By Jake Smith
As excitement builds ahead of the 2021 IMMAF Youth World Championships, athletes, coaches and federations may have queries surrounding rules, age groups, weight divisions and eligibility ahead of registering for an IMMAF Youth Tournament.
Understanding the importance of this, IMMAF have compiled answers to some of the most frequently asked questions:
What are the age groups for youth competition?
There are three age banding categories when it comes to youth competitions.
The category for our youngest competitors is the Youth category C. To be eligible for this category, the player must not be under the age of 12 years or over the age of 14 years before 1st day of competition and must be within this age band until the competition has been completed.
The next age category is Youth Category B. To be eligible for this category, the player must not be under the age of 14 years or over the age of 16 years before 1st day of competition and must be within this age band until the competition has been completed.
The final youth age category is Youth Category A. To be eligible for this category, the player must not be under the age of 16 years or over the age of 18 years before 1st day of competition and must be within this age band until the competition has been completed.
Following that, athletes between 18 years of age and 20 years of age by the 1st day of competition can compete in the Juniors. The junior player cannot be over 21 years by the 1st day of competition and must be within this age band until the competition has been completed.
What are the weight categories?
All youth contestants must take to the official competition scales wearing shorts and a t-shirt or rash guard- with official IMMAF apparel preferable. Youth contestants are not permitted to strip above or below the waist to underwear or bare torso.
The weight categories vary depending on the category in which the athlete is competing. Find below a full list of weight divisions for all youth age bandings:
Youth category C 12 – 13 years old
Male & Female [under]
-31kg/ 68.3 lbs
-34kg/ 75 lbs
-37kg/ 81.6 lbs
-40kg/ 88.2 lbs
-44kg / 97 lbs
-48kg/ 105.8 lbs
-52kg/ 114.6 lbs
-57kg/ 125.7 lbs
+57kg/ 125.7– TO A MAXIMUM OF 62kg / 136.7 lbs
Youth category B | 14 – 15 years old | Male & Female [under]
-40 kg/ 88.2 lbs
-44 kg/ 97 lbs
-48 kg/ 105.8 lbs
-52 kg/ 114.6 lbs
-57 kg/ 125.7 lbs
-62 kg/ 136.7 lbs
-67 kg/ 147.7 lbs
-72kg/ 158.7 lbs
+72 kg/ 158.7 lbs– TO A MAXIMUM OF 77.1 kg/ 170 lbs
Both Youth B & C categories, for the upper weight limits only, no athlete shall be allowed to compete with a weight difference greater than 5 kg.
Youth category A 16-17 years old [as per current unified IMMAF rules]
Male [under]
Strawweight: -52.2 kg /115 lbs
Flyweight: -56.7 kg /125 lbs
Bantamweight: -61.2 kg /135 lbs
Featherweight: -65.8 kg /145 lbs
Lightweight: -70.3 kg /155 lbs
Welterweight: -77.1 kg /170 lbs
Middleweight: -83.9 kg /185 lbs
Light Heavyweight: -93.0 kg /205 lbs
Heavyweight: -120.2 kg /265 lbs
Female [under]
Atomweight: – 47.7kg /105 lbs
Strawweight: -52.2 kg /115 lbs
Flyweight: -56.7 kg /125 lbs
Bantamweight: -61.2 kg /135 lbs
Featherweight: -65.8 kg /145 lbs
Lightweight: -70.3 kg /155 lbs
Welterweight: 77.1 kg /170 lbs
In female category A, for the upper weight limit only, no athlete shall be allowed to compete with a weight difference greater than 5 kg.
Weigh-ins will take place on the day of competition and each day of competition thereafter, as they progress through the tournament. All competitors will have a 1lb allowance over their competition weight.
What are the rules?
The ruleset in which IMMAF tournaments are conducted remains the same throughout all IMMAF competitions.
Rounds- Youth A athletes will compete over 3 x 2 minute rounds, with a 1 minute rest period. Youth B athletes will compete over 1 single round of 4 minutes. Youth C athletes will compete over 1 single round of 3 minutes.
Forbidden techniques for all three categories are as follows: Elbow and forearm strikes of any kind, Heel Hook, Twister, neck crank, can opener, sit through crucifix and/or any submission deemed as applying pressure to the neck or spine & knees to the head of an opponent.
For more detailed information about the rules across all three categories, including fouls, scoring system & judging, read the full IMMAF Youth MMA rules, here.
Are head shots allowed at under 18 events?
No. Strikes to the face or head are not permitted for any and all levels of Youth A,B and C competitions.
Is my athlete eligible?
- For an athlete to be eligible to compete in an IMMAF Youth Competition, they MUST adhere to the following rules: The contestant shall be of legal age according to the laws of the country where the competition is held.
