The IFL announced Friday that Brad Imes, the season two heavyweight runner-up from SpikeTV’s “The Ultimate Fighter,” will challenge Roy Nelson for the IFL heavyweight title next Friday in Uncasville, Conn. at the Mogehan Sun.

Imes was tapped as a replacement after Branden Lee Hinkle was forced to pull out of the card due to an injury sustained while training.

Also, lightweight Jim Miller has declined to appear on the card. According to the IFL, Miller decided to drop off the card after his opponent, Fabricio Camoes, withdrew due to injury. The IFL has replaced the Miller vs. Camoes matchup with a lightweight bout featuring Frank Latina vs. John Franchi.

A total of nine bouts have been scheduled for the card, with at least six guaranteed to be shown live on HDNet. In addition to the heavyweight title fight between Nelson and Imes,  Ryan Schultz will defend his IFL lightweight title vs. Deividas Taurosevicius while Ryan McGivern defends the IFL middleweight title vs. Dan Miller. An outstanding battle featuring middleweight prospects Mike Massenzio and Danillo Villefort is also scheduled as well.

Story updated at 3:41 p.m. ET.

The International Fight League revealed plans on Thursday to debut a six-sided ring as the fight promotion’s fighting surface. The new ring has been branded as “The Hex” and will debut on August 15 for a show at the Izod Center in East Rutherford, N.J.

The prototype of the new ring is still being constructed. Upon completion, it will be stored in Las Vegas.

While not addressing the issue directly, it’s likely that the IFL’s decision to use a six-sided ring is based on claims by critics that their product looks too much like boxing on television. Publicly, the IFL is indicating that its audience enjoys the ring and that they are going with a six-sided version in order to create a larger fighting environment.

“From a production and live event standpoint, the ring has proven to be the most fan and media friendly environment, as well as providing the safest possible environment for our athletes,” IFL CEO Jay Larkin is quoted as saying in a press release. “The Hex allows for the larger surface that is utilized in other MMA organizations while still retaining the advantages we have enjoyed with the ring.”

No matches for the Aug. 15 card have been announced. The promotion may start revealing matchups to the public in June.

Other notes from the conference call:

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Speculation has been running rampant for quite some time that the International Fight League’s days are numbered. However, that speculation recently intensified following the release of its latest annual report to the SEC and the fact that it currently has no official events scheduled past its next card on Friday, May 16.

Some other ominous signs include the fact that the May 16 broadcast from the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Conn. is slated to be the last of the promotion’s three-show deal with Mark Cuban’s HDNet and its deal with Fox Sports Net is set to expire at the end of the summer.

Oh, and you can’t overlook several auditor warnings in the IFL’s recent SEC filing that it simply doesn’t have the capital it needs right now to finish out the fiscal year. That problem can always be rectified with an infusion of cash. But where is that cash going to come from?

That being said, if the IFL is going out, it’s not going out without a fight (bad pun intended). FiveOuncesOfPain.com received a press release yesterday from the IFL to announce that it will be hosting a conference call on Thursday. The first thought that went into my head was that perhaps the promotion was going to announce that it would be suspending operations following the May 16 show? Not so. IFL CEO Jay Larkin and Vice President of Talent Relations Bas Rutten will both be available to the media to discuss future event scheduling (believed to be a new fight card) as well as a “major new initiative for the IFL.”

We’d love to be able to tell you just exactly what the IFL is planning on announcing tomorrow, but we simply don’t know. But have no fear, we’ll have those answers for you since 5 Oz. will be calling in to cover the conference call.

Fabricio “Morango” Camoes has been forced to pull out of a scheduled lightweight encounter vs. Jim Miller that had been slated for the IFL’s next show on May 16 in Uncasville, Connecticut.

The news comes via MMAPredictions.com, which indicated that Camoes is out because of a broken toe.

Camoes, a standout in jiu-jitsu, recorded a first round TKO vs. Joe Camacho during a ShoXC event on April 5.

Miller is coming off a victory as well, having recorded an upset unanimous decision victory over Bart Palaszewski during the IFL’s most recent event on April 4 in East Rutherford, N.J.

The IFL has yet to confirm the news and has not named a replacement to face Miller.

The IFL has announced the addition of seven fighters to its nine-bout show scheduled for Friday, May 16 at the Mogehan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.

The added fighters include Fabricio Camoes, Jim Miller, Josh Souder, Lamont Lister, Nick Calandrino, Joey Guel, and Danillo Villefort.

