The International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF) was founded on 29 February 2012 as the international governing body for amateur mixed martial arts (MMA). Registered as a non-profit organization under Swedish law, IMMAF serves as a democratic hub for national MMA federations and supports the growth of regulation and sport safety globally by aiding countries in the formation of federations where none exist.[3] IMMAF launched with support of market leader, the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).[4][5][6] The UFC is among promotions sanctioned by federations under the IMMAF umbrella in countries that include Brazil and Sweden.[7][8][9][10]
 | |
| Abbreviation | (IMMAF) |
|---|---|
| Formation | 29 February 2012 |
| Type | Sports federation |
| Purpose | Mixed martial arts sanctioning organization |
| Headquarters | Grono |
| Location | |
Region served | Worldwide |
Membership | 123 |
President | Kerrith Brown[1][2] |
| Website | immaf.org |
IMMAF now is in Switzerland (Roveredo via Toveda n. 3) near the Swiss Mixed Martial Arts Federation, which oversaw the transfer in all administrative aspects. In 2023, IMMAF extended its partnership with Brave Combat Federation to expedite the development of the sport at grassroots levels with financial and operational support.[11]
After the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine the IMMAF suspended the memberships of the Russian MMA Union and the Federation of Hand-to-Hand Fighting & MMA of Belarus. It barred the Russian and Belarusian federations from participating in all IMMAF Championships, and banned the organization of IMMAF events in Russia and Belarus.[12]
Amateur vs. professional level athletes
editThe IMMAF considers an athlete to be on a professional level and thus not eligible for participation if he or she meets any one of the following criteria:
- holds a Pro MMA or professional combat sports license issued by any sanctioning body
- is under contract with a professional MMA or professional combat sport promotion
- has received a fee for participating in an MMA or professional combat sports match
- has participated in a professional MMA match under the Unified Rules of MMA or equivalent in the country where the bout took place
- has competed against an opponent with a Pro MMA record at the time the bout took place
- has a professional MMA fight record published anywhere
- National amateur criteria do not hold for IMMAF international competition if it does not conform to the above stipulations
Amateur MMA rules
editCompulsory equipment
edit- Competition gloves
- Competition shin guards
- Competition shorts made in a durable material and designed in such a way that they can't inflict injury on either one of the contestants
- Mouthpiece
- Competition top or rashguard (women only)
- Protective groin cup (optional for women, compulsory for men)
- Protective chest gear (optional for women, not applicable for men)
- Knee protection (optional)
- Ankle protection (optional)
Unauthorized techniques
editThe same from the Unified Rules of MMA plus:
- Elbow and forearm strikes of any kind
- Heel hook
- Twisters/Sit through crucifix and/or any submission deemed as applying pressure to the spine
- Knees to the head at any point
- U18 competitions only: Any attacks (kicks, punches, elbows, knees, et. al.) to the head at any point.
Length of the match
edit- A match shall contain three rounds.
- A round shall last three minutes.
- The round break shall last sixty seconds
Suspension
editA contestant who was knocked out as a result of a blow to the head, or whose match was stopped by the judge because of several tough blows to the head which have made him/her defenseless and unable to continue, shall be suspended from competition and sparring matches.
Suspension periods starting from the day of the latest match:
- One knockout: Minimum four weeks suspension
- Two knockouts during a period of three months: Minimum three months suspension.
- Three knockouts during a period of twelve months: Minimum twelve months suspension.
Listed suspension periods are minimum periods and can be extended at the physician's discretion.
