World Combat League Update

[Megan Thompson]

Just wanted to let everyone know that Stephen fought Antoine "The Joker" McRay (sp?) in the first round of the WCL tonight and gave him 2 standing 8's and then knocked him out with a kick to the head. In the second round he fought the alternate, I am not quite sure of his name, and beat him pretty badly but did not knock him out. Everyone else on team Philly lost tonight, except Zach Day's alternate won the round he fought. However some of the other fights were close.

[Curtis Bush]

Congrats to Wonderboy!

[Mike Morello]

Good Job to everyone that fought tonight. Does anyone know if Shannon Hudson won?

Mike "MadDog" Morello

[Ronnie Copeland]

Shannon won both rounds and his team won also.

[jean-luc]

Congratulations to the Wonderboy. That's not a minor victory : Antoine "Joker" McRae is nothing less than the reigning ISKA Full Contact World Champion in the Super- Cruiserweight (194.1-202 lbs) division, which also means he must be quite heavier than Stephen (see : http://www.iska.com/kickboxing/ratings/weight1620old50400.htm). Too bad the rest of team Philly didn't perform as well as he did. What was the result of Peyton Russell's and Zack Day's fights ?

[fighterzack]

Guys,

I am writing on my Blackberry, so I will be brief. I tore my gastroc muscle(calf) in my first exchange, and could not move. No kicks, no movement, but I did what I could with my hands. I lost the round, and the doctor would not let me continue. My alternate was Paul Cantrell, but he also lost 15-9 to Costano. Peyton went out in the first round, was tentative, and lost on points. In the second, he did what we all told him he should, was busier, and outpounted Wallace to death. The judges gave it to Wallace, no one could understand it. We will both be back, the next fight is in Miami, I think.

[P.J. Reilly]

Does anyone have full results?

[Vic Theriault]

[QUOTE=Megan Thompson]Just wanted to let everyone know that Stephen fought Antoine "The Joker" McRay (sp?) in the first round of the WCL tonight and gave him 2 standing 8's and then knocked him out with a kick to the head. In the second round he fought the alternate, I am not quite sure of his name, and beat him pretty badly but did not knock him out. Everyone else on team Philly lost tonight, except Zach Day's alternate won the round he fought. However some of the other fights were close.[/QUOTE]


I am real happy to see that Stephen had a great night of Kickboxing action but wait till he gets to start getting the shows aired on a network and mass audience see's how good The Wonderboy really is in a 12 rd championship bouts.He is the best young striker out there and would beat most big MMA names in a stand-up strike war.
To bad for Rays team losing but knowing his competitive spirit , this will only make him more anxious and come back and kick some butt.
I have been going to many boxing events and I get ask all the time by fight fans when the Wonderboy will come back to Montreal.I am glad that he adapted to the fast pace fighting the W.C.A brings and kept his undefeated streak going.

[jean-luc]

There is a full report of the WCL event on the site http://www.maslinc.com/index.cfm?action=maslinc.show_article&articleid=504&topic=Review

[Jason (fight geek)]

Thanks for the updates everyone and the link Jean-Luc.

I am really surprised that the WCL doesn't do this themselves. Sort of frustrating to be honest. Any word when this might be seen on TV? Sounds like the pull out all the bells and whistles for the event so I hope it get's on TV, and not at 11:00 pm on espn 2.

[P.J. Reilly]

This event (WCL) could be the best show in the world but the only ones who know about it are the people at the show. Their website is never updated, the shows are not televised, and there's nowhere to buy DVD's. MMA's version (IFL) is on T.V. almost every day.

[Randy Pogue]

I agree, PJ.

Maybe they have a super-secret plan to hit everyone with a media blitz and a full catalog of fights to keep the interest, but right now they're doing a sukasse job. There's no reason but laziness to not be updating the site on a regular basis.

The last I heard, they were holding off on announcing the next event, the June 24 one, until they had dates squared away for the remainder of the "season." Well, that event was announced, came, and went, and there's no news about the rest of the season, not even the next West Coast event.

I hope another golden opportunity to showcase great standup fighting isn't being mismanaged away to nothing.

