By James Sweetnam
On April 9, MMA Polska is hosting its third championship, which is set to provide a platform for the country’s best amateur athletes to showcase their skills.
The event will take place at OSiR Bemowo hall at ul, Obrońców Tobruku 40, and is set to be the biggest yet. Registration for the tournament, which is now closed, has been extremely impressive. The championships will feature nearly 350 of the best athletes that the nation has to offer. Furthermore, over 100 different clubs will be represented in the prestigious competition. This record-breaking number of athletes is not only an achievement for the governing body, but it also provides an even larger field to find and develop the stars of the future.
For the third edition of the respected tournament, the organisation will make history by introducing a plethora of new-age groups. Those aged between 12 and 17 will have an incredible opportunity to compete on a massive stage with a chance to represent their country on the line.
As usual, junior and senior categories are also available, with the winners earning the opportunity to fight for Poland in future IMMAF events. MMA Polska has teamed up with the Sports and Recreation Centre of the Capital City of Warsaw in the Bemowo District and the Bemowo District office to help create the greatest event possible. They received support from the Mayor of the District, Urszula Kierzkowska.
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, only 300 fans were able to watch the last championships at the Gliwice Arena. But as restrictions loosen, more spectators can catch the next wave of Polish prospects live and in person. Those who can’t make it to the arena can tune in to all the action via MMA Polska’s social media pages.
The sport is growing at a rapid rate in Poland. In April 2021, the governing body staged the first edition of the event in Warsaw. The second came just a few months later in October. However, they’ve now got four tournaments planned in 2022 alone. Although the exact dates and locations are yet to be announced, they are expected to occur in June, October, and December.
Over the last few years, the likes of Joanna Jędrzejczyk and Jan Blachowicz have been examples of the level of talent to come out of Poland. Their impressive title-winning performances have highlighted how big an impact the Polish can make on the world scene. But to continue this surge in momentum, the Poles have to develop fighters at the amateur level.
They have impressed in IMMAF tournaments, with Paulina Kontna and Magdalena Czaban winning gold medals at the European Championships. In addition, Paula Wisniewska picked up a bronze medal in the 2021 World Championships. Furthermore, the country continues to develop its athletes’ skills through their own tournaments, with stars like Michał Borowski emerging from the last competition.
It’s certainly an exciting time for Polish MMA, and with Martin Lewandowski, the man who built KSW, spearheading their development, there is lots more to come.
