By João Vitor Xavier
A former UFC title challenger, Joe Stevenson currently serves as the president of US Fight League, the American MMA federation under the umbrella of IMMAF. However, as a coach himself, the former fighter is shaping the next generation of mixed martial artists and is hands-on during the preparation of Team USA for the upcoming IMMAF Youth World Championships. The competition runs from July 20 until July 27, at the Al Ain Convention Centre, in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
The tournament will provide young American athletes with what Stevenson considers a ‘’priceless opportunity’’, and that is to face the best young competitors in the world, on MMA’s biggest amateur proving ground.
“The opportunity to test yourself against the best competition in the world is priceless”, commented Stevenson, who is a big believer in the power of martial arts to shape better lives across the board.
“I don’t see every kid that competes becoming a professional fighter, but through their struggle and perseverance, they will build confidence and character that will stay with them forever. (These are) Very important tools for success in their adult lives.”
For Coach Stevenson, it’s also about providing the youth of American MMA with the best preparation possible, and that is why he took the team for high-altitude training in Big Bear Lake, 2,000km above sea level.
“We have been doing training camps in high elevation, at Big Bear Lake, and working extensively on the board to help prepare us not just for this tournament but for years to come. I know a lot of kids have been training really hard. I have been working with youth development since the early 2000s, and we feel it is always important to have a great showing.”
While the experience of travelling for competition can be valuable, it doesn’t come without added stress, especially for younger competitors. Joe has identified that this can become a problem and has an interesting take that helps with the mindset of his athletes, especially now with the addition of Youth D (ages 10-11) to the fold.
“With the younger age of 10 being able to have this experience, allowing them to look at it as a vacation helps them not have to deal with any extra stress. This will be very important for them to succeed, and as we know, success isn’t just with victory in the sport, especially at a younger age.”
Last year, Team USA walked away from Abu Dhabi with 17 medals, including four golds. In 2025, the goal is to firmly place the United States as one of the biggest nations in Youth MMA, and Stevenson expects a top-10 finish, but is hopeful that his squad can reach the top-3.
“We have the utmost confidence in our competitors, and I feel we will place in the top-10, and that is a very good achievement, if not the top-3.”
Fans can watch Team USA compete LIVE at the 2025 IMMAF Youth World Championships on IMMAF.tv
