The Ground and Pound 04.25.08: As Promised, My New MMA League - The Ground and Pound Fight Championship

Posted by John Curry on 04.25.2008

During last week’s article I stated that this week I would introduce my idea for my MMA fight league. Ladies and Gentleman, Boys and Girls, Get your Ground and Pound on.



In response to many of the readers of my post who think that a lot of my ideas are farfetched and often ridiculous, I have vowed that I would introduce my concept for what exactly I would have in my fight organization to make it successful. I will break all of the schematics down so that there will be no issues. The only things I will leave out are the technical issues regarding licensure and medical and contractual issues. Remember this is hypothetical.

THE GROUND AND POUND FIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP or GPFC

The Weight Classes

Most of my classes are the same as the rest of the world of MMA; however there are some new additions to the classes.

1. The "Little People" Class (If this is politically incorrect someone let me know, I assume that if "Little People Big World" is acceptable then this is the proper terminology): Fighters in this class must be under 4'10" tall.
2. Bantamweight Class: Fighters in this class must weigh between 125lbs and 135lbs
3. Featherweight Class: Fighters in this class must weigh over 135lbs to 145lbs.
4. Lightweight Class: Fighters in this class must weigh over 145lbs to 155lbs.
5. Welterweight Class: Fighters in this class must weigh over 155lbs to 170lbs.
6. Middleweight Class: Fighters in this class must weigh over 170lbs to 185lbs.
7. Light Heavyweight Class: Fighters in this class must weigh over 185lbs to 205lbs.
8. Heavyweight Class: Fighters in this class must weigh over 205lbs to 265lbs
9. Super Heavyweight Class: Fighters in this class must weigh over 265lbs.

The Rules

The following are illegal and will result in point loss or disqualification: The vast majority of these rules come directly from the WEC's rules.

1. Butting with the head.
2. Eye gouging of any kind.
3. Biting.
4. Hair pulling.
5. Fish hooking.
6. Groin attacks of any kind.
7. Putting a finger into any orifice or into any cut or laceration on an opponent.
8. Small joint manipulation.
9. Striking to the spine or the back of the head.
10. Striking downward using the point of the elbow.
11. Throat strikes of any kind, including, without limitation, grabbing the trachea.
12. Clawing, pinching or twisting the flesh.
13. Grabbing the clavicle.
14. Kicking the head of a grounded opponent.
15. Kneeing the head of a grounded opponent.
16. Stomping a grounded opponent.
17. Kicking to the kidney with the heel.
18. Spiking an opponent to the canvas on his head or neck.
19. Throwing an opponent out of the ring or fenced area.
20. Holding the shorts or gloves of an opponent.
21. Spitting at an opponent.
22. Engaging in an unsportsmanlike conduct that causes an injury to an opponent.
23. Holding the ropes or the fence. .
24. Attacking an opponent on or during the break.
25. Attacking an opponent who is under the care of the referee.
26. Attacking an opponent after the bell has sounded the end of the period of unarmed combat.
27. Flagrantly disregarding the instructions of the referee.
28. Timidity, including, without limitation, avoiding contact with an opponent, intentionally or consistently dropping the mouthpiece or faking an injury i.e. Kalib Starnes.
29. Interference by the corner.
30. Throwing in the towel during competition.


Winning the fight

There are several ways to win a fight such as:

1. Submission by Physical tap out or Verbal tap out.
2. Technical knockout by the referee stopping the contest.
3. Decision via the scorecards, including:
Unanimous decision.
Split decision.
Majority decision.
Draw, including:
Unanimous draw.
Majority draw.
Split draw.
4. Technical decision.
5. Technical draw.
6. Disqualification.
7. Forfeit.
8. No contest.
Referee may Restart the round:
If the fighters reach a stalemate and do not work to improve position or finish.
There is an instant replay system which will only be used to determine if a fighter physically submitted or verbally submitted.

The Cage


Top View of Cage


Side View of Cage

The first thing you will notice about the cage is there are two entrances to the cage. This provides more ringside seating which will increase profits. The second thing you will notice about the cage is that it does not go flush against the circle mat in the center. This is because the circle mat is elevated with slight angles down which are padded all the way to the cage. This will eliminate fighters using the cage too much. If they want it to go to the cage then let them fall on the padded floors and fight it out there.

The Team Format

In my fight league there will be a ranking system. Each team will be allowed to present one fighter for each weight class to fight in a three fight grand prix over the course of three months. There will be eight teams represented by eight fight schools for each tournament. Such as Team Punishment, Team Irish, Miletich Fighting systems and others. There are no byes in the grand prix set up.

Each fighter will be paid 10 grand for fight and an additional 10 grand for each win. If the fighter wins a tournament he will receive an additional 50 grand for winning the tournament. While I understand this is not the money that fighters expect to see compared to the UFC. I am not talking about an established company I am talking about an up and coming fight company. These are the things that will draw capable fighters from these schools to the world of professional MMA in order to have some face time and build their resume without resorting to YAMMA's Butterbean ideology.

The Cost of Admission

Cage Side Seats: 55-70 US Dollars
Reserved Seats: 40 Dollars
General Admission: 20 Dollars
Again this is just how I would price it.

This is the preliminary ideology of my fight league. At this point I ask that the readers of the Ground and Pound submit their ideas as to how this should be changed. In next week's Ground and Pound I will modify this based on reader responses and present The Ground and Pounds all new and improved 411mania Fighting League. Until next week, leave your comments and check out the Interviews with Amir Sadollah, Marcus Davis and Brad Imes. Don't forget to show your love for the rest of the MMA guys and check out their articles.