Kurt Angle Talks with IFL - MMAUniverse.com

As Total Nonstop Action Wrestling's flagship program aired on Spike TV, the company's top star was here scouting a second career.

Kurt Angle attended last month's International Fight League team championships and has entered into negotiations with the upstart mixed-martial-arts promotion. A 1996 Olympic gold medalist in freestyle wrestling, Angle said the IFL is offering the chance to train around his TNA schedule for an MMA debut that would probably occur late next year.

"Other organizations were pushing for me to fight right away for big money - bigger money than any other fighter has ever made," Angle said during a ringside interview at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. "But I think they were doing it for my name because I had a lot of exposure in (World Wrestling Entertainment) and TNA. When I talked to the IFL, it wasn't like they came at me with the biggest contract, but they made a lot more sense.

"The IFL is giving me an opportunity to get my feet wet without affecting my job with TNA whatsoever. (The IFL) said they would be second priority and make sure TNA is happy all the time and they'll take me when they can get me."

Angle has long expressed interest in MMA competition but never made the transition like former pro wrestlers Brock Lesnar and Daniel Puder. Angle and Lesnar had spoken about working together to negotiate a "superfight," but that now seems unlikely with the latter close to signing with the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Despite his amateur credentials, Angle's age (38), injury history and inexperience in other fighting disciplines have raised serious doubts about whether he can make a successful transition. But Angle's verbal skills are already world-class and would help generate interest in a potential MMA debut.

While touting his own abilities, Angle talked some trash about MMA legends Randy Couture and Wanderlei Silva.

"Randy Couture is a good leg-attacker, but he's not even close to me and he'll admit that to you," Angle said. "I could take Silva down 10 times a round. That's how quick and agile I am. I've just never had the opportunity (to show it).

"They've never seen a Kurt Angle in the ring or my style, which is explosive. I think a lot of heavyweights and light heavyweights won't expect it."

Angle's passion for MMA had a trickle-down effect on TNA's product. Angle, who has considerable behind-the-scenes power, has successfully pushed for more clean finishes to TNA matches because of the belief that fans want conclusive winners and losers like in MMA bouts.

Said Angle: "We all sat down and said: 'Hey, no more run-ins. If you want me to win, I win. If you want me to lose, I lose.' I think TNA is starting to get that.

"We're in an MMA world right now. It's not going to change."

Regardless of whether he ever competes in MMA, Angle will be receiving more exposure, with TNA's Impact show having expanded from one to two hours on Spike. Angle said the change should rectify the tendency of TNA management to try to fit too much into a 60 - minute program.

"With two hours, we can have longer, better matches, better feuds, better story lines," said Angle, who left WWE in 2006 for TNA. "But we still have to remember, in TNA, our reputation is wrestling. WWE can do all that (other stuff)."

Source: www.rockymountainnews.com