Souder and Villefort are both products of the IFL’s Draft tryouts that took place this past Fall, while Miller made his IFL debut during the promotion’s April show. Miller improved his career MMA record to 11-1 following after defeating Bart Palaszewski via unanimous decision.

Camoes, 9-4, might be familiar to MMA fans following his first round TKO over Joe Camacho during EliteXC’s most recent ShoXC event that was held on April 5. The Brazilian is still under contract to EliteXC but has the flexibility to fight outside of his existing contract in select situations.

It’s also interesting to note that Aaron Rosa, a light heavyweight who has competed three times for EliteXC’s ShoXC is also scheduled for June’s Adrenaline MMA debut in Chicago. However, after two consecutive losses in ShoXC, it’s unknown if Rosa is still under contract to EliteXC or simply fighting with consent outside of his existing contract.

The current lineup for the IFL’s May show is as follows (it appears as though the IFL is dropping its camp vs. camp format… at least for this show):

Preliminary Bouts

• 205 lbs.: Aaron Stark (Portland, Ore.) (Team Quest) (2-2 IFL, 5-4 overall MMA) vs. Lamont Lister (Philadelphia) (Team Bombsquad) (0-0, 5-3)
• 170 lbs.: John Howard (Boston) (0-0 IFL, 8-3 overall MMA) vs. Nick Calandrino (Emerson, N.J.) (Team Bombsquad) (0-0, 5-0)
• 155 lbs.: Zac George (Norman, Okla.) (Team Quest) (1-1, 12-2) vs. Josh Souder (Mason, Ohio) (Team Prodigy) (0-0, 10-6)
• 185 lbs.: Matt Horwich (Portland, Ore.) (Team Quest) (6-4, 21-10-1) vs. Joey Guel (Oregon) (0-0, 12-5)
• 155 lbs.: Fabricio Camoes (Brazil) (World Class Fight Center) (0-0, 8-4) vs. Jim Miller (Sparta, N.J.) (Team Bombsquad/AMA Fight Club) (1-0, 11-1)
• 185 lbs.: Danillo Villefort (Pompano Beach, Fla.) (World Class Fight Center) (0-0, 6-2) vs. Mike Massenzio (Paterson, N.J.) (Team Bombsquad) (0-0, 10-1)

Championship Bouts

• 185 lbs.: *Ryan McGivern (Bettendorf, Iowa) (Miletich Fighting Systems) (6-4, 12-5) vs. Dan Miller (AMA Fight Club) (Sparta, N.J.) (1-0, 7-1)
• 265 lbs.: *Roy Nelson (Las Vegas) (Lion’s Den) (5-1, 12-2) vs. Branden Lee Hinkle (Weirton, W. Va.) (0-0, 13-9)
• 155 lbs.: *Ryan Schultz (North Platte, Neb.) (Team Quest) (6-2, 19-9-1) vs. Deividas Taurosevicius (Lithuania) (Renzo Gracie) (3-0, 9-2)

*Current Titleholder

The card for the IFL’s next show on May 16 at the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Conn. is starting to take shape. And so far, it looks pretty good.
The show will feature three title matches as well as best-of-three camp vs. camp battles between Mario Sperry’s World Class Fighting Center taking on Gary Marino’s Team Bomb Squad and Matt Lindland’s Team Quest doing battle with Team Prodigy.

Here’s the card so far…

IFL heavyweight title: Roy Nelson vs. Branden Lee Hinkle

IFL middleweight title: Ryan McGivern vs. Dan Miller

IFL lightweight title: Ryan Schultz vs. Deividas Taurosevicius

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The following article is a special contribution to FiveOuncesOfPain.com from Philadelphia-based freelance sportswriter Eric Shapiro. In the article below, Shapiro shares his first-hand account of covering the IFL’s most recent show this past Friday at the Izon Center in East Rutherford, N.J.

By Eric Shapiro

As a Philadelphia native, you could say it is in my nature to frown upon most anything that has to do with New Jersey. However Friday night’s IFL show in East Rutherford definitely brought the Garden State up a notch in my book.

The IFL, though heavily criticized by many (including myself) since its inception, managed to put together a very solid card at the Izod Center and they also took care of us press folk very well.

After bouncing around the Izod Center lobby for about 15 minutes I found Jerry Milani, manager of IFL public relations, who tells me that press credentials should be out shortly and that he just needs to run downstairs somewhere to get them. Sure enough, Jerry comes back a few minutes later credentials in hand, and starts dishing out the press passes. From there we head downstairs to a concourse area where Pat Miletich and Shawn Thompkins are signing autographs and taking pictures with the fans.

