The fight Network :

According to IFL senior vice president of communications Joe Favorito, the team-based MMA promotion will turn out the lights July 31 as its assets are sold to a yet-to-be-named buyer, confirmed today by several anonymous sources as the UFC ownership group Zuffa LLC….The buyout, which will mirror Zuffa’s takeover and subsequent closure of the now defunct WFA and PRIDE FC organizations in 2007 will see the UFC and WEC’s parent company take control of the rights to current IFL contracts as well as the promotion’s video library.

Rumors of the pending sale of the IFL has be floating around for weeks, but now it seems like July 31 marks the end of the IFL. I guess this means we won’t be seeing the IFL’s latest creation, The IFL Hex.

According to MMAJunkie, two of Mixed Martial Arts top prospects, brothers Jim and Mark Miller, have abandon ship with the IFL to climb aboard with the UFC.

The brothers made their mark quickly in the IFL, Dan Miller (8-1) captured the IFL middleweight belt by submitting Ryan McGivern with a sick kneebar in May (picture above).

Jim Miller (11-1) is considered one of the top lightweight prospects in MMA today. He defeated IFL top contender Bart Palaszewski in his debut fight with the IFL. His only loss came by way of UFC lightweight contender Frankie Edgar at Reality Fighting 14 back in 2006.

The Miller brothers will be a great addition the current UFC talent pool.

CORRECTION: Its Dan Miller not “Mark Miller”

I didn’t see this one coming. Reported on MMAPayout, The UFC is apparently purchasing the International Fight League (IFL).

The IFL has a large stable of young talent, some of which we are already seeing fight for the UFC (Horodecki, Blackburn, Markham, and Gusmao).

A Senior Producer at HDNet’s Inside MMA tells MMAPayout.com that the IFL will be bought by the UFC.

MMAPayout.com has confirmed talks between the IFL and UFC.

IFL Welterweight champion Jay Hieron talks about his current fighting situation after the IFL cancelled its August show.

IFL President Jay Larkin announced at a press conference on Tuesday that the IFL must cancel its August 15 show at the Izod Center in East Rutherford, NJ, due to lack of funding. He also warned that if a new investors are not found, the IFL will be forced to seek bankruptcy protection from its creditors.

Larkin also stated that the company will continue to downsize its staff to keep the company a float, but stated No fighters will be cut at this point.

This news doesn’t come as a surprise, as the IFL made some naive financial decisions from the start.

IFL Title Fights

Roy Nelson defeats Brad Imes TKO (Punches) at 2:55 of R1
Ryan Schultz defeats Deividas Taurosevicius by Unanimous Decision
Dan Miller defeats Ryan McGivern by Submission (Kneebar) at 3:36 of R1.

Preliminary Card

Danillo Villefort defeats Mike Massenzio by Submission (Kneebar) at 3:25 of R1.
Josh Souder defeats Zac George by TKO (Punches) at 0:47 of R1.
Matt Horwich defeats Joey Guel by Unanimous Decision
John Howard defeats Nick Calandrino by TKO (Strikes) at 2:24 of R3
Aaron Stark defeats Lamont Lister by Unanimous Decision
John Franchi defeats Frank Latina by Submission (Rear Naked Choke) at 2:19 of R1

PRESS RELEASE:

NEW YORK, May 8, 2008 –The International Fight League (IFLI: OTC.BB) today announced it is in the process of developing a hexagon-shaped mixed martial arts ring, to be used in future IFL competitions. The new ring, created in conjunction with Throwdown Industries, the makers of Throwdown Energy Drink, will debut when the IFL holds its event on Friday, August 15, at the Izod Center in East Rutherford, N.J. The fight card for that event will be announced in June.

Dubbed “The Hex,” the six-sided surface will measure 24 feet across (27’ 8 ½” end-to-end) and will be enclosed by five ropes. The use of The Hex maintains the viewing advantage for fans in attendance as well as the television audience that the ring provides, while also allowing for the strategic benefits of a hexagonal surface.

TheHex- “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,” said Jay Larkin, IFL CEO. “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.”

A prototype of The Hex is currently being constructed and will be housed in Las Vegas. Throwdown, the leader in MMA Gyms and Training centers, has built training centers and personal gyms for the top MMA athletes in the world. Athletes and coaches will have the opportunity to work out in it prior to the August 15 New Jersey event.

“‘The Hex’ is quite different from the other world-class MMA facilities we have built,” said Throwdown President Mike McIntyre. “We are excited to be putting our expertise to work in developing what we feel will be an optimal surface for the sport as it continues to grow.”

Tickets for the East Rutherford, N.J. event will be available at the IZOD Center Box Office (located at the Meadowlands), www.ticketmaster.com or by calling (201) 507-8900.

MSNBC: MMA fight weekly goes behind the scenes with IFL welterweight champion Jay Hieron (15-4) as he prepares for a fight against Mark Miller.

IFL 2008 – New Jersey

Mike Ciesnolevicz and Carmelo Marrero ruled No Contest (Cut) at 1:37 of R1.
Emyr Bussade defeats Jesse Lennox by Submission (Knee Bar) at 1:25 of R2.
Jay Hieron defeats Mark Miller by TKO (Strikes) at 2:10 of R1.
Wagnney Fabiano defeats Shad Lierley by KO (Punch) at 0:37 of R1.
Vladimir Matyushenko defeats Jamal Patterson by TKO (Strikes) at 3:35 of R2.
Brad Blackburn defeats Delson Heleno by TKO (Strikes) at 1:50 of R3.
Jim Miller defeats Bart Palaszewski by Unanimous Decision.
Chris Horodecki defeats Nate Lamotte by Unanimous Decision
LC Davis defeats Rafael Dias by KO (Head Kick) at 3:56 of R3.
Alex Schoenauer defeats Brendan Barrett by Split Decision

IFL 2008 New Jersey “New Blood – New Battles” takes place tonight April 4 at the Izod Center in New Jersey. The fights will be broadcast on HDNet starting at 8:30 pm EST.

All fighters made weight. It looks like a solid card with the usual IFL stars on display with a new twist of former UFC veteran Carmelo Marrero added to the mix.

Title Fights

Jay Hieron (170) vs. Mark Miller (170.4)
Wagnney Fabiano (145.4) vs. Shad Lierley (145.8)
Vladimir Matyushenko (205.4) vs. Jamal Patterson (205.6)

Non-Title Fights

Delson Heleno (170.8) vs. Brad Blackburn (171)
Jim Miller (155) vs. Bart Palaszewski (155.5)
Nate Lamotte (155.8) vs. Chris Horodecki (154.6)
Mike Ciesnolevicz (206) vs. Carmelo Marrero (205.8)
Emyr Bussade (170) vs. Jesse Lennox (170)
Rafael Dias (145.6) vs. L.C. Davis (145.6)
Alex Schoenauer (204) vs. Brendan Barrett (205.5)