In the event that a match was not stopped the physician still has the right to decide on a suspension if he/she deems it necessary due to the contestant having received many tough blows to the head
Members
editNational Federations:[13]
Pan America
edit- Argentina - Argentine Association of Mixed Martial Arts and Contact Sports
- Aruba - Millard Academy
- Bahamas - Empire Mixed Martial Arts Bahamas
- Barbados - Barbados Mixed Martial Arts Federation (BMMAF)
- Belize - MMA Federation of Belize
- Bolivia - MMA Federation of Belize
- Brazil - Brazilian MMA Athletic Commission / Comissão Atlética Brasileira de MMA (CABMMA)
- Canada - Canadian Combat Alliance
- Cayman Islands - Under Review
- Colombia - Asociación Colombiana de Artes Marciales Mixtas (OCAMM)
- Costa Rica - Federacion de Artes Marciales Mixtas
- Dominican Republic - Federation Dominicana de Artes Marciale Mixtas
- Ecuador - Ecuador Mixed Martial Arts Federation (EMMAF)
- El Salvador - Federacion Salvadoreña de Kickboxing & MMA / Salvadorean Kickboxing & MMA Federation (presiding over Commission Salvadoreña de Artes Marciales Mixtas / Salvadorean Mixed Martial Arts Commission)
- Grenada - Grenada mixed martial arts federation
- Guatemala - Asociación Guatemalteca de Artes Marciales Mixtas
- Guyana - Guyana Mixed Martials Federation
- Jamaica - MMA Jamaica Sports Federation
- Mexico - Federacion de Artes Marciales Mixtas Equidad y Juego Limpio
- Panama - Asociación Nacional de mixed martial arts
- Paraguay - Federacion Paraguaya de Kick Boxing Muay Thai & MMA
- Puerto Rico - Federacion Independiente de Artes Marciales Mixtas de Puerto Rico (FIAMMPR)
- Saint Martin - Sint Maarten Martial Arts
- St Lucia - St Lucia Mixed Martial Arts Federation
- Trinidad and Tobago - Trinidad and Tobago Mixed Martial Arts Federation (TNT MMAF)
- Uruguay - Asociacion Uruguaya de Artes Marciales Mixtas Amateur y Profesional – AUAMMAP
- United States of America - USA Mixed Martial Arts Federation
- Venezuela - Federación Venezolana de Artes Marciales Mixtas (FEVAMM) National
Asia
edit- Afghanistan - Afghanistan MMA Federation (AMMAF)
- Bahrain - Bahrain Mixed Martial Arts Federation
- China - MMA Department Of Chinese Boxing Federation
- Hong Kong - Hong Kong MMA Federation Ltd
- India - MMA India[14]
- Indonesia - Indonesia Committee for Martial Art Sports / Komite Olahraga Beladiri Indonesia – KOBI
- Iran - Iranian MMA Federation (IRMMAF)
- Iraq - Iraqi Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IQMMAF)
- Japan - Japan MMA Federation JMMAF
- Jordan - Jordan Mixed Martial Arts Federation
- Kazakhstan - Kazakh National Public Union of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) Federation
- Kuwait - MMA Kuwait Association
- Kyrgyzstan - Republic Of Kyrgyzstan Federation Of MMA And Pankration
- Lebanon - Lebanese MMA Federation
- Malaysia - Malaysia Mixed Martial Arts Association (MASMMAA)
- Mongolia - Mongolian Mixed Martial Arts Federation
- Nepal - Nepal National Martial Art Games Confederation
- Pakistan - Mixed Martial Arts Pakistan (PAKMMA)
- Philippines - Philippines Mixed Martial Arts Federation
- Saudi Arabia - Saudi Mixed Martial Arts Federation
- Singapore - Under Review
- South Korea - Under Review
- Sri Lanka - Mixed Martial Arts Federation Sri Lanka
- Taiwan - Chinese Taipei Mixed Martial Arts Association
- Tajikistan - Federation Of Mixed Martial Arts Of The Republic Of Tajikistan