- The contestant shall be in good physical and mental condition. The contestant will be examined during the medical check. If any member of the medical team founds grounds for which they believe an athlete could not compete, their world is final.
- All youth athletes need to have a minimum of IMMAF yellow grade to enter the event.
- The contestant shall be well prepared to compete in MMA.
- The contestant shall have experience from competing in full contact martial arts.
- When entering a competition, the contestant is responsible for ensuring that all relevant martial arts experience is reported.
- Passport validity minimum timeframe required 2 year cooling off period.
For more information on eligibility to compete, download the IMMAF eligibility to compete PDF, here.
With COVID-19 derailing last year’s event, this will be the first time our Youth Competitors have had the chance to compete on the world stage since the 2019 World Championships in Rome, Italy. The United States showed their dominance taking home 28 medals, with standout star Alana Delva claiming two golds. Another standout star came in the form of Italian, Aisa Martari who also finished the tournament a duel gold medalist. Find a full list of 2019 Youth Championship medalists, below:
Women’s Youth A: Strawweight -52.2kg/115lbs.
Gold. Shaniyah Carlson (United States)
Silver. Lea Bivins (United States)
Bronze. Dinara Ayapova (Kazakhstan)
Women’s Youth A: Flyweight -56.7kg/125lbs
Gold. Jaylene Martinez (United States)
Silver. Kiya O’Sullivan (Ireland)
Bronze. Giulia Volpe (Italy)
Women’s Youth A: Bantamweight -61.2kg/135lbs.
Gold. Nahdia Barrientos (United States)
Silver. Karina Sisenova (Kazakhstan)
Bronze. Dilnaz Toktar (Kazakhstan)
Women’s Youth A: Featherweight -65.8kg/145lbs.
Gold. Sarah Elliott-Sheridan (Ireland)
Silver. Gulmira Azatbek (Kazakhstan)
Bronze. Lillian Murphy (Ireland)
Men’s Youth A: Strawweight -52.2kg/115lbs
Gold. Akhmad Amaev (Russia)
Silver. Aiub Galaev (Russia)
Bronze. Dmytro Makarov (Ukraine)
Men’s Youth A: Flyweight -56.7kg/125lbs
Gold. Rashad Satterwhite (United States)
Silver. Andrii Stoian (Ukraine)
Bronze. Astemir Gongapshev (Russia)
Bronze. Milea Cristian Valentine (Romania)
Men’s Youth A: Bantamweight -61.2kg/135lbs
Gold. Leandro Gomes (Portugal)
Silver. Jessie Rosas (United States)
Bronze. Danilbek Batashev (Russia)
Bronze. Harrop Cam (United Kingdom)
Men’s Youth A: Feather Weight -65.8kg/145lbs.
Gold. Oleksandr Huliaev (Ukraine)
Silver. Conor Sheridan (Ireland)
Bronze. Antonios Abou Eid (Lebanon)
Bronze. Kurtis Campbell (United Kingdom)
Men’s Youth A: Lightweight -70.3kg/155lbs.
Gold. Viktor Ivanov (Bulgaria)
Silver. Islamdin Cherivmurzaev (Russia)
Bronze. Ian Stoby (Canada).
Bronze. Sean Kenna (Ireland)
Men’s Youth A: Welterweight -77.1kg/170lbs.
Gold.Dmitrii Vazhinskii (Russia)
Silver. Antonio Mazzola (Italy)
Bronze.Giorgio Boccali (Italy)
Men’s Youth A: Middleweight -83.9kg/185lbs.
Gold.Gadzhi Gadzhiev (Russia)
Silver. Elzhan Alzhanov (Kazakhstan)
Bronze. Alessandro Montico (Italy)
Bronze: Danil Gubin (Kazakhstan)
Men’s Youth A: Light Heavyweight -93kg/205lbs.
Gold. Hleb Karytska (Belarus)
Silver. Makar Andreev (Russia)
Bronze. Nurzhan Karasayev (Kazakhstan)
Men’s Youth A: Heavyweight -120.2kg/265lbs.
Gold. Makar Andreev (Russia)
Silver. Dias Tlemis (Kazakhstan)
Bronze Zanharia Eduard Yani (Romania)
Women’s Youth C: -44kgs/97lbs.
Gold. Sara Ioana Vasiliu Gierosu (Ireland)
Silver. Alexis Erwin LexiErwin (United States)
Bronze. Isabel Lees (United Kingdom).
