& IMMAF BOARD RESCINDS CHANGES TO ENTRY CRITERIA FOR 2017 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS Registration is now open for National Teams to enter athletes to represent their country in the 2017 IMMAF European Open Championships. The International Mixed Martial Arts Federation’s nation vs nation, Amateur MMA tournament spans 5 days of competitive action in Bulgaria’s capital city, Sofia, from 29 March to 2 April 2017 at the EFE Hotel Marinela. IMMAF championship events currently enjoy broadcast coverage across Extreme Sports Channel (Europe), BT Sport (UK), Combate Channel (Brazil), Bahrain TV, Sky Sports (New Zealand) and ITW (India), with further new deals soon to be announced. Each National Federation is permitted to enter a maximum of 2 participants per weight category, to an overall limit of 32 participants per category. Entrants are accepted on a first come first serve basis, subject to vetting by IMMAF. Hosted by the Bulgarian MMA Federation (BULMMAF), the 2017 IMMAF European Open Championships increases competitive opportunities for returning veterans and new talent alike, as IMMAF’s talent pool continues to deepen. The event is expected to attract up to 200 competitors. As part of fight week, IMMAF will present its second seminar series to include MMA training sessions on later days for athletes no longer in the competition. Athletes interested in competing in the 2017 IMMAF European Open Championships should contact their national federation for information about regional selections and entry criteria. For media or partnership enquiries contact: [email protected] ********************************************************************** CHANGES TO ENTRY CRITERIA FOR 2017 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS In December, IMMAF announced new qualification criteria for players wishing to compete at the IMMAF World Championships later in 2017. Following a review of feedback from members, the IMMAF Board of Directors has taken the decision not to implement the proposed criteria. This means that athletes DO NOT now have to participate at least one continental event in the same calendar year of the World Championships in order to enter the latter event. To qualify for athlete entry into the World Championships, three tiers of criteria apply: 1. Priority will be given to the top 32 ranked countries on a first come first served basis. 2. If there are any vacancies available after stage 1, then the brackets will be opened up to all federations outside the top 32 ranked countries on a first come first served basis. 3. If there are still any vacancies available in any of the weight divisions after stage 2, then the brackets will be opened to ALL federations on a first come first served basis with a maximum of 2 entries per weight division. While IMMAF’s continental championships events operate under a more open entry system, for its World Championships IMMAF is working to narrow entry criteria to ensure the participation of the most experienced and medalled teams, while at the same time acknowledging cost of entry for self-funding athletes.]]>
Related Posts