- Thailand - Thai Mixed Martial Arts Federation (TMMAF)
- United Arab Emirates - UAE Jiu-Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts Federation
- Uzbekistan - Uzbekistan MMA Association
- Vietnam - Vietnam MMA Federation
Europe
edit- Albania - Albanian Free Fighting Federation
- Armenia - MMA Federation of Armenia
- Austria - Austrian Mixed Martial Arts Federation
- Azerbaijan - Azerbaijan Mixed Martial Arts Federation
- Belgium - Belgian Mixed Martial Arts Federation
- Bulgaria - Bulgarian Mixed Martial Arts Federation (BULMMAF)
- Croatia - Croatian Mixed Martial Arts Union (HMMAU)
- Cyprus - Cyprus Mixed Martial Arts Federation (CMMAF)
- Czech Republic - Czech Association of MMA
- Denmark - Danish Mixed Martial Arts Federation
- England - England Mixed Martial Arts Association
- Estonia - Estonian Mixed Martial Arts Federation
- Finland - Finnish Mixed Martial Arts Federation / Suomen Vapaaotteluliitto ry
- France - French Mixée Martial arts Federation (FFMMA)
- Georgia - National Federation of Universal Martial Arts
- Germany - German Mixed Martial Arts Federation (GEMMAF)
- Greece - Panhellenic MMA Federation
- Hungary - Hungarian MMA Federation (HMMAF)
- Iceland - Iceland MMA Federation
- Ireland - Irish Mixed Martial Arts Association (IMMAA)
- Israel- ISR Mixed Martial Arts
- Italy - Federazione Italiana Grappling Mixed Martial Arts / Italian Grappling and Mixed Martial Arts Federation (FIGMMA)
- Kosovo - Kosovo Miksed Martial Arts Federation / Federation Federata Arteve Mikse Marciale
- Latvia - Under Review
- Lithuania - Lithuanian Mixed Martial Arts Federation
- Luxembourg - Fédération Luxembourgeoise de MMA (FLMMA)
- Malta - Malta Mixed Martial Arts Association
- Moldova - Moldovan MMA Federation
- Netherlands - MMA Union Netherlands
- Northern Ireland - Ulster Amateur MMA
- Norway - Norwegian Mixed Martial Arts Federation
- Poland - Stowarzyszenie MMA Polska
- Portugal - Federação Portugusea de Lutas Amadoras (FPLA) / Comissão Atlética Portuguesa de MMA (CAPMMA)
- Romania - Romanian Kempo Mixed Martial Arts Federation (RKMMAF)
- Russia - Russian MMA Union (suspended)
- Scotland - Mixed Martial Arts Federation Of Scotland
- Serbia - Serbian MMA Federation
- Slovakia - Slovakian MMA Association
- Slovenia - Slovenia MMA Federation
- Spain - Federación Española de Lucha Olímpica y Disciplinas Asociadas (FELUCHA-IMMAF)
- Sweden - Swedish Mixed Martial Arts Federation
- Switzerland - Federation Switzerland Mixed Martial Arts
- Turkey - Turkey Combat Mixed Martial Arts Sport Association
- Ukraine - MMA League of Ukraine
- Wales - Mixed Martial Arts Cymru
Oceania
edit- Australia - International Mixed Martial Arts Federation of Australia
- French Polynesia - Wrestling Polynesian Federation & Associated Disciplines
- New Zealand - New Zealand Mixed Martial Arts Federation
Africa
edit- Algeria - Algerian Federation of Kickboxing, MMA & Similar Sports
- Angola - Associação Provincial de MMA de Luanda
- Cameroon - National League Mixed Martial Arts Cameroon (NLMMAC)
- Cote D Ivoire - Federation Ivoirienne D Arts Martiaux Mixtes
- Democratic Republic of Congo - Democratic Republic of Congo MMA Federation (DRCMMAF)
- Egypt - The Egyptian MMA Committee
- Ghana - Ghana Mixed Martial Arts Federation (GHAMMAF)
- Guinea - Guinean Federation of Krav-Maga and Associated Disciplines (MMA)
- Mauritius - Mixed Martial Arts Federation Mauritius
