IMMAF president, Kerrith Brown, was an honored guest of the Tajikistan Mixed Martial Arts Federation (TAJMMAF) as the domestic governing body staged its annual Amateur MMA Republican Championships for junior and senior athletes on 12-13 December in Dushanbe city, the event also served as national team qualifying for the 2021 IMMAF World Championships.
The TAJMMAF is a standout member of IMMAF affiliate nations for proactivity of sport development and government relations. The National Championship featured the participation of 160 athletes but without spectators due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
“TAJMMAF met its expectations from the talented competitors who contested with great enthusiasm, inspiration, and respect for each other, and strived to show their best skills to become a champion,” the national body commented.
Furthermore, the visit provided opportunity to organize meetings with the stakeholders of the MMA in Tajikistan. The IMMAF President met with the Vice-Minister of the Sports and Youth of the Republic of Tajikistan, Mr. Dilshod Nazarov, alongside TAJMMAF President, Mr. Davron Juraev, discussing the continued development and promising future of MMA, underpinned by the importance of technical progress for youth participation.
Together with the Vice-Minister of Sports of Tajikistan, the IMMAF President visited the new Sport Complex in Dushanbe city, which is one of the largest in the Central Asian Region.
Meetings were also held with the General Secretary of the National Olympic Committee of Tajikistan, Mr. Erkin Latipov. It agreed that Amateur MMA needs the recognition of authorities as an Olympic sport. Mr. Latipov noted that he maintains close cooperation with the TAJMMAF in developing Amateur MMA in Tajikistan.
After the completion of the Championships, Mr. Brown and Mr. Juraev were interviewed in National Sport Television – “TV Varzish” and highlighted the differences between professional MMA and Amateur MMA, the reasons why Amateur MMA should be recognized as an Olympic sport, and the results of the Republican Championship.
By promoting the healthy goals of the IMMAF and its members for the favor of athletes and positive perceptions of Amateur MMA, the TAJMMAF took another step forward among its national authorities for the development of Amateur MMA in the Republic of Tajikistan.
