Tirana, Albania – Tirana Olympic Park
20 – 25 November 2023
SENIOR & JUNIOR TOURNAMENTS
The International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF) is pleased to confirm that the 2023 IMMAF World Championships will officially take place in Tirana, Albania, between 20 – 25 November, with tournament registration taking place on 19 November.
Hosted by the Albanian MMA Federation (ALBMMAF), the World Championships takes place in Tirana; the European City of Sports 2023, at the Tirana Olympic Park venue. The 2023 IMMAF World Championships will mark the second time the prestigious event is held in Europe.
Since 2014, more than 125 IMMAF alumni have gone on to find success in the biggest professional MMA promotions globally including; UFC, BRAVE Combat Federation, BELLATOR MMA, PFL, Invicta FC and more, making IMMAF the ultimate proving ground ‘Where Stars Are Born’.
In Tirana, the next crop of amateur talent will look to replicate the success of former Champions such as the now top-ranked UFC fighters Amanda Ribas (BRA) and Brendan Allen (USA), as well as the new BRAVE CF bantamweight champion Jose Torres (USA).
These trailblazers have forged a path to greatness, and now serve as examples for the next generation of mixed martial artists who now have their own opportunity to walk the road to the very top of the sport.
IMMAF President Kerrith Brown said:
“We are thrilled to announce that Tirana, the European City of Sports 2023, will be the esteemed host city for the 2023 IMMAF World Championships. Since the first World Championships in 2014, IMMAF has proven that this platform is ‘Where Stars Are Born’, as Amateur MMA upstarts begin their journey through the mixed martial arts pathway.
“As we prepare for this historic event in Albania, which will also include the launch of the RDX Sports kit for athletes, I look forward to another unforgettable showcase of Amateur MMA from across the globe.”
In 2022, the IMMAF World Championships took place in Novi Beograd (Belgrade), Serbia, featuring 520 athletes from 62 countries, including fan favourites such as Ramazan Gitinov (BRN), Magdalena Czaban (POL), Sabrina de Sousa (BRN) & Veja Hinda (NAM).
The event served as a career landmark for Gitinov and de Sousa, who both became three-time World Champions, a feat only achieved once before in IMMAF history by Bagdat Zhubanysh (KAZ). The two surging prospects would use the platform to catapult themselves into the Professional ranks of MMA, having since signed contracts with top promotion BRAVE Combat Federation. Gitinov has already moved to 2-0, with his years of experience under the IMMAF banner now paying dividends.
The 2023 World Championships will hold six weight divisions for female athletes, from Atomweight to Lightweight, and ten for male athletes, from Strawweight to Super Heavyweight, and will be conducted per the latest IMMAF Amateur rules. Both Senior and Junior divisions for Men and Women will feature over the five days of competition.
Also featured on this iconic stage will be the debut of the new global partnership between IMMAF and leading supplier of high-quality combat sports equipment and kit, RDX Sports.
Priority registration for top 15 ranked nations at Senior and Junior will open on the 18th of September.
