WAMMA To Launch Female Fighter Poll‏

[keithlewis]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -

WAMMA To Launch First-Ever Nationally Recognized Female Fighter Poll

Orlando, Florida - The World Alliance of Mixed Martial Arts (WAMMA) has announced that it will be launching a monthly poll in 2009 that will rank the best female mixed martial arts in the world.

Starting in the first quarter of the New Year, WAMMA's new female poll will rank the top ten female fighters in three separate weight classes: 125 pounds, 135 pounds, and 145 pounds.

WAMMA already conducts a monthly poll for the top ten male fighters in the bantamweight, featherweight, lightweight, welterweight, middleweight, light heavyweight, and heavyweight divisions. Rankings are available on http://www.GOWAMMA.com and released on or about the 15th of each month.

The WAMMA Top Ten Rankings for male fighters has been and will continue to operate as a writers/media poll with the top journalists in the industry selected to submit their top ten each month.

However, WAMMA's new poll for female fighters will be conducted separately and will serve as an industry poll with promoters, managers, trainers, agents, and the fighters themselves also joining select members of the media in determining the monthly rankings.

"We are sure that the decision to conduct an industry poll for our female rankings will raise some eyebrows," began WAMMA Chief Operating Officer Michael Lynch. "However, after an exhaustive search, it was determined that while there are many knowledgeable experts on the field of female MMA, most of them have an industry affiliation. Much like the NFL allows its players to vote in its Pro Bowl selections, WAMMA has elected to follow a similar model. We're going to allow the female fighting industry tell the world who its best fighters are."

While it will be an industry poll with fighters allowed to participate, all pollsters will have to pass through a vetting process. Their monthly ballots will be evaluated and if it is determined that a pollster is voting in a biased manner, he or she will be dismissed as a pollster. Fighters will also not be allowed to vote in the weight class that they most recently competed in.

Serving as the chair for the new female poll is Sam Caplan, the publisher of FiveOuncesOfPain.com and a contributing writer for CBSSports.com. Caplan also serves as the chair for the men's poll.

"WAMMA has billed itself as a fan and fighter-forward organization," said Caplan. "There have been several calls to start a prominent women's poll to help female fighters gain additional exposure. The decision to respond to those requests and start a monthly poll is proof that WAMMA is sincere in its statements to help advance the growth of the sport."

Jeff Osborne, promoter of the HOOKnSHOOT promotion and one of female MMA's strongest advocates, along with Team Bison MMA trainer Mike Reilly, fighter-turned-writer Adam Baker of DreamFighters.com, and freelance MMA journalist Yael Grauer have already signed on as pollsters. Those interested in joining the poll can contact Sam Caplan at :SCaplan8@gmail.com.