Before I could try to get near Miletich he was whisked away to some other room, so my photographer buddy and I moseyed on inside the arena. There I was able to shake hands with Bas Rutten and I have to admit I was a bit star struck, though he was not as big as I imagined.

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We have FIVE (5) copies of the IFL’s “World Premiere Season: Road to the Championship” DVD ready to give to YOU.

To win this DVD set be one of the first FIVE readers to post the correct answers to the following five questions.

1. Who has competed in the most IFL bouts?

2. Who was the coach of the team that won the IFL Legends Championship and IFL World Team Championships in 2006?

3. Which IFL athlete is known as “The Suit” because of his career as a sales representative at an orthodontics equipment company?

4. Which IFL coach won a silver medal in the 2000 Summer Olympics?

5.Which IFL athlete defected from his native Belarus while competing for the national wrestling team in 1993?

All answers MUST be posted in the Comment String of THIS CONTEST POST. Contest is now OVER.

If you don’t win one of these DVD’s you can buy it at the IFL shop.

Check out more IFL content on FiveOuncesofPain.com

Big ups to the IFL for once again recognizing the power of YouTube and making some of these fights and highlights available from their New Jersey event last Friday. There were a couple of real vicious knockouts during the event and the IFL has made them available for all of us to see.

Specifically the Wagnney Fabiano knockout of Shad Lierley is one that will be on IFL highlight reels from here on out. It reminds me a lot of Rich Franklin’s knockout of Nate Quarry. Enjoy.

Last night’s IFL telecast on HDNet proved to be an outstanding show, featuring some great fights and outstanding performances from fighters that are being grossly overlooked by many fans and pundits.

It was the strong showing the IFL needed following a February event in Vegas that lacked energy and excitement. The promotion’s World Grand Prix finals that took place in Connecticut this past December could be considered its best show in its young history and last night’s telecast was on par.

A lot of people have written the IFL off for dead, and while no indication has been given by the company that they have the funds needed to exist past June, the product on display last night was one that was easy to watch and enjoy for a hardcore fight fan. If you have HDNet yet elected not to watch the show, you missed out on some great action. I highly recommend you check out some YouTube clips or try and catch a replay because it was a really good card.

For the benefit of HDNet, the IFL needs to remain in existence. HDNet has reached out to a lot of different promotions for content, but thus far I would have to label the IFL as its signature brand. Most of the fight cards on HDNet feature up and coming stars while the IFL can offer something in the way of star power with the likes of Chris Horodecki, Roy Nelson, Vladimir Matyushenko, Wagnney Fabiano, Jay Hieron and several others.

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What: International Fight League
When: April 4, 2008
Where: East Rutherford, N.J. @ the Izod Center

Results:

• Alex Schoenauer (Las Vegas) def. Brendan Barrett (Tuckerton, N.J.) via decision (split) after three rounds
• Chris Horodecki (London, Ontario) def. Nate Lamotte (New Hampshire) via decision (unanimous) after three rounds

American Top Team vs. Miletich Fighting Systems

• L.C. Davis (Kansas City, Mo.) def. Rafael Dias (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) via KO (strikes), 3:56, 3rd
• Emyr Bussade (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) def. Jesse Lennox (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) via submission (kneebar) 1:25, 2nd
• Mike Ciesnolevicz (Williamstown, Pa.) vs. Carmelo Marrero (Douglasville, Pa.), no contest

Midwest Combat vs. Renzo Gracie Academy

• Jim Miller (Sparta, N.J.) def. Bart Palaszewski (Wonder Lake, Ill.) via decision (unanimous) after three rounds
• Brad Blackburn (Olympia, Wash.) def. Delson Heleno (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) via KO (strikes), 1:50, 3rd

Championship Bouts

• Vladimir Matyushenko (Belarus) def. Jamal Patterson (Jersey City, N.J.) via TKO (strikes), 3:35, 2nd
• Wagnney Fabiano (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) def. Shad Lierley (Seattle) via KO (punch), 0:37, 1st
• Jay Hieron (Freeport, N.Y.) def. Mark Miller (Chicago) via TKO (strikes), 2:10, 1st

The IFL returns to HDNet tonight at 8:30 p.m. ET with what has the makings on paper of being a very strong card.

