By: Ann Dain, ColoradoFightEvents.com

The World Combat League (WCL) is launching their second season at the Denver Coliseum Friday night, October 19 th. This is not just another fight. This is a league founded and launched by Chuck Norris - world famous film and television star -- who has been practicing martial arts since before many of us were born!

Those of us who are drawn to the fast-paced action of MMA and want to witness the highest knockout rates in the sport won't want to miss the World Combat League's only stop in Colorado this season.

"We're very excited to be introducing the WCL to the Denver market," said the league's founder and martial arts icon, Chuck Norris. "We think we have the most exciting product in all of MMA. Last year our bouts featured a 33-percent knockout rate - by far the highest such rate in any contact sport. Combine this with our short bouts (each individual fight lasts no longer than three minutes) and the sheer number of bouts we fit into our team concept, and the entire evening unspools like a You Tube highlight video."

The event being held at the Coliseum will be televisedon the VERSUS network.

There are several Colorado web-sites that cover local martial arts events and we have the role of being the primary cheerleaders behind what is now the fastest growing sport in the nation for both men and women. The popularity of this sport is now nearly evenly divided between men and women. Anthony Dion of The Daily Washington, wrote in late April 2007 that: "Women presently make up 40% of the spectators at MMA full contact sports. This is attributed to MMA becoming a popular sports trend, a means of self-defense and a great body-conditioning and exercise workout". He went on to say that "41% of all MMA viewing households show an annual income in excess of $75,000 making MMA spectators some of the most affluent of all sports enthusiasts".

As I was doing research on our demographics, I also discovered statistics from an independent research group that consumer-to-consumer pass along advertising (such as what we do through our web-sites) drives the value of the marketing target as we elevate the visibility of our local promoters and in this case, the World Combat League.

THAT PASS-ALONG PROMOTION IS WHAT WE DO - the ColoradoFightEvents.com, MMABuzz.com, totalmma.com, futuremmastars.com and mmaweekly.com (forgive me if I left anyone out) sites where the founders spend their weekend and evenings developing their websites to share news and opinions with others of like interest.

So, now we have a huge Nationwide event kicking off their 2007 season in Denver and we are the conduit - along with our supporting YourHub.com editors -- to let the fans know that this is a fight not to be missed.

This is a different structure than what we see at most MMA events.

• There is no cage or ring. The fight takes place on a circular, color-coded mat (blue is in-bounds, yellow is caution and red is out-of-bounds) with raised edges so the fighters can tell when they are stepping into danger.
• Penalty points will be levied when:
• • The out-of-bounds fighter doesn't fight was way back into the circle in a timely manner
  • If a fighter attempts to slow the pace by grabbing, holding, clinching or in anyway trying to avoid the action
  • Only punching is allowed although "punching" can be inflicted with hands, knees and feet
  • A clinch is allowed only long enough to inflict a knee shot and then the hold must be released

• This is stand-up fighting. Fighters who fall to the mat must get back up and continue fighting. Opponents cannot follow a fallen fighter to the mat to inflict additional blows.

• Although Norris' ultimate goal is worldwide competition, there are currently 8 teams across the United States. Denver's own Steve Alley of KickDown fame is the coach for the Denver Fury, an expansion team making its' debut in 2007.
• Each team is made up of 6 fighters plus an Alternate in different weight classes including one female fighter pair within each team
• The competitors have two one-round fights in a given night against the same opponent, separated by a long halftime break. If the first half fight ends in a KO or TKO, the alternative fighter from the losing team takes on the victorious opponent in the second half. As I understand it, a coach can also make strategic replacements in the second half as part of his game plan.

Friday night, we will experience the Denver Fury battling the Texas Dragons and the Oklahoma Destroyers taking on the Los Angeles Stars.

Steve Alley, coach of the Denver Fury told me: "You know how strong the natural competition is between Colorado and Texas? We're going to make sure that we beat them!" Steve said that even though the Fury was the last team selected and he was the last coach selected, he anticipates winning the whole show! He is excited about theentire card but is especially pumped about Jack Johnson and Colby Snyder - although he waxed individually about every fighter on his card. Jack Johnson became the ISKA State Kick Boxing Champion only 3 years and 3 months after entering the sport. Dan Magnie and I of Coloradofightevents.com have watched Jack train at Mahany's gym when visiting Steve Alley. Jack's kick slaps on his sparring partner's training pads resonate like a canon! I have never seen him fight but am very eager to do so. Jack's alternate is Tom Johnson who is absolutely an All-Star in his own right and a Krav Maga expert. These are two top notch professional fighters.

Colby Snyder, a 4-time WCL veteran in the 164 lb. division is a force not to be missed and Steve referred to his alternate, Jesse LaCombe, as a phe-nom.

There is not one fighter on the card that Steve did not describe with greatpassion in terms of their accomplishments and potential.

So - again - I am amazed that the draw for this event is primarily word-of-mouth amongst us enthusiasts. The promoter of the event is offering a $10-off coupon that is attached to this site because he understands the value of social network recommendations. Also, the weigh-in, which is open to the public, will be on Thursday, October 18 th at ESPN Zone Restaurant at 1187 16 th Street; Denver (303-595-3776). Chuck Norris, the fighters and the coaches of the World Combat League will all be on hand.

All of us are trying to raise the level of excitement for these fabulous fight shows brought to us by local promoters and those that find Denver a ripe venue to launch their programs. Let's show them how right they are by supporting these athletes while experiencing fabulous entertainment for ourselves!!