- Morocco - Fédération Royale Marocaine Du Sport de Combat Libre Et Mixte (FRMSCLM)
- Namibia - Namibian MMA Federation
- Nigeria - Nigerian Mixed Martial Arts Federation
- Senegal - MMA Senegal
- The Seychelles - The Seychelles Mixed Martial Arts Association
- South Africa - Mixed Martial Arts South Africa (MMASA)
- Tunisia - Tunisian Mixed Martial Arts Federation
- Zambia - Mixed Martial Arts Zambia
- Zimbabwe - Mixed Martial Arts Association (ZMMMA)
Partnership with BRAVE Combat Federation
edit
Since 2017, IMMAF has partnered with Brave Combat Federation[15] to host world championships outside the USA.[16] As a result, Bahrain became the second nation to host IMMAF World Championships in 2017, 2018, and 2019. Subsequently, IMMAF partnered with the organization to host the 2021 IMMAF World Cup and 2022 MMA Super Cup.[17][18] Further, the organization hosted its first world championship in Europe by partnering with Brave Combat Federation to host IMMAF World Championships Week from February 10–18, 2023 in Belgrade, Serbia.[19] In partnership with Brave Combat Federation, IMMAF has hosted the first ever World Cup in 2021 followed by 2022 MMA Super Cup in the Kingdom of Bahrain. The promotion also absorbs athletes transitioning from amateur to professional MMA, including major names such as Jose Torres, Frans Mlambo, Mohammed Mokaev, Eliezer Kubanza, Nkosi Ndebele, and many more.[20]
Championships
editWorld Championships
edit- 2014 IMMAF World Championships
- 2015 IMMAF World Championships
- 2016 IMMAF World Championships
- 2017 IMMAF World Championships
- 2018 IMMAF World Championships
- 2019 IMMAF World Championships
- 2021 IMMAF World Championships
- 2022 IMMAF World Championships
- 2023 IMMAF World Championships
Youth World Championships
edit- 2019 IMMAF Youth World Championships
- 2021 IMMAF Youth World Championships
- 2022 IMMAF Youth World Championships
- 2023 IMMAF Yonth World Championships
Junior World Championships
edit- 2019 IMMAF Junior World Championships
- 2020 IMMAF Junior World Championships
- 2021 IMMAF Junior World Championships
- 2022 IMMAF Junior World Championships
- 2023 IMMAF Junior World Championships
World Cup
edit- 2021 IMMAF World Cup
Super Cup
edit- 2022 MMA Super Cup
European Championships
edit- 2015 IMMAF European Open Championship
- 2016 IMMAF European Open Championships
- 2017 IMMAF European Open Championships
- 2018 IMMAF European Open Championships
- 2019 IMMAF European Open Championships
- 2021 IMMAF European Open Championships
- 2022 IMMAF European Open Championships
- 2023 IMMAF European Open Championships
African Championships
edit- 2016 IMMAF Africa Open Championships
- 2017 IMMAF Africa Open Championships
- 2018 IMMAF Africa Open Championships
- 2019 IMMAF Africa Open Championships
- 2022 IMMAF Africa Open Championships
- 2023 IMMAF Africa Open Championships
Asian Championships
edit- 2017 IMMAF Asian Open Championships
- 2019 IMMAF Asian Open Championships
- 2022 IMMAF Asian Open Championships
- 2023 IMMAF Asian Open Championships
Oceanian Championships
edit- 2018 IMMAF Oceania Open Championships
- 2019 IMMAF Oceania Open Championships
- 2020 IMMAF Oceania Open Championships
Pan American Championships
edit- 2019 Pan American Open Championships
- 2022 Pan American Open Championships
- 2023 Pan American Open Championships
Overall Medals Standing (World Championships)
editTotals do not include medals from the 2016 or 2017 World Championships.
