Teams Mexico and Oceania Champions are to replace teams Ukraine and RMMAU respectively at the MMA Super Cup, which takes place next week from the 8 to 12 March as part of BRAVE International Combat Week.
Following the invasion of Ukraine by Russian forces on Friday, the Ukrainian amateur MMA team has been forced to withdraw from the tournament.
The board of the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation united with international sport on Tuesday in its decision to suspend the Russian MMA Union’s membership in solidarity with Ukraine. This renders the RMMAU team ineligible for the MMA Super Cup, which is sanctioned by the IMMAF under IMMAF rules and regulations.
The incoming Mexican team returned to international competition for the first time since 2019 for the 2021 World Championships, yet still managed to carve its way to a rankings spot just outside the top 10. Following the organisation of 20 national amateur tournaments last year, Mexican federation, FAMM, produced a team of 19 athletes from 10 different states for the Worlds. The team came away with a silver medal and bronze medal earned by Valeria Gomez and Diego Torres respectively. This follows medals successes for the Mexican team at their previous outings at the Worlds and Pan Ams in 2019.
Meanwhile the Oceania Champions comprises IMMAF’s #5 and #6 ranked national teams, New Zealand and Australia. The nations collectively earned a gold, silver and bronze medal between them at the recent IMMAF World Championships, despite a prolonged period of regional restrictions on sport and travel with uncertainty leading up to the Worlds. The region’s most notable amateur export is multiple-time IMMAF medallist Michelle Montague who has now signed with PFL. Stand-outs on the team for the MMA Super Cup include: 2019 Oceania gold medallist Prashanth Guda (NZ); 2020 Oceania bronze medallist Auryn Parmley (AUS); and 2020 Oceania gold medallist Troy Fumo.
See the full athlete line ups for teams Mexico and Oceania Champions below.
IMMAF President Kerrith Brown said:
“We are grateful to federations FAMM, NZMMAF and IMMAFA for agreeing to organise teams at short notice. All three nations have proved their credibility in IMMAF competitions, but also have strong foundations as federations through their developed clubs’ membership, national competition circuits and progression schemes that provide a deep pool of talent. This enables the federations to mobilise elite amateur teams at short notice that can be banked on to deliver high level performances worthy of the Super Cup platform. Both athletes and coaches are to be commended for rising to the challenge at extremely short notice, showing true fighter spirit. Teams Mexico and Oceania present red herrings in the tournament, which will keep everyone on their toes.”
TEAM MEXICO
Men:
● Bantamweight (135lbs): Jorge Antonio Lopez Perez
● Featherweight (145lbs): Victor Gerardo Quintana Vazquez
● Lightweight (155lbs): Luis Enrique Gonzalez Martinez
● Welterweight (170lbs): Jorge Raul Zaragoza de la Cruz
● Middleweight (185lbs): Diego Torres Rangel
● Light Heavyweight (205lbs): Miguel Angel Serna Castro
● Heavyweight (265lbs): Daniel Flores Sartorius
Malesubstitutes: Anthony Ramirez Amado; Jaime Samuel Sierra Lara
Women:
- Flyweight (125lbs): Violeta Mendoza Corral
- Bantamweight women (135lbs): Andrea Gabriela Guzman Salazar
Coaches: Jesus Ubaldo Marroquin Rodriguez; Daniel Solorzano Fernandez
TEAM OCEANIA CHAMPIONS
Men:
● Bantamweight (135lbs): Coopar Smith (AUS)
● Featherweight (145lbs): Prashanth Guda (NZ)
● Lightweight (155lbs): Kasib Murdoch-McKeich (NZ)
● Welterweight (170lbs): Mitchell Kelly (NZ)
● Middleweight (185lbs): Jonas Grace (NZ)
● Light Heavyweight (205lbs): Auryn Parmley (AUS)
● Heavyweight (265lbs): Abraham Paku (AUS)
Male substitutes: Troy Fumo (AUS); Hayden Limebeer (AUS)
Women:
- Flyweight (125lbs): TBC
- Bantamweight women (135lbs): Alisha Burtt (NZ)
Team Coaches: Matt Toa (NZ); Ryan Dunstan (AUS)
