On July 30th IMMAF President Kerrith Brown, announced IMMAF’s plans to achieve recognition from SportAccord for the sport of MMA.
Brown travelled out to Abu Dhabi earlier this week, ahead of IMMAF’s Youth World Championships starting on the 6th of August, to announce a groundbreaking renewal with Abu Dhabi which will see our Youth World Championships held in the capital until 2027.
Alongside this pivotal deal, Brown also confirmed IMMAF’s strategy and plans for MMA to be included under the Alliance of Independent Recognized Members of Sports (AIMS).
Speaking on this historic announcement at the Abu Dhabi press conference, Brown stated: “I’m hugely excited to announce the start of our plans to become a recognized sport in the eyes of SportAccord.”
“We want to set the gulf standard in terms of education to ensure the value of the sport at every level, for athletes, referees and judges, will be certified to create a level playing field at the base for both male and female athletes, to be able to grow.
“IMMAF are confident with our 12 years’ experience, in terms of the IMMAF Road to Recognition, in pushing to get the sport recognized. Through our values and collective data, we are confident that the work we have done has changed a lot of the perception surrounding of the sport over the years and has had value with national federations, which have gained recognition in their own territories.
“For example, France, where MMA was once banned, is now a hotspot in Europe for the sport.
“We’re very proud of the work that has been committed. It’s a stake in the ground and the fact that we’ve renewed another contract, and we have our junior and senior World Championships coming up, shows the level and the standard which IMMAF sets in terms of developing the sport globally.”