Women’s Youth C: 48kgs/105lbs
Gold. Sophie Bellis (United Kingdom)
Silver. Asia Girelli (Italy)
Women’s Youth C: -57kgs/125lbs
Gold. Alana Delva (United States)
Silver. Anastasiia Horodivska (Ukraine)
Women’s Youth C: +57kgs/125lbs
Gold. Alana Delva (United States)
Silver. Anastasiia Horodivska (Ukraine)
Bronze. Benedetta Amati (Italy)
Men’s Youth C: -34kgs/75lbs
Gold. Travis Boyles (United States)
Silver. Calen Greer (United States)
Men’s Youth C: -40kgs/88lbs
Gold. Alexander Ramirez United States)
Silver. Viktor Dimitrov (Bulgaria)
Bronze. Rostislav Ocheretnyy (Ukraine)
Men’s Youth C: -44kgs/97lbs
Gold. Kai Sekgawa (United States)
Silver. Brandon O’Brein (Ireland)
Bronze. Mio Madsen (Germany)
Men’s Youth C: -48kgs/105lbs
Gold. Sergio Porras (United States)
Silver. Maksym Oliinky (Ukraine)
Bronze. Logan Hackbarth (United States)
Men’s Youth C: -52kgs/114lbs
Gold. Delton Kaufmann (United States)
Silver. Vladyslav Kryshevych (Ukraine)
Bronze. Hayden Absalom (Australia)
Bronze. Ethan Badayos (United States)
Men’s Youth C: -57kgs/125lbs
Gold. Yaroslav Novosad (Ukraine)
Silver. Adrian Lee (United States)
Bronze. Adrian Quintana (Mexico)
Men’s Youth C: +57kgs/125lbs
Gold. Joseph Bowers (United States)
Silver. Jesse Jimenex (United States
Bronze. Will Eskrick (United Kingdom)
Women’s Youth B: 48kgs/105lbs
Gold. Angelina Calpito (United States)
Silver. Alina Buzhanko (Ukraine).
Bronze. Dakota Flatters (United Kingdom)
Women’s Youth B: 52kgs/114lbs
Gold. Anastasiia Holinko (Ukraine)
Silver. Regina Awana (United States)
Bronze. Giulia Ceraudo (Italy)
Women’s Youth B: 57kgs/125lbs
Gold. Victoria Lee (United States)
Silver. Ilaria Leto (Italy)
Bronze. Alessandra Darbelli (Italy)
Women’s Youth B: 62kgs/136lbs
Gold. Popescu Miruna (Romania)
Silver. Andrea Frisque (United States)
Bronze. Gaia Vertulli (Italy)
Women’s Youth B: -67kgs/147lbs
Gold. Asia Martari (Italy)
Silver. Lily Kent (Ireland).
Women’s Youth B: +67kgs/147lbs
Gold. Asia Martari (Italy)
Silver. Delia Dior (Italy)
Bronze. Lily Kent (Ireland)
Men’s Youth B: -40kgs/88lbs
Gold. Victor Ganev (Bulgaria)
Silver. Ari Bonilla (Mexico)
Bronze. Danil Zheliaskov (Ukraine)
Men’s Youth B: -44kgs/97lbs
Gold. Kyrylo Niegru (Ukraine)
Silver. Andrey Bonilla (Mexico)
Bronze. Daniial Shagidilovm(Russia)
Men’s Youth B: -48kgs/105lbs
Gold. Chesaret Abbasov (Russia)
Silver. Xeric Karoutsos (United States)
Bronze. Nabil El Hajj (Lebanon)
Men’s Youth B: -52kg/114lbs
Gold. Nazar Bekmagambetov (Russia)
Silver. Ilia Raiu (Russia)
Bronze. Bader Abdullla (Bahrain)
Men’s Youth B: -57kg/125lbs
Gold. Tayfun Jafarli (Ukraine)
Silver. Yurii Pasych (Ukraine)
Bronze. Alexander Trujillo (United States)
Bronze. Mackenzie Liddle (United Kingdom)
Men’s Youth B: -62kg/136lbs
Gold. Raul Rosas (United States)
Silver. Alex Williams (United Kingdom)
Bronze. Jack Grundy (United Kingdom)
Bronze Salmonkhon Maieripov (Russia)
Men’s Youth B: -67kg/147lbs
Gold. Danylo Dobrovolskyi (Ukraine)
Silver. Alex Andrews (United Kingdom)
Bronze. Brooklyn Thomas (United Kingdom)
Men’s Youth B: -72kg/158lbs
Gold.Billie Merreighn (United States)
Silver. Creata Bogdan George (Romania)
Bronze. Eldar Astasev (Russia)
Bronze. Danil Kapustin (Russia)
Men’s Youth B: -85kg/187lbs
Gold. Dragne Mihai Andrei (Romania)
Silver. Bradley Hearne (Wales)Men’s Youth B: +85kg/187lbs
Gold. Sasha Solovei (Ukraine)
Silver. Matti Aurala (Finland)
Bronze. Aleksandr Shepel (Russia)
