Need advice for MMA fighting next purchase

Hey Guys-
i've been shooting for a few years now (mainly automotive) but have got into MMA fighting for my local scene. Their getting bigger and I landed a "you're the guy" deal with the league. The pay isn't incredible, but just enough that I can put into the next 'toy', which will increase the quality of pictures as well as build my 'stock' up.

Here is what I'm shooting now at the events...

40d
20d
70-200 F4L NON IS
tamron 17-50 f2.8
tamron 28-75 f2.8

Now NO flash is allowed (during fights), and i'm shooting iso 1600 for most shots since they are in pretty low light. I usually have two bodies on my neck and go back and forth. I think i took 2500 pictures last card and ended up with maybe a few hundred keepers. Here is what I was thinking of "upgarding"

A.) sell 20d and pick up another 40d for faster FPS and better high iso noise.
B.) sell the 70-200 and pick up the IS model, or 2.8 model, or 2.8 IS model. Does IS really help that much? I'm really battling the shutter speed and trying to keep noise low so bumping up light in post is sometimes rough.

C.) sell the 40d and pick up a 5dmk1 : better high iso NR, But go to a slower 3.5, slower AF, and shallower DOF.
D.) sell the 40d and try and find a 1d mk2 or mk3?

After that I'm not sure what I should do. Really looking for some sports guys to pop their heads in and tell me what does or doesn't work. Here are a few small sample pictures at one of the venues. The upcoming venus is in a gym so isn't lit NEARLY as well as this, but i don't have them loaded on the net...

1.

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/btmlinedan/4046​516924/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/btmlinedan/4045​774443/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/btmlinedan/4045​774915/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/btmlinedan/4046​518864/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/btmlinedan/4046​518940/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/btmlinedan/4045​776705/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/btmlinedan/4045​777371/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/btmlinedan/4046​522088/

Your best bet would be to do whatever you need to to upgrade to a 1D body paired with a Canon 24-70 f2.8L. The most important things you get with this are focus speed and frame speed. A 5D is like shooting a revolver, a 1D in "single" mode is shooting semi-auto pistol and at high frame rate you're firing a 50cal. machine gun. (I tend to use single mode with my 1DmIII, but you can still shoot much faster this way than with a 5D)

Eventually, the 70-200 f2.8 IS L is a good idea. It's really my personal favorite lens. The IS is great when shooting portraits that incorporate natural lighting, but your not going to need this lens much if you're leaning in over the cage.

The 1DmII is good, but the mIII is significantly better with high ISO noise. The mII does seem to focus better though.

I would avoid the MII while it is still a great camera it does lack in ISO performance compared to the new bodies. I would go with a MIII or 7D.

how much are the 7d and 1dmk3 running? i have a feeling they may be out of my budget. I feel like the mk2 would be an upgarde from the 40d (from what i've read) but not the end all be all ( is there ever? )

I should've uploaded some shots from the 70-200 on the fight, you can really get close up and get detail of fighters emotions, expressions, etc.

will the tamron 17-50 fit on the mk2?

I guess I'd find the photographers that are the best in their field at this sort of thing, and offer them some money for their time and advice, seeing as how most of them aren't readily going to hand out money making words of wisdom in a limited market like this, especially when the benefits to you are saving money on unnecessary equipment, and most likely improving the quality of your work that you're already guaranteed to make money with.

good advise-- problem is nobody does this locally around me, so I dont' have anywhere to turn. i guess I need to find "the pros" and heckle them for some advice in the field.

Me and you are in the same boat. I post not seen yours. But I just shot my first event on Saturday. My problem was that this new to me I'm moving from shooting rock show to sports. The lighting is same but better in the cage. Only problem I'm having is what lens to use. I'm shooting with a 30D and I had to use a kit lens the other night because all I had with lower fstop was my 50mm.

btmlinedan wrote in post #9580529
how much are the 7d and 1dmk3 running? i have a feeling they may be out of my budget. I feel like the mk2 would be an upgrade from the 40d (from what i've read) but not the end all be all ( is there ever? )

I should've uploaded some shots from the 70-200 on the fight, you can really get close up and get detail of fighters emotions, expressions, etc.

will the tamron 17-50 fit on the mk2?

I'm not familiar with the Tamron, but if it lines up with the red dot on your 20D when you're mounting it, it should fit the mk2. (lenses that line up with the 20D's white dot will not work on 1D bodies)

Agreed the 70-200 can get some great shots ... and the f2.9 L IS is my personal favorite lens ... but your likely best served by considering how you can improve the majority of your shots. Based on what you did choose to show, the majority of your shots are not coming from this lens.

Yup, the 1DmkII will be a step up from the 40D, but the controls, UI and noise performance on the mkIII are significantly better than the mkII. You can step up faster by going with the mkII, but if your customers already like what you're doing, you may be best served saving up a bit longer to get up to the mkIII.