By Jorden Curran
Pictured: (left to right) IMMAF board member Irman Smajic, IMMAF vice-president Wissam Abi Nader, BMMAF president Ludo Boulvin, IMMAF president Kerrith Brown, IMMAF development director Andrew Moshanov.
The president of the Belgian MMA Federation (BMMAF), Ludo Boulvin, has informed IMMAF that recognition for Mixed Martial Arts has now been formalised, marking a significant milestone for the sport that has been years in the making and comes on the 20th anniversary of the national MMA federation.
This achievement ensures that MMA will now be recognized under Belgian government, a move that will undoubtedly elevate the sport’s profile in the country, preserving governance and grass roots development.
For years, the BMMAF has worked diligently to navigate Belgium’s unique political structure, which divides the country into two distinct regions: Wallonia in the south and Flanders in the north. Each region requires separate governing bodies to oversee sport-related matters. BMMAF, while based in Wallonia, has enjoyed consistent support in the northern region, and will now receive government recognition in Wallonia, in collaboration with kickboxing and muay-thai federation LFKBMO, who selected BMMAF to oversee MMA related matters. BMMAF will work independently as part of the greater collective under ADEPS, the official ministry service charged with the promotion and recognition of sport and physical activity.
For over 20 years Boulvin has campaigned for greater recognition and development for amateur MMA and youth development, which will now be actioned and protected at the highest level, providing greater opportunity for funding, development of athletes, youth and recreational participants, as well as greater awareness and unification of governance.
