MMA Blog: Pat Miletich
What is WAMMA??
9/25/2008 10:55:37 AM
Hello again MMA fans from sunny Bettendorf, Iowa. There has been a a lot of confusion in the MMA world as to what WAMMA is and what it's purpose is. WAMMA is a sanctioning body designed to bring true legitimacy to the sport of MMA. This sanctioning body is much different than that which exists in boxing.
WAMMA takes no sanctioning fee's from fighters or promotional organizations, and has absolutely no control over it's ranking committee which is chaired by Sam Caplan. WAMMA also has no financial interest in any promotional organization and vice versa. This is a precaution that must be maintained to avoid fixes in the world rankings. This would serve to create fights for certain organizations and individuals financial gain. Another precaution taken by WAMMA to aviod the pitfalls of boxing, was Fred Levin appointing Dave Szady as president and CEO of the company.
Dave Szady is a veteran of 33 years with the FBI and served with the CIA for several years as assistant director of counter intellegence. Having held his position within these gov't agencies shows WAMMA's determination to be run above board. Fred Levin wanted the promoters, fighters and fans to be comfortable knowing WAMMA would be a legit organization free of possible corruption and greed.
The WAMMA belt represents several things to people in MMA depending on their position as fan, fighter, or promoter. The fans will get the best fights for their dollar spent at the box office and pay per view buys. They will have the opportunity to see the fights between the best fighters at that current time in MMA history before those athletes pass their prime and are merely a shadow of what they once were.
The promoters will be able to participate in, and organize mega fights that will rival that of the greatest boxing matches in history. I remember the world stopped turning on the night of a massive pay per view between the worlds greatest boxers, and it should be no different for MMA.
The fighters will be able to fight the absolute worlds best and prove that they are the true WAMMA undisputed world champion. As a former organizational champion it was important to me to fight outside the organization against the best fighters on the planet. I lost some and I won some outside the my home organizations cage, but at least I was given the opportunity. The ability of a fighter and his manager to negotiate individual fights for the biggest pay days, no matter the organization is the power the athletes need.
Quoting Mike Lynch, COO of WAMMA, "there are no Don King and Bob Arum belts in boxing for a reason". The organizations in MMA are promotional companies which are the equal to what Bob Arum and Don King represent in boxing. It would be lunacy to have a Don King or Bob Arum world championship belt, but this is exactly what the organizational belts in MMA represent. This is not the WWE, this is real competition for real world titles, and an organizational belt in no way represents the greatest fighter on the planet.
All the promoters understand this concept minus one, as it threatens their dominance in brand control of MMA. By joining all organizations together in a common cause to crown the absolute best fighters on the planet, we are creating a larger fish tank that will create better fighters, sharks if you will. The one remaining small fish tank will eventually only produce a certain size fish that will not be able to swim with the sharks.
The WAMMA organization is currently in very productive talks with many MMA organizations to put together the absolute best fights for the fighters and fans. In the meantime I urge all fans to support the sport of MMA so that it can flourish and grow with undisputed world champions and reach the level of all other professional sports.
Sincerely, Pat Miletich
WAMMA takes no sanctioning fee's from fighters or promotional organizations, and has absolutely no control over it's ranking committee which is chaired by Sam Caplan. WAMMA also has no financial interest in any promotional organization and vice versa. This is a precaution that must be maintained to avoid fixes in the world rankings. This would serve to create fights for certain organizations and individuals financial gain. Another precaution taken by WAMMA to aviod the pitfalls of boxing, was Fred Levin appointing Dave Szady as president and CEO of the company.
Dave Szady is a veteran of 33 years with the FBI and served with the CIA for several years as assistant director of counter intellegence. Having held his position within these gov't agencies shows WAMMA's determination to be run above board. Fred Levin wanted the promoters, fighters and fans to be comfortable knowing WAMMA would be a legit organization free of possible corruption and greed.
The WAMMA belt represents several things to people in MMA depending on their position as fan, fighter, or promoter. The fans will get the best fights for their dollar spent at the box office and pay per view buys. They will have the opportunity to see the fights between the best fighters at that current time in MMA history before those athletes pass their prime and are merely a shadow of what they once were.
