Shad Lierley was to face Horodecki but a toe injury during practice took him out of competition. It was then announced on 12/12/07 that John Gunderson will take Lierley's place. On 12/14/07 it was announced that unfortunately Gunderson also suffered an injury and now fighting Horodecki will be Wolfpack's Ryan Schultz.
Ryan Schultz became the first IFL lightweight Champion
IFL Grand Prix First Round November 3, 2007 Sears Centre, Chicago, Ill | IFL Grand Prix Finals December 29, 2007 Mohegan Sun Casino, Uncasaville, CT | ||||||||
Delson Heleno (New York Pitbulls) | |||||||||
Gideon Ray (Toronto Dragons)** | |||||||||
Delson Heleno | |||||||||
Jay Hieron | TKO | ||||||||
Donnie Liles(San Jose Razorclaws)* | |||||||||
Jay Hieron (Los Angeles Anacondas) |
Alternate: TBA
* Originally Tokyo Sabres Antonio McKee was going to participate in the WW GP but due to his participation in another MMA promotion which was a violation of his IFL contract, McKee was removed from the GP and replaced by alternate Pat Healy. A week before the GP, the IFL announced that Healy suffered an elbow injury during training and could not participate in the IFL. Taking his place is San Jose Razorclaws Donnie Liles.
** Originally Chicago Red Bears Mark Miller was going to participate in the WW GP but due to a hand injury he had to step out. Replacing him will be alternate Brad Blackburn. Shortly after the announcement of Blackburn replacing Miller, it was announced that Blackburn could not compete in the GP due to an undisclosed injury, to replace him will be Gideon Ray.
Jay Hieron became the IFL's first Welterweight Champion
IFL Grand Prix First Round November 3, 2007 Sears Centre, Chicago, Ill | IFL Grand Prix Finals December 29, 2007 Mohegan Sun Casino, Uncasaville, CT | ||||||||
Benji Radach (Los Angeles Anacondas) | |||||||||
Brent Beauparlant (Toronto Dragons) | |||||||||
Benji Radach | |||||||||
Matt Horwich | TKO | ||||||||
Matt Horwich (Portland Wolfpack) | |||||||||
Brian Foster(San Jose Razorclaws) |
Alternate: Fabio Leopoldo (New York Pitbulls)
Matt Horwich became the IFL's first Middleweight Champion.
IFL Grand Prix First Round November 3, 2007 Sears Centre, Chicago, Ill | ||||
Vladimir Matsuyshenko (Tokyo Sabres) | W | |||
Alex Schoenauer (Los Angeles Anacondas)* | L |
*Originally Silverback Mike Ciesnolevicz was to participate in the LHW GP but due to his KO lost to Andre Gusmao during the IFL World Championship Finals he is under KO suspension and thus can not compete. Taking his place is the man who knocked him out New York Pittbulls Andre Gusmao. Unfortunately shortly after this announcement Gusmao suffered an injured foot and therefore could not compete in the GP. Meanwhile fellow LHW finalist Mike Whitehead did not sign a contract extension with the IFL and thus was not allowed to participate in the GP. At the same time reserve fighter Jamal Patterson was reported injured and could not participate in the GP, therefore the IFL decided to just make this a one fight tournament for the LHW belt between Matsuyshenko and Schoenauer.
Vladimer Matyushenko becomes the IFL's first Light Heavyweight Champion
IFL Grand Prix First Round November 3, 2007 Sears Centre, Chicago, Ill | IFL Grand Prix Finals December 29, 2007 Mohegan Sun Casino, Uncasaville, CT | ||||||||
Bryan Vetell (New York Pitbulls)** | |||||||||
Roy Nelson (Nevada Lions) | |||||||||
Roy Nelson | TKO | ||||||||
Antoine Jaoude | |||||||||
Antoine Jaoude (Southern California Condors) | |||||||||
Shane Ott (Tucson Scorpions) |
Alternate: TBA
** Originally Ben Rothwell was to participate in the HW GP but due to Rothwell not signing a contract extension with the IFL he was not allowed to participate. Taking his place against Roy Nelson will be Reese Andy while reserve fighter Bryan Vetell will fight Antoine Jaoude. [2] It was announced that Reese Andy could not compete in the GP due to injuries therefore Shane Ott will take his place and fight Antoine Joude while Roy Nelson will face Bryan Vetell.
Roy Nelson became the IFL's first Heavyweight Champion
The International Fight League was an American mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion billed as the world's first MMA league. It was founded on January 7, 2006, and closed on July 31, 2008. Instead of the established norm for MMA events, where matchups are strictly one-on-one affairs, each IFL card was a showdown between two camps of at least three fighters, each fighter fighting one match against another in the opposing camps.
The Los Angeles Anacondas were an International Fight League team based in Los Angeles, California. The Anacondas were the first IFL team to have gone through not just one coach but two. Originally coached by three time King of Pancrase and former UFC Heavyweight Champion Bas Rutten, and then coached by Canadian MMA practitioner Shawn Tompkins, the Anacondas are now without a coach entering the offseason.
The New York Pitbulls were an International Fight League team based in NYC, New York. Coached by Brazilian Jiu Jitsu expert and MMA veteran Renzo Gracie, the Pitbulls were one of four teams competing in the IFL's inaugural season.
The Quad Cities Silverbacks was an International Fight League team based in the Quad Cities region of the United States. Coached by former UFC Welterweight Champion and founder of the very successful Miletich Fighting Systems camp, Pat Miletich, the Silverbacks were one of four teams competing in the IFL's inaugural season.
The Portland Wolfpack were a team in the now-defunct International Fight League and based in Portland, Oregon. The Wolfpack were coached by Olympic silver medalist in Greco Roman Wrestling, Matt Lindland. The Wolfpack were established in the middle of the 2006 season. In their debut season the Wolfpack made it to the 2006 IFL Championship Final but were defeated by the Quad City Silverbacks 1-4. The Wolfpack were associated with the MMA training camp Team Quest based out of Gresham, Oregon.
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Christopher Horodecki is a Polish-Canadian mixed martial artist. He has competed for the WEC, the IFL, Bellator, TKO Major League MMA, and Palace Fighting Championship.
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