World Combat League
Hello to All, I was watching the tube tonight when I came across this. “The World Combat League” http://www.worldcombatleague.com/ It has Karate people, U.F.C. people and it’s produced by Chuck Norris. It’s a full contact but no grappling version of mixed martial arts. The sparring is continuous with a five point must system. They wear hand and foot pads and long pants. But there are no elbows, no head butts and no holding. Timid behavior is punished and a knockout is rewarded! Also, they have no ring or cage… Instead it is a blue slightly recessed circle with a red circle slightly inclined around it. Has anyone else seen this or know anything about it? Regards, MrE2Me2

Interesting action and set of rules but that's it, to be honest I found it boring and sad that many of the fighters couldn't fight continuously for 1 x 3 minute round. It's one of those things that are "here today and gone tomorrow" and once K-1 hits the North American mainstream market WCL will be history.

Hello Crowear, Welcome to the forum! You posted, “…found it boring and sad that many of the fighters couldn't fight continuously for 1 x 3 minute round.” I disagree. I found the competitors were very fit. From the hour that I watched, I saw any timid fighters punished. You also posted, “It's one of those things that are "here today and gone tomorrow" and once K-1 hits the North American mainstream market WCL will be history.” Perhaps but I don’t really think so. The U.F.C. (and like minded sports events) has sparked an interest in the striking martial arts again. I am very ready to see much more of this sport. Regards, MrE2Me2

I disagree. I found the competitors were very fit I guess we must of been watching two different shows cause I noticed wide open mouths, chins up and looping punching nearing the end of their one and only round... pretty sad. Perhaps but I don’t really think so. The U.F.C. (and like minded sports events) has sparked an interest in the striking martial arts again. Right... which is why once K-1 hits the North American mainstream market with World Champion fighters such as Andy Souwer, Buakaw, Mike Zambidis , Albert Kraus, Masato... WCL won't be able to keep up with the talent pool and money involved in K-1... Goodbye WCL.

Hello Crowear, You posted, “I guess we must of been watching two different shows…” While that is entirely possible because there have been a couple of hour long shows; I stand by my original premise. The hour long show(s) that I watched were synopsis of day long events featuring many fights. They didn’t have the time to feature the total fights. They showed only the third round and in some cases, only the high lights. It was more to get the interest of the viewers. Judging by the packed stadium in Texas that I saw, local enthusiasm was Great! You posted, “I noticed wide open mouths, chins up and looping punching nearing the end of their one and only round... pretty sad.” I noticed the same of M.M.A. fighters in the various sanctioned bouts (by the third round). Your claim that they don’t measure up is further discredited when I realized something else. The same judges, referees and at least one contestant were from the U.F.C. You posted, “Right... which is why once K-1 hits the North American mainstream market with World Champion fighters such as Andy Souwer, Buakaw, Mike Zambidis , Albert Kraus, Masato... WCL won't be able to keep up with the talent pool and money involved in K-1... Goodbye WCL.” Perhaps this will happen but I really don’t think so. Pride does real well where it is in the Far East. K1 does well were it is and so do others like “King of the Cage” etc. I don’t see the very savvy and successful promoters of these events walking away from their successes. What I do see happening is that M.M.A. will have various venues the world over. I just don’t see them all crowding into one country. Yet there is room enough for different sports in one country (in my opinion). W.C.L. is just different enough to draw a different crowd to it. Not everyone likes to see nearly naked men beat each other bloody. The W.C.L. was an excellent change from watching the U.F.C., which I also enjoy. I wish them both well! Regards, MrE2Me2

I noticed the same of M.M.A. fighters in the various sanctioned bouts (by the third round). That's the thing, In MMA you have to fight 3 X 5 (Non-Champsionship fight) minute rounds or 5 x 5 (Championship fight) minute rounds countinouly back to back with only 1 minute of rest between rounds. Here are the offial rules form WCL... At the end of each fight the judge's scores will be announced, and added to the total points awarded from the previous fights. Referee awarded penalty points are added to the cumulative score when they occur. When each of the team's athletes have completed their first-half fights, the event breaks for "half-time". During half-time the coaches will advise their team members on a strategy for improving their performance in the second-half. When the action resumes, each original match-up (that did not result in a KO or TKO) is again contested to conclude the second half. The team that has the most cumulative points when the final fight is concluded is crowned the winner. So what does this mean... each fighter will only fight a total of two rounds with a 10 or 15 minite "half-time" break between rounds. Your claim that they don’t measure up is further discredited when I realized something else. The same judges, referees and at least one contestant were from the U.F.C. What exactly do the judges and referees have to do with the physcial conitioning of a fighter? Also the one fighter fomr UFC, Pete Spratt was and is an accomplised kickboxers before he began his UFC carrer.

Hello Crowear, I don’t know if you were aware of it but you posted your last post twice. I deleted the second copy of it (no offense was intended). About the post itself; Thank you for those rules on the W.C.L. I was under the impression that it was a five point must system for three rounds. And then there were extra points awarded for penalties. That is why one could see scores of over fifteen for the winners. You posted, “So what does this mean... each fighter will only fight a total of two rounds with a 10 or 15 minite "half-time" break between rounds.” I will be interested to see these guys compete for the whole match, instead of just the last round. I’d rather watch two athletes give it their all for a short time than roll around for a long time. That is why I said I was spoiled with championship U.F.C. bouts. They just go and go; being timid is punished and knockouts are rewarded (just like the W.C.L.). The rules of the W.C.L seem very similar to the rules that one finds in local martial arts tourneys. They look good and they capture and keep my interest. What I’d really like to see is our own Moh Kempo stylists compete in either M.M.A. or the W.C.L. That would be really cool! (And, after all, several Moh Kempo stylists already have a knack for competiting.) You posted, “What exactly do the judges and referees have to do with the physcial conitioning of a fighter?” The refs, the judges and the fighters think enough of this sport to attach their names to it. The rules of the state athletic commission will undoubtedly apply, including fighters being fit. This is especially true if representatives of that organization are there as judges and refs. Regards, MrE2Me2