Photos are courtesy of Julien Brondani
Last night for the first time on French soil, an event was held under the Unified Rules of MMA and inside a caged MMA ring.
WWFC Cage Encounter 4 at the Cirque d’Hiver in Paris marked the fulfilment of a dream for the mixed martial arts community in France, where the Commission Française de Mixed Martial Arts (CFMMA) has been long campaigning for the right to hold MMA competitions.
Although MMA is not technically illegal, it has in practice been impossible for promoters to secure licenses permitting the use of the caged safety enclosure or strikes on the ground.
Yesterday, promotion World Warriors Fighting Championship made history in utilising an MMA ring in an event that was not closed down by the police, although the police had been informed of the event in advance. New ground was broken also in the inclusion of strikes on the ground, although elbow strikes were excluded from the ruleset.
It is believed that the event marks the beginning of a new era for MMA in France and predicted that the breakthrough may encourage other promoters to hold Unified Rules MMA events. The CFMMA believes that this in turn will make government recognition of MMA as a sport essential, in order to enable the sanctioning of events.
The Commission Française de Mixed Martial Arts (CFMMA) issued this statement (translation):
“Last night in Paris at the Cirque d’Hiver, Cage Encounter 4 took place on the initiative of Fernand Lopezo Owonyebe. For the first time (in France) an event reported to the authorities was held under the Unified Rules of MMA. This sets a legal precedent. We expect a reaction from the government. However last night it was shown publicly that the fighting is regulated, structured and sanctioned; that the fighters are professionals trained in the various techniques, including those used on the ground; that the audience are people who attend in a spirit of friendly sportsmanship. It is for these reasons that the CFMMA requests again that the state and its highest representative, Francois Hollande, legislate to recognise the existence of this sports discipline, and for it to be permitted under federal guidelines.”
Cage Encounter 4 was sponsored by Adidas.
See event photo gallery by Julien Brondani here: http://on.fb.me/1gDQ630
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