The promoters will be able to participate in, and organize mega fights that will rival that of the greatest boxing matches in history. I remember the world stopped turning on the night of a massive pay per view between the worlds greatest boxers, and it should be no different for MMA.
The fighters will be able to fight the absolute worlds best and prove that they are the true WAMMA undisputed world champion. As a former organizational champion it was important to me to fight outside the organization against the best fighters on the planet. I lost some and I won some outside the my home organizations cage, but at least I was given the opportunity. The ability of a fighter and his manager to negotiate individual fights for the biggest pay days, no matter the organization is the power the athletes need.
Quoting Mike Lynch, COO of WAMMA, "there are no Don King and Bob Arum belts in boxing for a reason". The organizations in MMA are promotional companies which are the equal to what Bob Arum and Don King represent in boxing. It would be lunacy to have a Don King or Bob Arum world championship belt, but this is exactly what the organizational belts in MMA represent. This is not the WWE, this is real competition for real world titles, and an organizational belt in no way represents the greatest fighter on the planet.
All the promoters understand this concept minus one, as it threatens their dominance in brand control of MMA. By joining all organizations together in a common cause to crown the absolute best fighters on the planet, we are creating a larger fish tank that will create better fighters, sharks if you will. The one remaining small fish tank will eventually only produce a certain size fish that will not be able to swim with the sharks.
The WAMMA organization is currently in very productive talks with many MMA organizations to put together the absolute best fights for the fighters and fans. In the meantime I urge all fans to support the sport of MMA so that it can flourish and grow with undisputed world champions and reach the level of all other professional sports.
Sincerely, Pat Miletich
Pat Miletich is the founder of Miletich Fighting Systems in Bettendorf, Iowa. He is a former UFC champion and finished with a career record of 28-7. For more info on Pat and Miletich Fighting Systems, please visit www.mfselite.com.
Comments:
JB:
Pat, great article. You really shined light on the goals of WAMMA. Do you have an estimate on how long before WAMMA is a major part of MMA and do you think the UFC will ever allow WAMMA to be a part of their process?
Pat, great article. You really shined light on the goals of WAMMA. Do you have an estimate on how long before WAMMA is a major part of MMA and do you think the UFC will ever allow WAMMA to be a part of their process?
pat miletich:
JB, WAMMA is already a major player as we are talking with almost every major organization on the planet. The UFC will eventually find WAMMA as a must. Thanks, Pat
JB, WAMMA is already a major player as we are talking with almost every major organization on the planet. The UFC will eventually find WAMMA as a must. Thanks, Pat
Boy George:
Gotta drop some of those bloggers from your list of voters. Makes the whole thing look very bush league and makes it hard to buy into.
Gotta drop some of those bloggers from your list of voters. Makes the whole thing look very bush league and makes it hard to buy into.
Boy George:
Also, if WAMMA is a major player with almost every major organization, why is no one fighting for any titles? Outside of Fedor running over a UFC heavy stone they couldn't drain any more blood out of, I have heard zero mention of any other titles, contender fights or anything of that nature. I realize this whole WAMMA thing just started up, but even the tortoise just screamed by you guys.
Also, if WAMMA is a major player with almost every major organization, why is no one fighting for any titles? Outside of Fedor running over a UFC heavy stone they couldn't drain any more blood out of, I have heard zero mention of any other titles, contender fights or anything of that nature. I realize this whole WAMMA thing just started up, but even the tortoise just screamed by you guys.
pat miletich:
Boy George, Rome wasn't built in a day either.
Boy George, Rome wasn't built in a day either.
Boy George:
Oh yeah, I realize it's not gonna be built over night, but outside of publishing some "interesting" rankings that includes mostly fighters fighting for the UFC, who have no interest in WAMMA, I just don't see a whole lot going on. Looks like there might be a few too many UFC super fans voting.
