What do you get when you combine the fastest growing sport in the United States, the world’s only team-oriented mixed martial arts league, and thriller writers Jon Merz and Joe Nassise?
An incredible new series called Mission: IFL, of course!
From the proposal:
“Mixed martial arts is one of the fastest growing entertainment platforms in the world. This combat sport, using a wide range of fighting techniques including striking and grappling, sets records with Pay-per-view events that dwarf any boxing bout. The incredible success of the Ultimate Fighting Championship has paved the way for other MMA venues, and public attention seems firmly fixed on this amazing pugilistic phenomenon.
The International Fight League has rapidly evolved into the top team-centric MMA platform, with ten teams battling it out between January and June for a place in the world championships held each August-September. The IFL has positioned itself perfectly to take advantage of the malaise affecting football fans when the NFL season ends in early February. Now, there’s a new sport broadcasting great events every week across the nation and soon, internationally, that gives football fans and other disenfranchised sports enthusiasts the chance to get behind a new breed of athletes: mixed martial artists. Fueled by sponsorship deals, a tremendous fan base, and excellent word-of-mouth, the IFL has enjoyed truly explosive growth.
From the IFL’s most recent SEC filing: “(IFL) events create a body of television programming content that we currently distribute through an arrangement with both Fox Sports Net (“FSN”), a national sports cable network available to over 80 million households across the United States and MyNetworkTV, Inc. (“MNTV”), a broadcast network available to over 100 million homes.”
Recent industry estimates put the number of IFL viewers each week at approximately ten million. Live events held across the country routinely attract tens of thousands of attendees. The IFL is clearly a dominant force in the MMA world.
Now, the IFL is seeking new ways to expand their brand awareness through a variety of multimedia projects. To that end, they have officially endorsed a new series of thriller novels that should debut in early 2009.
The Mission:IFL novel series revolves around the exploits of a fictional twelfth International Fight League team known as the Boston Marauders. This team trains and competes like any other IFL team but they also have a secret purpose known only to a select few.
Every member of the Boston Marauders is a former special operations soldier or intelligence operative from their respective countries (US Navy Seals, British Special Air Service, Russian Spetsnaz Alpha Teams, Israeli Mossad, German GSG9, French GIGN, etc.). United in a common cause, the men and women operate not only as a sanctioned IFL team but as a rapid reaction force run by senior intelligence officials within the United Nations.
The novels will focus on events both inside and outside the ring, as the team competes for the World Team Championship title and the IFL Championship ring while at the same time carrying on their covert activities. The books will emphasize the unique aspects of the IFL that make it a one of a kind organization, such as:
- The closely coordinated cooperation necessary to bring any particular team to the top
- The international nature of the League
- The excitement of mixed martial arts
- The larger-than-life personalities and personal prowess of the individual fighters
Each book will be crammed full of MMA action as the Marauders face off against the opposing teams in the grueling drive to be the best of the best and claim the IFL title. At the same time, the reader will experience all the suspense and tension of a commercial thriller. For the dedicated IFL fan, the books will represent the best of both worlds.”
The proposal for this new series is currently out on multiple submission. Jon and I have high hopes for it and believe it can be the start of an amazing franchise. Should prove to be an interesting few weeks as the responses come in.