[Ronnie Copeland]

The next west coast event is September 22nd in Texas. The word that I got is the next season will begin in March of 07. Another rumor I heard is that the league is going to shorts kinda like what the MMA guys wear. No boots just shinguards. We'll see what happens. :D

[Ray Thompson]

The article on the web site that Jean-Luc provided was VERY incorrect in the observation of the fights between Peyton Russell and Crafton Wallace. It read as if Wallace beat Peyton to a pulp which was not the case. Peyton took it to Wallace in the first round but I will admit it was close. But the second round was ALL Peyton. With the exception of the last 20 seconds of the round Peyton controlled the fight and delivered 85% of the strikes in the round. I do not know what the judges were looking at but it was obvious (at least to me) that there was some politics going on in this fight. I know this sounds like sour grapes but suffering defeat is not foreign to me and I can handle it but I can't handle a fighter not getting the victory he/she deserves.
Now the Wonderboy/ Amir Mrkonovic fight description WAS A JOKE!!! That fight was all Wonderboy. Amir was tough but did not hit the Wonderboy but MAYBE twice the whole fight. He tried to kill the Wonderboy but to no avail. Stephen hit and moved and it looked to me he rocked Amir. Again the judging was atrocius (sp?). I think one of the judges must have placed a bet on the Wonderboy loosing or something because he gave the round to Amir. When the show airs on TV you will be able to see the fight for your selves. Anyway keep your eyes focused on the next event. I am sure it will be a schorcher.

[jean-luc]

Moreover, I must confess I totally fail to understand the logic of the WCL system : in the first event in January, Philadelphia defeated New England 156-89 while Miami beat New-York 136-132. In the second event, Miami won 151-117 against Philadelphia and New England defeated New-York 161-135. So, up to now, Philadelphia and New England have 1 victory and 1 defeat each, Miami 2 victories and New York 2 defeats. If you look at the total score, Miami got 287 points, Philadelphia 273, New-York 267 and New-England 250 :

Bilateral scores :
Philadelphia 156 New England 89
Miami 136 New-York 132
Miami 151 Philadelphia 117
New-York 135 New England 161

Total scores :
1. Miami 287
2. Philadelphia 273
3. New York 267
4. New England 250

However, Miami and New England qualify for the finals. It's normal for team Miami, which won twice and got the highest total score but what about New England, which, like Philadelphia got 1 victory and 1 defeat, were (soundly : 156-89) defeated by Philly in their bilateral match and scored in total the lowest number of points ? Normally, the second team to qualify should be Philadelphia since they defeated New England and they got the 2nd highest total score (and New England only the 4th). Or, alternative solution, there should be a 3d evening with a match between Miami and New England on the one hand and a match between Philadelphia and New-York on the other one.

[Jason (fight geek)]

Any word Mr. T, or Ronnie when it is going to be on TV?

Jean-Luc,
I think you have a great point. The point system and rules appear confusing. I hope it is more understandable when it airs, and it might be, but a confusing rule style and points won't help. Again it might be more understandable when it airs. We shall see...

I hope they go to shorts and no pads at all on the feet. I would post this on their website if I could.

[Ronnie Copeland]

The word I got is they needed to have 6 complete episodes canned not counting the pilot event in Texas before it could be aired on TV. After the last Mohegan event that goal should have been reached.

Jean Luc,
I don't think the scores matter the way you have added them up. It is an elimination tournament. Philly beat New England and Miami beat New York whick makes the winning teams fight for the east coast conference championship. Miami beat Philly so they won the ECC championships. The other two teams fought for third and fourth place.
1. Miami
2. Philidalphia
3. New England
4. New York

In the west LA vs. Denver for the WCC.
At least that is my understanding of it all.

[jean-luc]

Hello Ronnie,

I still have a problem with this scoring system. Like you, I thought first that it was an elimination tournament and that Miami and Philadelphia, having won at the previous event, faced each other in order to determine the global winner of the Eastern Conference. But then, I read in the report I found on that site the following sentences :

" Miami's win put the team into the conference finals for the eastern conference. The winner of the New England Striker versus New York Clash fight would be Miami's opponent. "

and :

" With their win, the New England Strikers secured their spot in the eastern conference finals later in the year in Miami. "

And that's precisely my point : it's normal that Miami qualify for the finals since they won their two matches but it's not logical that the New England team goes to the finals too : they lost to Philadelphia in the first event in January, so, if it's an elimination tournament as you said (and as I believed too), they should have been eliminated. And, if it's a tournament where the winner(s) is (are) determined by the total number of points, they should be eliminated too because they got the lowest one.

Or maybe the author of the report didn't understand the scoring rules better than he seems to have watched the fights of Stephen and Peyton ?

