IMMAF AUSTRALIA SHOWS THE WAY WITH COVID SAFE MMA EVENT 03/03/21
The International Mixed Martial Arts Federation of Australia (IMMAFA) successfully held its first COVID safe event of 2021, the Queensland Open on 20 February.
IMMAF rules, MMA competitions present amateur mixed martial arts tournaments in an Olympic format, with the international body (the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation) eyeing eventual participation in the Olympic Games.
The Australian national federation event, held at Gamebred Academy in Brisbane, featured 38 athletes from five Nations including Australia, New Zealand, France, Brazil, and Greece - all based in Australia. The matches included youth (U18s), junior and senior bouts. For many competitors, it was their first time on the IMMAF circuit and with so many young athletes taking part, IMMAFA believes the tournament looks set to expand in future.
It may seem remarkable that at just 16 years old Victoria Lee is preparing to make her professional mixed martial arts debut at ONE Championship s Fists of Fury on Friday.
It is perhaps less surprising considering who her two older siblings are: ONE world champions Angela Lee (atomweight) and Christian Lee (lightweight).
Hailing from Hawaii but fighting under the Singapore flag her father s country of origin Victoria caused a stir late last year when she signed on with ONE Championship despite her youth. It has not taken long for her professional debut as she faces Thailand s Sunisa Srisen in the atomweight division at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.
IMMAF EGM APPROVES STATUTES CHANGES 02/13/21
The National Federations of the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation have today approved changes to the IMMAF Statutes at an Extraordinary General Assembly which commenced at 15:00 hrs. (UTC), online.
The updates to the Statutes reflect the recommendations of a recent independent, good governance audit carried out of the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation. Changes include:
the requirement for Annual General Meetings.
staggered, four-year terms for a maximum of two terms for Board Directors.
athlete representation on the Board
a target for 30% female representation on the Board
to reflect IMMAF as a Swiss entity
In 2020, the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation relocated as a company to Switzerland, the home of the Olympic movement. The appointment of Swiss auditors at Price Waterhouse Cooper was also approved by the assembly.
IMMAF ANNOUNCES ANTI-DOPING ATHLETES RIGHTS ACT 01/16/21
“The athletes, their safety and rights are among our main priorities at IMMAF and the new IMMAF Athletes’ Act is a testament to that.” - Athletes Commission Chairman, Irman Smajic
[London. 16 January 2020] An Anti-Doping Athletes Rights Act has been approved by the Executive Board of the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation as recommended by IMMAF’s Athletes’ and Anti-Doping Commissions.
The purpose of the act is to ensure that athlete rights within Anti-Doping are clearly set out, accessible and universally applicable.
While IMMAF’s Anti-Doping Policy has been created for the protection of the athletes’ fundamental right to participate in doping-free sport for reasons of health and fair-play, it is also imperative that athletes rights are clearly stated, that athletes are aware of those rights and can exercise them.
HKMMAF and IMMAF Pilot Online Practical Coaching Examination 01/15/21
During the lockdowns wrought by COVID-19, the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation has piloted online examinations for the practical element of its MMA coaching courses, to complement the theoretical component already conducted in the digital sphere.
In June 2020, IMMAF member, the Hong Kong MMA Federation, submitted a proposal for the complete certification of its coaches through an online examination. Heading the initiative were head coach Alberto Mina, an ex-UFC professional, and Jon Bond of Club “Hybrid”.
The two candidates participated in a two-month training program designed by Mina, in accordance with the IMMAF Syllabus. With the aid of the “Teach Me” videos in the IMMAF Mobile App, the candidates were able to gage the standard required by IMMAF to qualify MMA coaches.