Oh yeah, I realize it's not gonna be built over night, but outside of publishing some "interesting" rankings that includes mostly fighters fighting for the UFC, who have no interest in WAMMA, I just don't see a whole lot going on. Looks like there might be a few too many UFC super fans voting.
pat miletich:
Boy George, Just goes to show you we don't control the rankings. The fighters do have interest in fighting for the undisputed belt, but Dana White does not. All in due time. P. Miletich
Boy George, Just goes to show you we don't control the rankings. The fighters do have interest in fighting for the undisputed belt, but Dana White does not. All in due time. P. Miletich
Sluggz:
I was on the fence with the WAMMA organization before this blog but now that I understand it, I fully support it and feel it is necessary. The part about the Don King belt makes a lot of sense and should make people realize that the UFC is only a promotional company like Golden Boy and is not a league like the NBA or NFL. Do you see the latest trend of leasing fighters to other organizations (ie. Arlovski in EliteXC) continuing or do you foresee fighters taking one fight deals in various organizations? Anyways, great blog...Hope to read more soon.
I was on the fence with the WAMMA organization before this blog but now that I understand it, I fully support it and feel it is necessary. The part about the Don King belt makes a lot of sense and should make people realize that the UFC is only a promotional company like Golden Boy and is not a league like the NBA or NFL. Do you see the latest trend of leasing fighters to other organizations (ie. Arlovski in EliteXC) continuing or do you foresee fighters taking one fight deals in various organizations? Anyways, great blog...Hope to read more soon.
Boy George:
I would think the UFC would fold before buying into WAMMA. I think it's a good idea in theory, but the sport is not built for it. I would think that based on WAMMA's most current rankings, Fedor and Barnett will be fighting next, but there is already talk that the winner of Arlovski and Nelson will get a shot at Fedor next. It just doesn't make any sense to me right now, but I'll definitely give it a chance. My suggestion would be not to include any shows/cards that don't work with WAMMA. They'll make the rankings and matchups make a lot more sense. Good luck.
I would think the UFC would fold before buying into WAMMA. I think it's a good idea in theory, but the sport is not built for it. I would think that based on WAMMA's most current rankings, Fedor and Barnett will be fighting next, but there is already talk that the winner of Arlovski and Nelson will get a shot at Fedor next. It just doesn't make any sense to me right now, but I'll definitely give it a chance. My suggestion would be not to include any shows/cards that don't work with WAMMA. They'll make the rankings and matchups make a lot more sense. Good luck.
pat miletich:
Thanks for all the feedback guys. This is the stuff we need to hear so we can improve the sport for the fans.
Thanks for all the feedback guys. This is the stuff we need to hear so we can improve the sport for the fans.
pat miletich:
Boy George, "The sport is not built for it"? What in God's name are you saying? That a fighter does not deserve to be crowned the one true champion in his weight class? That organizational champions are legitimate? The fact that we include all fighters in the rankings will show a slow shift of talent over time to the other organizations. This also shows we do not control the rankings. If I could control who got the next shot at Fedor it would surely be Barnett, but I do not have that kind of control. The promoters simply look at our rankings and put together the fights. If the champion is not fighting a ranked fighter, it won't be for a WAMMA belt. If the champion does not defend the belt in a certain amount of time he will be stripped of the belt. Hope this helps
Boy George, "The sport is not built for it"? What in God's name are you saying? That a fighter does not deserve to be crowned the one true champion in his weight class? That organizational champions are legitimate? The fact that we include all fighters in the rankings will show a slow shift of talent over time to the other organizations. This also shows we do not control the rankings. If I could control who got the next shot at Fedor it would surely be Barnett, but I do not have that kind of control. The promoters simply look at our rankings and put together the fights. If the champion is not fighting a ranked fighter, it won't be for a WAMMA belt. If the champion does not defend the belt in a certain amount of time he will be stripped of the belt. Hope this helps
Boy George:
Like I said previously, ideally, sure, something like WAMMA would be great, but the sports been built over the past 15 plus years, and you've been there for the entire ride Pat, but to think that the sports been built to accept something like WAMMA today, is pretty naive in my opinion. You/WAMMA don't have control with what fighter/#1 contender your champion will fight?!?!? Well then what's the point of these rankings??? And what kinda of relationship does WAMMA have if they can't have even the best non-UFC guys fight one another for the title? So Fedor simply needs to fight a ranked fighter? It sounds like his main focus right now is getting on the NYE card in Japan to fight Ishii. How does that further the WAMMA title? With the UFC owning what looks like close to 75% of the fighters on your rankings, how are guys even gonna fight for belts? Why not have Shields and Daley fight for the WAMMA 170 lbs title? My point is, outside of Fedor, how on earth are any of these belts gonna be figured out when the guys you have ranked, mostly on zuffa contracts, won't fight for it, whether you claim they want to or not. In theory, great idea, but in theory, comunisim is a good idea too. Not gonna happen. And how the hell is Bill Goldberg an officer?!?!?!? Come on Pat.