[R2035D]

I think this is where there needs to be a better desciption of the "conference" approach to the league. They need to be more specific on the website.

From my thoughts its set up as any Professional sport. The teams with the best record advance, and the points only are taken into account when a tie breaker is needed.

So Miami would advance, and the team with the second best record would also.

[jean-luc]

There are a lot of pictures of the event on the site http://www.maslinc.com/index.cfm?action=maslinc.photos&show=main

[Ray Thompson]

JL,
Thanks for the heads up on the pics on Sport M.A. site.

[Ray Thompson]

After getting the scores from the Wonderboy/Mrkanovic fight (second fight) one of the judges actually had the WB losing the round by TWO POINTS!!!!!. The other two judges had the WB winning, one had him winning by one pt. and the other had him winning by two. Not sure what the first judge was looking at but if you saw the fight it was obvious that the WB was all over Mrkanovic. Mrkanovic was in the fight ALL the way but it was the WB that dominated. BUT I could be wrong. I might be accused of being a bit partial toward the WB.

[Dominic]

what happened to this league? it came on like an explosion and now the flame has been put out. is it dead? is it taking a break?

[Ray Thompson]

Dominic,
Or what ever you like to call yourself. It is obvious you wish the WCL was dead. It threatens so many org.s and promoters existance that they fear it. They/you want to start a rumor that it is dead.
It is actually getting ready to explode. The 2007 season of the WCL will be the season that some serious contracts will be presented to the fighters. I have been given info to some of the contracts and bonus's that will be awarded next year and I was blown away. So to snuff any rumors that you want to propogate, the WCL will have it's coming out year in 07. So GET READY!!!

[Dominic]

CILL RAY!
i was not starting any rumors so chill out son! i was asking a real question because i had not heard much about it in the past few weeks. why so jumpy to thinking people are looking for bad things for it. i for one happen to think its a good thing. do you want an enemy here? this is why i don't post much, its more of a laugh watching everyone jump on peoples s h i t when there was nothing to jump on in the first place.

take a chill pill, and hope your not so angry in the future. :)

[Ronda]

Mr. Thompson
Will the WCL air any on TV or have they already? If not do you know of any dates? My kids would love to see Ronnie Copeland & Charles Baines fight.
Thanks :)
~Ronda

[Ray Thompson]

Dominic, It's chill not cill. Ronda, there are plans to air the WCL events on tv but they are waiting until they have some top notch fights in the can. There have been some really great fights and some not so great. Hopefully soon.

Oh, Dominic I am TRULY afraid of making an enemy of you, wwwwhhhhhhooooooo as I am sure we all are.

[P.J. Reilly]

Ray, how many teams will they have next year? Will they be expanding the league?

[StevieD]

Mr T,
Looks like it's a go for the 22nd. I look forward to it.
I don't think "Dominic" is very familiar with the kickboxing world...if you know what I mean.

[Ronda]

Thanks Mr. Thompson for the info. My kids look forward to meeting "Wonderboy" in Sept. Have a Great weekend!
~Ronda

[Ray Thompson]

Ronda, you are most welcome!
Stevie, You are right! Glad to see you in the League!
P.J., I think there will be eight teams again next year, not 100% sure though.

[Jim T]

Stevie D. I may have missed it. What is going on in Sept. Is it a WCL event or something else. Let me know.

[LMITCHUM]

Ray: It is good to see that you are involved in the coaching side of the WCL. But I do wish that you would promote a show again in the future. Your shows are awesome and are fun to attend. Do you have any plans to promote again in the future. Also, How is your new house?

Larry

[StevieD]

Hey Jim,
Yes, the next WCL takes place Sept 22nd in Austin, TX. It should be an awesome experience!
StevieD

[Bad Boy]

So stevie, what weight are you fighting at? I know you will enjoy the experince, its like no other. But I also heard about Mr. T's Shows I hear they are awesome. Are you starting? If so what team? Train hard and enjoy the rush.....

Bad Boy

[StevieD]

I'm fighting at 164 lbs. Jessie Finney initially asked me to start for his team which is Houston. However, he called later and said that it will be confirmed on the 18th and there's a possibility that I'll be an alternate. I've also fought on Mr. T's cards, in Greenville, and it was a blast.

[Bad Boy]

Cool sounds great. Good luck my friend

[StevieD]

Much appreciated!