The news that the Ukraine MMA Federation has confirmed a team of 68 athletes for the IMMAF Youth World Championships in Sofia highlights the fantastic work being done by the Ukraine Mixed Martial Arts Federation at present.
Ukraine, which has supported the global development of amateur MMA from the start, was one of the first countries to be given the all-important recognition by the Ministry of Sports on the 14th of February 2012.
Ukraine has always had a tradition of producing strong fighters such as PRIDE star Igor Vovchanchyn, with Fedor Emelianenko being born in Ukraine and the legendary Khabib Nurmagomedov also starting his professional career in Ukraine. The fact that Ukraine’s sport culture has MMA in its DNA is important, as the federation’s Acting President Anton Blank, told IMMAF:
“Looking at the amateur scene, we are proud of our IMMAF gold medallists Anastasiya Svetkivska, Dariya Samchyk, Ata Atdaev and Pavel Senchenko,” said Blank “But we also have had many winners and medallists at past events, especially our youth team that was ranked second at the World Championships in 2019. Ukraine has amassed 13 gold medals, 11 silver and 14 bronze medals – just in 2018 and 2019, so we are excited to be able to compete again in 2021.”
But as a member of the IMMAF Coaching Commission, Blank is also keen to underline the commitment of his federation to development. “We are proud that we have built a system of education and management of judges and officials inside the country to mirror the IMMAF system. What is important to underline is that our leadership team consists of a team of professionals who really love the sport of MMA and do everything to develop it correctly. They work really hard to promote the Federation as the only legal amateur MMA organisation in Ukraine, with roots that go back to 2012.”
Blank continued: “Like the IMMAF, our biggest strategic priority is to create the right environment for kids. The development of youth MMA. I think our country has a great potential to develop a world class movement of under 18 athletes. We are now planning to bring and build MMA in small cities and towns. It will offer opportunities to young and even not so young talents to build their careers in mixed martial arts.”
Team Ukraine participation to date at IMMAF/WMMA events:
2018 Europe: 2 athletes
2018 Jr Europe: 2
2018 Jr World: 1
2018 World: 15
2019 Europe 16
2019 Jr Europe: 7
2019 World 12
2019 Youth World 24
2020 Oceania 1
2021 Youth World 68 (upcoming)