Tonight’s show has a lot of promise with Jay Hieron, Wagnney Fabiano, Vladimir Matyushenko, Shad Lierley, Bart Palaszewski, and Chris Horodecki all slated to fight. The IFL has taken its lumps with pundits and fans over the course of the last year, but I firmly believe that the aforementioned fighters are capable of fighting for any promotion in the world.

Featuring three title matches, a best-of-three series between Midwest Combat vs. Renzo Gracie Jiu Jitsu, as well as an appearance by Horodecki, I will go out on a limb to say that tonight’s IFL show could prove to be one of its best since its inception in 2006.

If you base your MMA viewing choices on SEC reporting results, maybe the IFL isn’t for you. However, if you’re just looking to see some free fights on a Friday night, tonight’s IFL show fits the bill.

Here’s a look at tonight’s televised bouts.

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Team Bomb Squad, a team comprised of some of the top MMA fighters in the Northeastern corridor of the United States, will make its formal IFL debut on May 16 at the Mogehan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut, team manager Gary Marino revealed exclusively to FiveOuncesOfPain.com (www.FiveOuncesOfPain.com).

The team, which will be coached by Ryan Ciotoli, will face Mario Sperry’s World Class Fight Center during the IFL’s May event. Mike Massenzio will represent Team Bomb Squad in a middleweight bout while John Howard will compete in a welterweight fight. The third spot on the team, which will be a lightweight slot, has not yet been determined.

Two Team Bomb Squad affiliate fighters will also be appearing on next Friday’s IFL show at the Izod Center in East Rutherford, NJ. Brendan Barrett will be fighting Alex Schoenauer while Nate Lamotte will take on Chris Horodecki.

Check out more IFL content of FiveOuncesofPain.com.

Yesterday it was announced by the IFL that former UFC fighter Jason Black would be stepping in for Rory Markham against Emyr Bussade at the April 4th IFL show in New Jersey.

FiveOuncesOfPain.com has confirmed with Nick Lembo, legal counsel for the New Jersey Athletic Control Board, that Black will not be on the card due to undisclosed reasons.

Lembo also confirmed that undefeated fighter Jesse Lennox, with an 8-0 record, will be stepping in to replace Black against Bussade on April 4th.

The International Fight League has announced several changes to its fight card scheduled for next Friday at the Izod Center in East Rutherford, N.J.

In addition to a lightweight bout between Jim Miller and Bart Palaszewski that was first reported by FiveOuncesOfPain.com on Monday, a light heavyweight bout between Alex Schoenauer and Brendan Barrett has also been added to the card.

Miller replaces Deividas Taurosevicius, who had to pull out of the show due to injury. Schoenauer vs. Barrett is an added bout to the show’s existing lineup.

The current 10-bout card, which appears on paper to be one of the IFL’s strongest lineups to date, now looks like this:

• 155 lbs.: Chris Horodecki vs. Nate Lamotte
• 205 lbs.: Alex Schoenauer vs. Brendan Barrett

American Top Team vs. Miletich Fighting Systems

• 145 lbs.: Rafael Dias vs. L.C. Davis
• 170 lbs.: Emyr Bussade vs. Jason Black
• 205 lbs.: Carmelo Marrero vs. Mike Ciesnolevicz

Midwest Combat vs. Renzo Gracie Academy

• 155 lbs.: Bart Palaszewski vs. Jim Miller
• 170 lbs.: Brad Blackburn vs. Delson Heleno
• *205 lbs.: **Vladimir Matyushenko vs. Jamal Patterson

Additional Championship Bouts

• *170 lbs.: **Jay Hieron vs. Mark Miller
• *145 lbs.: **Wagnney Fabiano vs. Shad Lierley

*Championship Bout
**Current Titleholder

A representative close to the International Fight League confirmed to FiveOuncesOfPain.com (www.FiveOuncesOfPain.com) late Monday that the fight promotion is set to announce an extension of their existing television contract with Fox Sports Net.

As per terms of the deal, the extension will call for the IFL’s show to air weekly on FSN on Saturdays at midnight through July.

While speaking with Five Ounces of Pain for this story, the IFL representative expressed his belief that the new time slot is beneficial to the promotion because it will decrease the number of preemptions that result from FSN’s local sports commitments.

FiveOuncesOfPain.com has also learned that lightweight prospect Jim Miller will compete on the IFL’s next fight card scheduled for April 4 in East Rutherford, NJ at the Izod Center.

