2017 IMMAF World Championships next month. The event to place at the Pala Pellicone, Italy’s most prestigious martial arts arena located within the FIJLKAM Olympic Center, home of Olympic Judo, Wrestling and Karate in the nation’s capital. All division-A matches were held in the cage provided by FIGMMA technical partner Throwdown. Educated and certified officials were in place as a continuation of the output from IMMAF’s international referee and judges course conducted by Marc Goddard in Rome this year. To ensure maximum safety for athletes, an IMMAF certified cuts team was guided by senior cutman Angelo Tarantini. Each member of the well trained team was a product of Joe Clifford’s official IMMAF licensing for seconds. Italian Cup Champions included: Women’s Irene Azzalin (straw – 52kg), Ilaria Norcia (fly – 57kg), Emanuela Scioli (bantam – 61kg) and Fabiana Giampà (feather – 66kg) Men’s Giacomo Mancini (fly – 57kg), Bogdan Bohac (rooster – 61kg), Francesco Spinola (feather – 66kg), Emanuele Palumbo (lightweight – 70kg), Dario Petrolo (welter – 77kg), Umberto Argentano (middle – 84kg) , Paolo Anastasi (Lightheavy – 93kg), Massimiliano Bernardi (heavy, -120kg). For complete results including all age class and weight divisions, visit FIGMMA.it. During the opening ceremony, FIGMMA President Saverio Longo thanked the athletes who earned medals at the 2017 IMMAF European Open Championship: Dario Bellandi, Daniele Matiddi, Arziko Bregu, Marco Zannetti and Ilaria Norcia. In addition, spectators were ecouraged to support the national team at the upcoming IMMAF World Championships. Special thanks were given to the FIGMMA sponsors ADIDAS and VANDAL who provided free of charge the equipment (gloves and shinguards) for all participating athletes. Cup champions were also presented with a Gold series Mouthguard from FIGMMA technical Partner OPRO. Representing Italy at the 2017 IMMAF World Championships will be: Dario Bellandi (middleweight), Daniele Matiddi (light-heavyweight), Arziko Bregu (Women’s bantamweight), Gianluigi Ventoruzzo (welterweight), Francesco Spinola (Men’s featherweight), Alessandro Celadin (Men’s bantamweight), Alessandro Franquillo (Men’s lightweight), Giacomo Santoro (Men’s flyweight), Gabriele Bartoni (light-heavyweight), Fabiana Giampà (Women’s bantamweight) and Ilaria Norcia (Women’s flyweight). Fabio Ciolli serves as the FIGMMA head coach. Taking place at Khalifa Sports City Arena from 12 to 19 November, as part of Brave International Combat Week, the 2017 World Championships are anticipated to be the biggest event in the history of amateur MMA under IMMAF with more participants than ever before representing nations from all continents. 2017 marks the first year of the IMMAF Worlds taking place outside of Las Vegas, USA. For Italian national team information and live event updates visit MyNextMatch.com. All Finals action can be viewed on Youtube. Photo gallery available HERE.]]>