2016 IMMAF EUROPEAN OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS
PRAGUE, 22 – 26 NOVEMBER
BUY TICKETS HERE: http://bit.ly/2fbYaJE
Team Italy is among the core European nations to have participated in all IMMAF World and European Championship tournaments to date. It is also the first nation to see its IMMAF champion succeed to UFC, in 2014 World Light Heavyweight medallist, Alessio di Chirico. Women’s Flyweight, Micol Di Segni, stands as another renowned team veteran, who won World Bronze in 2014 and went on to win IMMAF World Gold in 2015 before turning professional with South Africa promoter, Extreme Fighting Championship. Other inaugural, standout Italian talent has included 2014 Women’s Bantamweight World Bronze medallist, Lucrezia Ria, and 2014 Men’s Flyweight Bronze Medallist, Borisov Petko. At the 2015 World Championships, the Italians shone in the women’s divisions as Lucrezia Ria joined Micol Di Segni in earning a Gold Medal for Italy and Maria Vittoria Colona scored Silver at Strawweight. Of the men, Bantamweight Marco Zanetti, Lightweight David GregorioLa Torre and Light Heavyweight Paolo Anastasi took Bronze. Global expansion in 2015 and 2016 has seen a widening of IMMAF’s talent base, alongside national sport development worldwide and a growing roster of experienced Amateur veterans – all creating tougher competition. In this evolving landscape, the Italian team has continued to medal. Team Italy attended IMMAF’s first European Open in Birmingham (UK) in November 2015 for returnee Zannetti to attain a Silver medal, Astero Lucchesini to earn Bronze at Middleweight and Paolo Anastasi to match him, but at Light Heavyweight. [caption id="attachment_11688" align="alignright" width="532"]
Zannetti (left) is presented medal at 2015 European Open by Olympian Tessa Sanderson[/caption] This year’s World Championships saw Zannetti return again to lose to the ultimate 2016 Bantamweight World Champion, David Evans of USA, and foot a Bronze. Women’s Bantamweight teammate, Arziko Bregu, attained the same accolade in her division. Under FIGMMA (Federazione Italian Grappling Mixed Martial Arts), the national Amateur MMA team is one of IMMAF’s few to receive governmental support. Having first introduced IMMAF Amateur competition rules into Italy after the 2014 World Championships for its regional and national qualifiers, FIGMMA also carries out Anti-doping testing at its contender events. Notable return athletes at the upcoming IMMAF European Open are Bantamweight Marco Zannetti (2016 World Bronze, 2015 European Silver) and Light Heavyweight, Paolo Anastasi (2015 World & European Bronze). Will Zannetti be able to close the distance on that coveted Gold medal this time around? Will Team Italy peak for a second time in the women’s divisions? And who do you have your bets on to become the next Team Italy veteran to enter the UFC? See below for biographical information for the Italian team: Ilaria Norcia Women’s Flyweight – 125lbs Age: 22 Place of Birth: Cassino, Frosinone Occupation: Student in Computer Engineering Amateur MMA record: 1-3-0 Fight style: Muay Thai Previous sports experience: Muay Thai Comment: “It’s an honour to compete in IMMAF European Open Championship to represent my country and demonstrate that in Italy MMA is the fast growing sport.” Arziko Bregu Women’s Bantamweight – 135lbs Age: 20 Place of Birth: Monfalcone (Gorizia) from Albanian parents Occupation: Shop Assistant Fight style: striking Previous sports experience: boxing Comment: “I am honoured to compete in the IMMAF European Open, as it is a great opportunity for me to achieve something big in this sport and help me grow in this world.” Marco Zannetti Women’s Bantamweight – 135lbs Age: 23 anni Place of Birth: L’Aquila Occupation: Student Amateur MMA record:13-3 Fight style: striking Comment: “I am honored to fight at the IMMAF European Championships, as it is one of the best stages for Amateur MMA in the World.” Andrea Chiappi Men’s Featherweight – 145lbs Age: 26 Place of Birth: Rome Occupation: Law Student Amateur MMA Record: 4-4 Fight style: Striking Previous sports experince: judo, boxing Comment: “It is an honour to have the opportunity to compete against athletes of an international level and to fight in new countries. There is always much to learn; there is always much to fight for! Like Doctor Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, from a simple law student it does not takes much to awake the fighting spirit that lives inside me.” Michele Martignoni Men’s Featherweight – 145lbs Age: 20 Place of Birth: Rome Occupation: Athlete and MMA coach Fight style: MMA Comment: “I am honoured to represent my country and I will try to give a tough battle until the end. I have never been more competitive than now.” Alessio Cocco Men’s Lightweight– 155lbs Age: 21 Place of Birth: Rome Occupation: Waiter Fight style: MMA Previous sports experience: swimming Comment: “I am honoured to compete in the IMMAF European Championship under the Italian flag. Being part of the national team is an award for all my efforts as an athlete. I have never felt a greater joy than when I competed at the IMMAF Worlds and now am about to at this European Open.” Francesco Spinola Men’s Lightweight– 155lbs Age:20 Place of Birth: Rome Occupation: student Amateur MMA record: 6-4 Titles/ medals: Gold medal in Italian Grappling Championship as a Junior Fight style: MMA Comment: “The reason I am competing in this European Championship is to represent Italy, my team and my family.” Additional information: “I am working for my Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and International Relations at Rome University, and I work as an editor and journalist on the MMA information website MMA-Europa.com.” Gianluigi Ventoruzzo Men’s Welterweight – 170lbs Age: 27 Place of Birth: Serrone, Frosinone Fight style: grappler, counter striker Previous sports experience: Many years in Sanda (Chinese boxing) Comment: “It is an honour to be part of the national team representing Italy. We have to work really hard to show that the MMA movement in our country is alive and strong. It is an honour to wear the Italian team shirt because it gives dignity and recognition to our efforts as athletes, and gives us the opportunity to fight against the very best that the world can offer, giving us further opportunity to show both our strong and weak sides. The national team shirt brings us new opportunities.” Additional information: “To be able to train wih my team (Hung Mun), I drive 180km every training session from my town to Rome.” Daniele Dell’Otto Men’s Middleweight – 185lbs Age: 21 Place of Birth: Rome Occupation: Student of Physical Education Fight style: MMA Previous sport experience: basketball, swimming, football Comment: “I am honored to represent my country on significant platforms, such as at the IMMAF European Championship. The chance to compete against the best European Amateur fighters gives me the motivation to train and keep on improving.” Paolo Anastasi Light Heavyweight – 205lbs Age: 24 Place of Birth: Sant’Omero (TE) Occupation: Student Amateur MMA record: 4 – 3 – 0 Fight style: MMA Titles/ medals: Italian Cup of Grappling Silver and Bronze Medallist, Italian Championship of Grappling Bronze Previous sports experience: grappling, judo, K1 Comment: “I am honored to be part of the Italian National MMA Team and I will give everything I have for my team ma
tes, our federation and for everybody that supports and believes in us. It will be great a honour and duty to defend our national colours and bring home the gold medals.” For more information about FIGMMA visit figmma.it]]>