Like I said previously, ideally, sure, something like WAMMA would be great, but the sports been built over the past 15 plus years, and you've been there for the entire ride Pat, but to think that the sports been built to accept something like WAMMA today, is pretty naive in my opinion. You/WAMMA don't have control with what fighter/#1 contender your champion will fight?!?!? Well then what's the point of these rankings??? And what kinda of relationship does WAMMA have if they can't have even the best non-UFC guys fight one another for the title? So Fedor simply needs to fight a ranked fighter? It sounds like his main focus right now is getting on the NYE card in Japan to fight Ishii. How does that further the WAMMA title? With the UFC owning what looks like close to 75% of the fighters on your rankings, how are guys even gonna fight for belts? Why not have Shields and Daley fight for the WAMMA 170 lbs title? My point is, outside of Fedor, how on earth are any of these belts gonna be figured out when the guys you have ranked, mostly on zuffa contracts, won't fight for it, whether you claim they want to or not. In theory, great idea, but in theory, comunisim is a good idea too. Not gonna happen. And how the hell is Bill Goldberg an officer?!?!?!? Come on Pat.
Jazz:
I understand what Boy is saying. We've seen how possessive the UFC is of its fighters. Getting them to fight outside of the UFC may not be legally possible and that poses a problem. Also, when we had IFL, UFC, EXC and Dream (or even as far back as Pride) it had the appearance of being like different leagues. I understand they were promotions, but the UFC has furthered that concept by making statements that they want to be "the NFL of MMA". Which makes sense. And then EXC or WEC would be sort of like Minor Leagues given the UFC's talent pool. I do think the athlete's should have more power to pick their fights and their should be some sort of oversight when it coems to titles and matchmaking. The way I see it is that for WAMMA to be legit they are going to have to get the UFC to cooperate. Problem is, the UFC is doing so well, why would they feel the need to? Even pressure from the fans may not be enough. I think instead of the NFL, the UFC is more of a Microsoft.
I understand what Boy is saying. We've seen how possessive the UFC is of its fighters. Getting them to fight outside of the UFC may not be legally possible and that poses a problem. Also, when we had IFL, UFC, EXC and Dream (or even as far back as Pride) it had the appearance of being like different leagues. I understand they were promotions, but the UFC has furthered that concept by making statements that they want to be "the NFL of MMA". Which makes sense. And then EXC or WEC would be sort of like Minor Leagues given the UFC's talent pool. I do think the athlete's should have more power to pick their fights and their should be some sort of oversight when it coems to titles and matchmaking. The way I see it is that for WAMMA to be legit they are going to have to get the UFC to cooperate. Problem is, the UFC is doing so well, why would they feel the need to? Even pressure from the fans may not be enough. I think instead of the NFL, the UFC is more of a Microsoft.
Bill:
hopefully there will eventually be enough pressure put on dana white and the ufc by the fighters and the fans to help bring this to fruition. i think everyone wants to see couture v. fedor, and with other big names signing under different banners there are going to be more super match ups that this can help put together.
i agree though - without the ufc wamma has nothing.
hopefully there will eventually be enough pressure put on dana white and the ufc by the fighters and the fans to help bring this to fruition. i think everyone wants to see couture v. fedor, and with other big names signing under different banners there are going to be more super match ups that this can help put together.
i agree though - without the ufc wamma has nothing.
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