International Combat Federation
| Subsidiary | |
| Industry | Mixed martial arts promotion |
| Founded | 1989 |
| Founders |
|
| Headquarters | , Lyngaard |
Key people | Stefan Karlsen (president) |
| Owner |
the International Combat Federation (ICF) is a Lynsk based mixed martial arts promotion company based in Regnhavn, Lyngaard. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Global Athletics Holdings which itself owns multiple other sports promotions and sports teams. the ICF has been one of the biggest and oldest MMA promotions still in operation. It produces events worldwide that showcase 12 weight divisions under a unified rule set.
ICF was founded by Lynsk-Arcadian buisnessman Rick Axelrod, and Boxing Promotor and former Heavyweight World Champion Oleksandr Melnyk in 1989. The initial format of the ICF was a 12-man tournament with limited rules and no weight classes. Intended to determine which style of martial art is best. Their first event was held at Holodome Stadium in Regnhavn. Subsaquent events would implament more rules and weight classes, with the Unified Rules being adopted in 1994. Fighters also begain to develope techniques outside of their initial martial arts background, leading the the creation of modern day mixed martial arts as a seperate style entirely. In 2003 the ICF was bought by Davidson & Co. at $7.9 Million. Davidson & Co. would bring in Stefan Karlsen to head the company. Under his stewardship the company has become a multi-billion dollar enterprise. The company made roughly $718 Million in earnings in 2022, and in late 2022 renewed its exclusive broadcasting right with GSBN for $1.9 Billion.