This one word is the description of the job the International Battle League has ahead as it begins it's "Resurgence" back into the MMA World again with several fresh ideas that hope to make the 2009 IBL Season more organized with more exposure and easier to follow for everyone involved.

This time last year the IBL was an exciting new organization that many wanted to be a part of. The letters IBL were quickly a hot topic on MMA Message boards around the USA with many watching closely to see how the new independently team owned IBL was going to do in the hotbed of todays MMA as compared to the failed IFL.

Teams signed on quickly, more than twice the amount the IBL projected for the opening season and everyone was eager to start. However, many quickly learned there was more to owning a team than just paying a fee and signing the team agreement.

Few knew exactly what it would take to put into action the organizing of creating fight teams and more importantly, everyone agreeing on team schedules. Fielding 7 fighters in 7 different weightclasses seemed easy in theory. However finding 7 to commit and then another 7 as alternates became a task no team could fulfill. Some of the Teams were able to field 7 fighters but never a full 14 fighter roster.

The 2009 IBL season will have a different set of requirements that include both a Novice League and an OPEN League and the requirement for LESS Team members than last years 7. Add to this a less expensive Team fee and the learning curve the IBL took in 2008 hopes to be the payoff for everyone in 2009.

Delays from several state commissions on the status of amateur MMA hurt some of the Teams as well who were unable to promote during the planned IBL Season. In the end it came down to two teams, the HIT SQUAD out of Clinton, Missouri and the KC CAGE MONSTER'S of Overland Park, Kansas. It was the KC CAGE MONSTER'S who were crowned the first IBL Champions by a score of 4-3.

In all it was a year of learning. The IBL is more sensitive now as to the problems Teams had in 2008 with fielding a full team and even more sensitive to the problems of IBL League Scheduling.

Through the 2008 opening year the IBL listened to many problems Teams were having and the many desires the Teams had for the league that would lead to success for everyone. Some of those issues were addressed here on the news page this past December and were followed up with the solutions to those issues while others are still being considered.

What the IBL did determine though was the need for two things, 1) TV Exposure and 2) A strong reward at the end of the season.

To address number 1, the IBL has been in talks with several cable companies as well as internet video providers. Exposure is what will catapult the IBL to the status the league will need to bring on the much needed excitement that was there when the league idea was announced a year ago.

As for number 2, the IBL has some great news to announce already. IBL Commissioner Steve Fossum has confirmed that at the end of the 2009 IBL Season, President of Strikeforce, Scott Coker has agreed to sign on 3-5 of the Top IBL Fighters in the League. If Coker and his Team see more talent, they will make additional offers as desired.

For those who may not know, Strikeforce, is a world-class mixed martial arts cage fight promotion which, on Friday, March 10, 2006, made history with its "Shamrock vs. Gracie" event, the first sanctioned mixed martial arts fight card in California state history. The star-studded extravaganza, which pitted legendary champion Frank Shamrock against Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt Cesar Gracie at San Jose's HP Pavilion, played host to a sold-out, record crowd of 18,265.

Since 1995, Strikeforce has been the exclusive provider of martial arts programming for ESPN and, after 12 years of success as a leading, world championship kickboxing promotion, the company unveiled its mixed martial arts series with "Shamrock vs. Gracie." Since then, it has co-produced the first SHOWTIME PPV mixed martial arts event in history with its world championship "Shamrock vs. Baroni" card on June 22, 2007.

Although nothing has been confirmed there is a possibility that Coker's connections with HDNet Fights may play a part in the first item of need for the IBL as well which of course is TV Exposure. However, these discussions are yet to come.

The IBL had hoped for a February start of the 2009 season. However, the State of Illinois is once again delaying the IBL's action there as well as ALL Amateur fight sports. The next Illinois State Commission meeting this coming February 3rd will determine the fate of Amateur MMA in Illinois.

Adding to this is the hopeful idea that California may actually look to approve Amateur MMA. The California State Commission is discussing the topic of Amateur MMA in their February 10th meeting in Southern California. IBL Commissioner Steve Fossum will put in a few thousand miles of flight time attending both meetings to speak on behalf of Amateur MMA as well as ISCF MMA Sanctioning.

After the California meeting on February 10th, the IBL will make an announcement as to when the official 2009 season will begin. Needless to say, it won't be in February as hoped for. When the season start date is announced though the IBL is hoping to also make some announcements as to event broadcast opportunities as well as opportunities for some of the top amateur IBL fighters to sign on with some Top Pro MMA Promotions.

Combat Sports International (CSI) is still very excited to assist the building of thew IBL any way they can. CSI has made a Team package where each fighter only pays $20 for their Team shorts and warm-up T's with Team logos. CSI also has plans to feature IBL Fighters in their catalogs along with the IBL Season Schedules.

If you are a coach or promoter that is interested in fielding an IBL Team for the 2009 season, please let the IBL know by e-mail as you check out the Team ownership details found at this link HERE. and the IBL Team Application found HERE.

Scott Coker