On Wednesday, the IFL held a conference call regarding the upcoming changes to the promotion for the 2008 year, a year that is in desperate need of more interest, better talent, and more exposure for the promotion. Coming after a big annoucement that the IFL will be televised on HBO Latin America, they've made some changes that will ultimately help in the talent department. One notable quote from the press conference was:

"We are also excited about the ability to have this open-door policy, where globally any camp that wants to put together three guys in the weight classes we would specify for that particular event, they're invited to compete," Otto said. "They show up with those three guys in that weight class, they can get in the mix. In the past we didn't allow that. For instance, if Tito Ortiz wants to promote Team Punishment and promote Team Punishment fighters, he can do that."

"In reference to a camp or team like Red Devil or Golden Glory or anybody for that matter that can put together three guys at the level we need at the weight class we need, they can do that," Otto said.

This seems to be a much improved format that the previous team-based strategy that the IFL promoted in the previous years. Not only can it help the problem of having injured fighters on a set team completely kill an event's hype, but the camps themselves can lighten the IFL's problem of finding fighters. If a fighter turns up to be injured from a camp, undoubtedly, there will be a replacement in the wings at that camp.

Of course, there is the camp matchups themselves. Which camp is better and what fighters are up-and-coming in those camps? It gives camps a better chance of exposing some of their lesser talent that is moving up as well. They can also prove who has the better talent moving up to the bigger shows. It may seem like this is a great move, but in some cases, it isn't as convincing as it has been made out to be as far as camp matchups go. We won't see the top fighters vs. the top fighters, so it will purely be on lesser known fighter's shoulders.

What about pay? Will there be a base pay for each combatant? Again, an interesting aspect.

The entry of international teams

Opportunities are plentiful for the IFL and camps outside the United States with this open-door policy. Interestingly enough, the conference call touched on the Red Devil or even the Golden Glory camps as being camps that could also take the opportunity. Up-and-coming Russian fighters will be able to get exposure to a U.S. fanbase, and if they do well enough, could grab some interest from fans. In turn, U.S. promoted M-1 cards could see a small boost in viewership if M-1 Global turns around and begins to put those fighters on their own cards down the line. Golden Glory, a powerhouse in Holland, also has that same type of opportunity. A chance for international camps to find an U.S. fanbase is an exciting concept.

IFL's other moves

Additions of Ian Freeman and Mario Sperry to the coaching list give the IFL a British base and a Brazilian base, although Sperry will be based out of Las Vegas. As far as excitement goes, British fighters seem to bring the standup aspect to the cage whenever they fight. Many of the Cage Rage cards in Britain feature standup brawls, and the IFL may be trying to tap into that excitement that U.S. fans tend to crave.

Sperry will bring some very tough talent out of Brazil. If you were lucky enough to check out Fury FC, Chute Box and BTT both had strong showing and undercard talent that was very seasoned in their skillsets. Tough scrappers with honed jiu-jitsu skills will create one of the toughest teams in the IFL. It should benefit the IFL immensely.

With the addition of new venues and a 145 lb. featherweight division, people will have more opportunities to see the IFL in their area and will add a whole new element with the exciting lighter weight fighters. If you've watched the WEC lately, Pulver and Faber both are featherweight who exude the skills of what a featherweight should be. Quick, fast, up tempo, and with the deceptive abilities to throw hard leather. Get ready for a new featherweight division.

Will the IFL turn it around?

The IFL has deceived us before. With the IFL Grand Prix taking a huge hit, one of the most unbelievable displays of a card losing its luster from injuries and contract issues, it is inevitable that the card will not grab up viewership as it once may have before it was picked apart. It will be a low point as the year ends.

As we move into the new year, a new format may be able to bring some much needed interest to the event, but it still relies on who the fighters will be when the matchups hit the public. If the IFL can become a promotion that displays great talent in the lower ranks that we would otherwise not see, their may be a turnaround in their cards. If international camps get into the mix and take on U.S. camps, expect a new found excitement for this promotion. Red Devil vs. Golden Glory, Team Punishment, or Xtreme Couture, count me in. Punishment vs. Couture, count me in. The possibilities are endless, and the fans should be amped. Unless teams that have affiliated fighters in other organizations don't take advantage of this opportunity, we should see some improvement in the IFL's numbers. If not, the IFL is all but sunk.