On May 23rd, 2013
Fighters Source® made their fist appearance on the New York amateur MMA scene with their Kings of New York event at the Hammerstein Ballroom. I was pleased to be able to
cover the event last year and
interview Fighters Source® CEO Anthony Medina leading up to their debut New York show. Over a year has gone by and much has changed. Since that time Fighters Source® has gone national with a well reviewed amateur MMA tournament that culminates with a final event at the 2014
MMA World Expo on July 26th at the Jacob Javits Center in New York City.
On June 21st, leading up to the national tournament finals, Fighters Source® joined forces with New York's
Golden MMA to host a regional qualifier here in New York City. Check out veteran Journalist
Jim Genia's story on the New York regional event.
With only 6 days to go before the Fighters Source® national tournament finals and their third appearance in New York City, I once again have the pleasure of interviewing Anthony Medina about what's in store and how the brand has evolved over the last year.
NYMMANOW: It has been a year since the Fighters Source® debut in NYC at
the Hammerstein Ballroom; which I also covered for NYMMANOW. Please tell
us what has gone on with Fighters Source® during that time. What has
changed since last year?
MEDINA: Our complete business model has
changed. We have become a league instead of a single promotion. The
difference between a league and a single promotion is everything. A single
promotion has only their network and database to recruit talent. A league
uses the joint databases of multiple promotions to discover national talent.
A single promotion markets individual fighters. Fighters get injured, grow
old, or retire for personal reasons. Their marketing momentum stops right
there, then they must be reignited for their next start. A league markets a
team; teams which are consistent, and can be followed by generations. It is
true that the athletes of each team may change, but the team itself remains.
The marketing continues to multiply season after season. Single
promotion matches are handpicked by a matchmaker. Fans never know when
their favorite athlete will compete next. They are also in the dark as to
who he/she will fight next. This is difficult for converting casual fans
to avid fans. A league runs a season and schedule. Fans know when
their fighter/teams compete next. They also know who they will be fighting,
and where the event takes place. This makes tracking and predicting,
simple for the fans. Single promotion Champions of a single promotion hold
their title until a matchmaker gives them an opponent that can beat them.
A league, by implementing a season, athletes must start from scratch
each year. For an athlete to become a three time champ, he/she must
work his/her way to the title three separate seasons. This creates
true champions, and legends. Single promotions are never ending, at first
this may sound like a good thing, but it can get stagnant. With a league,
fans enjoy the excitement of a fresh start, the anticipation of a finale,
and the time off for their other interests. To put it simple,
single promotions flood the market.
NYMMANOW: As you know, amateur MMA is
fast becoming a national issue regarding fighter's health, safety and
oversight. Fighters Source® hosts events in several states including New
York. Unlike professional MMA, only about half of state athletic commissions
in the United States oversee amateur MMA; some quite poorly, others quite
well. What have you learned about the amateur MMA scene in America during
your travels? How did you choose the locations for each branch of the
national tournament?
MEDINA: Each branch was chosen by the various
team owners throughout the country that wanted to be a part of the Fighters
Source® League. Fighters Source® qualified 8 promotions from around the
country and invited them to participate in our Inaugural year as a League.
As far as the first question, where should I start, LOL! Unlike most
promoters, that are bounded by their local territory, I have had the unique opportunity to experience various different state and foreign athletic
commissions each with various rules and regulations. States are not uniform
in their operations when it comes to amateur MMA.
NYMMANOW: As you know, MMA
in New York is a controversial topic with professional still banned and
amateur unregulated by the NY Athletic Commission. How have you gone about
overseeing sanctioning in your New York events and how has it different from
other states? Your first time out here was regulated by the MMA Ki Federation (KICK International). Most recently you used ISKA. How will the
Fighters Source® finals at the World MMA Expo be regulated?
MEDINA: There is very little difference. We use 3rd party sanctioning
bodies as we have done with our other events in New York and Florida. The
only difference is how scrutinized MMA is in New York. Since our last show
in New York at the Hammerstein, over 30 amateur sanctioned, accredited shows
have been put on, and I would like to think that Fighters Source® played a
big part in leading by example about how important sanctioned fights are for
the safety of everyone involved.
NYMMANOW: I personally love the state team
format in this tournament and think it has great potential for growth. Can
you speak to how the idea of a national tournament with state teams arose and
any lessons you may have learned along the way?
MEDINA: It arose
right after our New York show. We saw there was a larger need to include
other promotions to put forward the absolute best US Team. We took the old
IFL (International Fight League) model and adopted it to the amateur side of
MMA, which seems to have blossomed under those ideals. Almost like the NCAA
National Wrestling Tournament consisting of different schools from different
states, and them having national Champions from each weight class. I have
learned that the United States is very fragmented in the various rules and
regulations for MMA among the various states. It is our hope to have
nationally unified MMA rules for not only athletes but for promotions as
well.
NYMMANOW: Teaming up with Paul Paone and the World MMA Expo is a
fantastic opportunity. How did this come about?
MEDINA: It's funny
that you ask. My partner, Adam Meyers, CFO of Fighter Source®, and I, were
visiting the Hammerstein to investigate throwing another event at that
location, and Paul was also looking to also possibly hold the Expo at the
Hammerstein. At the end of our site visit, Paul, Adam and I sat in the hotel
lobby and spoke of the benefits for both companies for the Fighters Source®
2014 Nationals being the main event for the Expo. We are very happy to be a
part of the MMA World Expo and look forward to our next one.
NYMMANOW: What's next for Fighters Source® after the Expo. I know you have taken teams
overseas in the past. Any plans to take the winners of the finals
to represent the U.S. abroad?
MEDINA: The winners of the Nationals
will move on to represent the United States in London at the World Challenge
in September. The World Challenge Finals will conclude the 2014
season.
NYMMANOW: Thanks for taking the time to speak with us. Any final
thoughts?
MEDINA: This past season has been such a great experience.
We have met a lot of different people, different cultures, from various
different states. We were able to experience events in snow, in rain, in
heat, indoor events, outdoor events, etc., and it was all great. The
common bond was Mixed Martial Arts. We look forward to the rest of this
season and for the seasons to come. We, as a League, will continue to work
toward legalization of Pro-MMA in New York, and the inclusion of MMA in to
the Olympics. Thank you to NYMMANOW for this interview, and we will see you
at the Nationals!
