Hasan Khan
Mgr. Ing. Marek Herda stands as the driving force behind the Slovak MMA Association (SZMMA), guiding the federation through a period of structured growth, educational innovation and international recognition.
With academic credentials in engineering and law from the Slovak University of Technology and the Pan-European University of Law, Herda combined his passion for martial arts with a strategic vision for sports administration. His multidisciplinary expertise is further reinforced by various diplomas and certifications in the sports and professional sectors. By establishing the MAMMAL League and founding Topfighters Promo, Herda created Slovakia’s first formal amateur MMA competition structure. His early work in grassroots event organisation laid the foundation for national leadership and broader international collaboration.
Appointed President of SZMMA in 2019 following the merger of IMMAF and WMMAA, Herda quickly secured official accreditation from Slovakia’s Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport. Under his stewardship, SZMMA became the country’s recognised governing body for amateur MMA, implementing referee education, athlete safeguarding standards and WADA compliant anti-doping protocols.
One of Herda’s most significant accomplishments has been integrating MMA into Slovakia’s school system. Initially launched in 2022 through the Ministry’s MODULY programme, MMA training was incorporated into physical education classes at both primary and secondary levels. The programme reached over 1,300 students in its pilot phase and continues to expand. Herda describes the initiative as a way to “increase the physical fitness and health of children and youth… develop social and emotional skills such as teamwork and resilience.” The move represents a major milestone in formal recognition for the sport, particularly given MMA’s status outside the Olympic system.
Herda also led the development of an e-learning platform for referee, judge and coach education, ensuring alignment with IMMAF’s technical standards. His commitment to safety and structure has shaped every aspect of SZMMA’s operations, from pre-fight medical checks to cage standards and youth-oriented rule sets. Under his leadership, head strikes remain prohibited in youth divisions and athlete welfare is treated as a central tenet of competition policy.
Internationally, Herda has contributed extensively to IMMAF’s institutional development. He is a member of both the Youth Development Commission and the Coaching Commission, playing a key role in advancing education frameworks, regulatory systems and youth development strategy. He has also supported the creation of IMMAF’s European structure, liaising with national federations to elevate amateur MMA across the continent.
In 2025, Herda’s leadership helped take SZMMA’s national league operations to new heights. Between seven and eight events were organised that year, two of which featured dual cages running simultaneously, an operational first for Slovak MMA. A total of 218 fights took place across the season, attracting athletes from five different countries and highlighting the league’s expanding scale and international profile. Herda considers the continued development of the MAMMAL League one of his proudest achievements, having grown the project from a grassroots initiative into a respected fixture in Central Europe’s amateur MMA scene.
Alongside his federation responsibilities, Herda is the founder and head coach of Gladiators Team Gym (GTG) in Partizánske. The gym has produced champions in MMA, grappling, muay thai, kickboxing, jiu-jitsu and boxing, a core part of Herda’s mission to support long term athlete development and mentorship. GTG also delivered Slovakia’s first junior MMA medalist, further demonstrating the pipeline Herda has helped establish from youth training to international podiums.
Herda describes himself as a builder and strategist above all else. “What brings me the most joy is seeing how something meaningful can emerge where once there was nothing,” he says. “Sport is a tool for developing the whole human being, body, mind, and spirit, connecting people to higher values.”
His philosophy is rooted in long term investment: creating lasting systems that empower youth and elevate community wellbeing. If not involved in MMA, Herda shared that he would still be working to shape impactful programmes in sport or education, whether in ice hockey, wrestling, football, or any area where structure and meaning can be built from the ground up.
Looking ahead, Herda has set his sights on hosting high level international events such as the IMMAF European Championships and World Cups in Slovakia. Goals also include elevating Slovak MMA to a standard comparable with Olympic disciplines, through enhanced educational, regulatory and competition systems. He remains a strong advocate for MMA’s eventual inclusion in the Olympic Games and is committed to strengthening Slovakia’s leadership role within IMMAF and the broader European MMA landscape.
Mgr. Ing. Marek Herda exemplifies modern sports leadership via a fusion of education, discipline and vision. Through his work integrating MMA into national education, advancing league professionalism and shaping youth development on the international stage, he has positioned Slovakia as a model federation within IMMAF. With clear ambition, steady innovation and a commitment to grassroots empowerment, Herda continues to build a sustainable legacy for Slovak MMA.