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IFL Grand Prix vs. IFL Playoffs
Now I know that the IFL isn't the lost beloved MMA promotion here on Sherdog, but let's assume (pretend?) that the company is doing ok financially, is relatively stable, and is thinking years down the line. Against that backdrop, I'd like to critique their scheduling, namely having the IFL Playoffs take place BEFORE the IFL Grand Prix.
In the minds of many sports fans, the Championship is the culmination of the season. Everything is about buildup to the Big Final. As the IFL is predicated upon the Team Concept for MMA, so too should it be predicated upon the idea that individual glory is nice, but team glory is paramount. Thus, I propose that at the close of the regular season, the fighters are invited to the Grand Prix, which happens BEFORE the playoffs. Fighters who are banged up might tough it out if they're out of the playoffs, but might take the two months off if their teams have earned playoff spots. Why? Because they want to help their TEAMS win the Championship. What this will also do is open up matchups for the playoffs that have different meanings, because of what rides on the outcomes. In addition, a Grand Prix Champion (the equivalent of an MVP) might see his playoff hopes thwarted, or might complete the "Storybook Season" of a Grand Prix win, plus the Championship. To me, it's a far more intriguing story told that way, and it helps to sell the Team Concept as the culmination of the season's ambition.
What do you guys think?
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