IMMAF CONFIRMS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS & 2021 EVENTS CALENDAR

The International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF) has confirmed its finalised Championships schedule for 2021, following a board meeting on 17 March.

IMMAF will recommence its nations MMA tournaments in the summer with its 2021 Youth World Championships for 12 to 17-year-olds from the 30 July to 1 August in Istanbul, Turkey.

The 2021 European Senior and Junior Open Championships is to follow between 16 and 21 August in Russia.

IMMAF’s competition year is to culminate with the 2021 Senior and Junior World Championships which has been confirmed for the 27 November to 4 December in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan at Barys Arena.

The amateur MMA governing body’s first World Teams Championships in Manama, Bahrain is being rescheduled to January 2022. Meanwhile a further event is being planned for September in Europe.

IMMAF plans to resume its full competition calendar complete with all continental tournaments in 2022 and is currently also seeking hosting rights bids for 2023.

IMMAF Championships Director, Alistair Pettitt, said:

“The unprecedented uncertainty caused by the global pandemic, the ensuing restrictions on movement and economic instability put a stop to IMMAF events in 2020, which has continued into this year. Sports entities in virtually every country have been impacted severely in the way they deliver sport and are navigating their return-to-play in a higher risk, global landscape. It is therefore greatly welcomed that we are able to resume events this year, providing a route back to competitive MMA for youth, juniors and seniors. Plans are also now firmly advancing for a full calendar of events for 2022, and the aim is, by the end of 202, to have a full menu of 2023 events for host cities to bid for.”

IMMAF President Kerrith Brown said:

“We are excited to finally be resuming sports competition again after a long hiatus. We hope the announcement of our finalised competition dates will give our athletes targets to focus on, with many returning from extremely challenging training environments as shaped by the pandemic. We very much look forward to reconnecting in-person with IMMAF’s international family in a few months’ time.”