| Ranking | Country | Gold 
|
Silver 
|
Bronze 
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  United States of America
|
6 | 1 | 7 |
| 2 |  United Kingdom
|
1 | 2 | 7 |
| 3 |  Sweden
|
0 | 7 | 2 |
| 4 |  Italy
|
1 | 0 | 6 |
| 5 |  Finland
|
3 | 1 | 1 |
| 6 |  Canada
|
2 | 1 | 2 |
| 7 |  Poland
|
1 | 1 | 3 |
| 8 |  Norway
|
0 | 3 | 1 |
| 9 |  France
|
0 | 1 | 3 |
| 10 |  South Africa
|
2 | 0 | 1 |
| 11 |  Ireland
|
1 | 1 | 1 |
| 12 |  New Zealand
|
0 | 0 | 3 |
| 13 |  Denmark
|
2 | 0 | 0 |
| 14 |  Czech Republic
|
1 | 0 | 1 |
| 14 |  Germany
|
1 | 0 | 1 |
| 16 |  Kazakhstan
|
0 | 2 | 0 |
| 17 |  Lebanon
|
0 | 1 | 1 |
| 17 |  Romania
|
0 | 1 | 1 |
| 17 |  Ukraine
|
0 | 1 | 1 |
| 20 |  Belgium
|
0 | 0 | 2 |
| 21 |  Austria
|
1 | 0 | 0 |
| 21 |  Brazil
|
1 | 0 | 0 |
References
edit- ^ "Former British Judo Association president to lead MMA body". 8 July 2015.
- ^ "Kerrith Brown elected as President of IMMAF".
- ^ "ESPN". ESPN. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
- ^ "UFC backs creation of International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF)". MMAmania.com. 12 April 2012. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
- ^ "Dana White Discusses UFC's Support of IMMAF". Fightersource.com. Archived from the original on 6 January 2015. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
- ^ "UFC Supports Creation of International MMA Federation". UFC. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
- ^ Ben Szwediuk (17 October 2014). "Swedish Mixed Martial Arts Federation: an exclusive in-depth interview with President Johan Halldin". Mirror.co.uk. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
- ^ "SMMAF explains why Lapilus was denied, Rosa approved for UFC Fight Night 53". MMAjunkie. 29 September 2014. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
- ^ "CABMMA official responds to Piotr Hallmann's UFC drug test denials". MMA Fighting. 13 October 2014. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
- ^ "Piotr Hallman Says UFC Brazil Drug Testing was Unprofessional; Commission Responds". Yahoo Sports. 14 October 2014. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
- ^ "BRAVE CF and AIMMAF Partner To Make History". The Daily Tribune. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
- ^ "IMMAF suspends The Russian MMA Union & Belarusian MMA Federation". IMMAF. 1 March 2022.
- ^ "National Federations". IMMAF. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
- ^ "MMA India – National Sports Federation now the only recognised Indian MMA body by IMAAF - MMA INDIA". 15 September 2018.
- ^ Ravindran, Renjith. "MMA Super Cup: Bahrain crowned inaugural champions, wins $100,000". SportsKeeda. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
- ^ Amir, Mohammed. "BRAVE CF and IMMAF partner to make history, boost sports development". The Daily Tribune. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
- ^ Netherthon, Alexander (13 March 2022). "BRAVE CF 57: MMA SUPER CUP DATES, FIGHT TIMES, HOW TO WATCH ON DAZN". DAZN. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
- ^ Ravindran, Renjith. "MMA Super Cup: Bahrain crowned inaugural champions, wins $100,000". SportsKeeda. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
- ^ Netherton, Alexander (19 February 2023). "BRAVE CF 69: UNDISPUTED LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPION ABDISALAM KUBANYCHBEK CROWNED IN SERBIA". DAZN. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
- ^ Xavier, Joao (15 March 2024). "BRAVE CF and IMMAF's groundbreaking collaboration continues to yield benefits for MMA, forging new paths for emerging talents in the sport". Blackbelt Mag. Retrieved 29 April 2024.