With tryouts having taken place on October 11, Portugal’s Comissão Atlética Portuguesa de Mixed Martial Arts (CAPMMA) has completed its selection process for athletes that will represent its nation at the IMMAF Amateur European Open Championships. The event takes place 19-22 November in Birmingham, England. The deadline for team registration expires today, October 16. Subject to confirmed registration and clearance by IMMAF, the CAPMMA have put forward five athletes ranging from featherweight to light heavyweight. The Portuguese team includes: Luis Barneto – Team leader/national coach Renato Costa – Coach Nuno Rocha – Coach Filipe Catanho – Men’s Featherweight Franklyn Rodrigues – Men’s Lightweight Carlos Santos – Men’s Welterweight Milton Mateus – Men’s Middleweight João Mimoso – Men’s Light Heavyweight National coach and CAPMMA Executive Director Luis Barneto commented on his expectation of a much developed performance from the Portuguese at the European Open, following their appearance at the July 2015 IMMAF World Championships of Amateur MMA in Las Vegas, USA. With several athletes returning to IMMAF competition following their time in Las Vegas, Barneto described the team’s World Championships effort as “excellent”, and talked about the CAPMMA’s success in sourcing funds to cover all participants’ costs for the Europeans. “The athletes fought bravely and technically,” Barneto explained. “Filipe [Catanho] had a dificult fight with one of the best athletes in his weight division. Franklyn [Rodrigues] won one fight in the first round with a rear-naked-choke, and was looking good before he dislocated his shoulder. I can thank them enough, for their effort, fighting spirit, and display of technique. “I expect an improvement in individual performance, and an improvement in national team ranking…if possible, both.” 