Sources have revealed that Miller will replace Deividas Taurosevicius on the April card in a lightweight clash against Bart Palaszewski. Taurosevicius had to bow out of next month’s fight due to a hand injury that has been slow to heal. He is slated to compete on the promotion’s May show at the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Conn.

Miller had reportedly been offered a contract by the UFC and an opportunity to replace Spencer Fisher against Marcus Aurelio at UFC Fight Night 13 on April 2. He was unable to execute a contract with the UFC due to an existing three fight deal with the IFL.

It is being reported by several media outlets that Jim Miller has agreed to replace the injured Spencer Fisher in a lightweight match against Marcus Aurelio to be contested on the undercard of UFC Fight 13 on April 2.

While Miller has been offered the fight and is prepared to accept it, FiveOuncesOfPain.com (www.FiveOuncesOfPain.com) has learned that the fight has not been finalized.

When contacted by FiveOuncesOfPain.com for comment on Tuesday afternoon, IFL Senior Vice President of Communications Joe Favorito confirmed rumors that Miller is already signed to a three-fight contract with the promotion.

Miller was recently added to the IFL roster and is scheduled to be a part of its May show in Connecticut as a member of a team comprised of fighters from the New Jersey and New York area.

Favorito was quick to add that the IFL is more than willing to work out an agreement with the UFC that would grant Miller a one-time exemption allowing him to compete against Aurelio. According to Favorito, Miller’s management team was notified of the IFL’s position this morning.

FiveOuncesOfPain.com has also learned that Miller’s brother, Dan Miller, who has competed for the IFL in the past, has also signed a new three-fight agreement with the promotion.

Former UFC heavyweight and light heavyweight competitor Carmelo Marrero is scheduled to make his IFL debut on April 4 at the Izod Center in East Rutherford, N.J., the promotion announced Wednesday afternoon.

Marrero, whose most notable win was an upset split-decision victory over Cheick Kongo at UFC 64, will represent American Top Team in a light heavyweight bout against Mike Ciesnolevicz of Miletich Fighting Systems.

Also added to the card are IFL veteran Brad Blackburn and newcomer Nate Lamotte.

Blackburn will take on Delson Heleno in a welterweight bout while Lamotte is set to square off against lightweight competitor Chris Horodecki.

CLICK HERE TO READ TO READ THE REMAINDER OF THIS ARTICLE ON SAM CAPLAN’S PROELITE.COM BLOG

According to a press-release from the International Fight League, Throwdown has become “the official energy drink, fight gloves, and ring of the IFL.” This looks to be solid move for Throwdown Industries as it continues to grow within the MMA community. Both parties have much to say on this newly-found partnership:

“We are very pleased to be able to add one of the growing brands in the industry in Throwdown to the IFL family,” said IFL CEO Jay Larkin. “The extensive marketing that an industry giant like the Cott Corporation, one of the legends in the consumer packaging industry, will put behind this gives us a very strong position to grow our brand and our athletes into the future.”

“Throwdown and Cott [one of the world’s largest nonalcoholic beverage companies and the world’s largest retailer brand soft drink provider] add credibility and excitement to the sport of MMA through its products, services and partnership with the IFL and other fight leagues, firmly entrenching Throwdown’s global leadership position in supporting MMA” added Throwdown President Mike McIntyre.

Throwdown and Cott Corporation are set to launch a activation platform for retail at IFL events, using IFL athletes, coaches and brands in consumer promotions and a multimedia campaign. The campaign will launch around the time of the IFL’s next event on Friday, April 4, at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Adam Swift of MMAPayout.com is reporting that the IFL will use Team Tompkins as the name of the Tompkins-coached team in the IFL at tonight’s event instead of using the team name of Xtreme Couture. He was able to obtain the following statement from Joe Favorito, Senior VP of Communications with the IFL:

Given the ongoing litigation between Extreme Couture and the UFC, we were asked by Extreme Couture Wednesday to not use the Extreme Couture camp name in our event this Friday. Out of respect for Randy and his team in this difficult situation, the camp will take the name Team Tompkins. Shawn Tompkins is coaching this Friday as already announced for this Friday’s event. The IFL is not in any way involved in this litigation, we are doing this out of professional courtesy for Randy and his group.

Has it really come to this? A bunch of Randy Couture’s guys are fighting in the IFL and they can’t even fight under his banner? What a joke. Props to Couture for being the bigger person and yanking his name from the event before it got any uglier. Wouldn’t want to do anything to upset the big, bad UFC.