IMMAF announce senior and junior European Champs to be held in Bucharest

IMMAF BRINGS TWO CHAMPIONSHIPS TO BUCHAREST:
– 2018 IMMAF YOUTH EUROPEAN OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS (18-21s)
– 2018 IMMAF SENIOR EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS (18+)

The International MMA Federation andRomanian Kempo MMA Federationhave announced two nation vs nation, amateur MMA tournaments for Bucharest at theGrand Rin Hotel, from 17 to 23 June 2018. Each competition will have its own draw and the two tournaments will run concurrently:2018IMMAFYOUTH EUROPEAN OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS(18 – 21s – JUNIOR EVENT)

2018IMMAFYOUTH EUROPEAN OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS(18 – 21s – JUNIOR EVENT)

TheIMMAFYouth European Open Championships is theIMMAF’sfirst ever junior competition for 18,19 & 20-year-olds only. The tournament is an ‘Open’ event, welcoming international competitors from outside of Europe.

AllIMMAFjunior competitions will take place under the standardIMMAFAmateur MMA Rules. Their purpose is to provide a better opportunity for younger rising stars to shine against competitors of a similar range of experience. In line withIMMAF’sethos, they create a safer competition environment for younger adults who have not yet reached their physical peak. Additionally, the Junior competitions create increased opportunities for national teams to win medals.

2018 IMMAF SENIOR EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS(18+ – SENIOR EVENT)

TheIMMAFSenior European Championships is open to all European competitors of age 18 and above, who have been selected by their National Federation. To clarify, to participate in the senior event, competitors must be citizens of a European nation, making the tournamentIMMAF’sfirst closed continental event.
National Federations are permitted to submit up to two competitors per weight category into each tournament, totalling a maximum of four per weight category across the two events, subject to the protocol outlined in the Tournament Handbook. Weight categories span Strawweight to Lightweight for women and Flyweight to Super Heavyweight for men. The largest national teams could theoretically present up to fifty-six athletes across two competitions.

IMMAFPresidentKerrith Brownsaid:

“IMMAF is focused on developing its talent pathway and the addition of the junior event increases safe competitive opportunities for younger competitors. In most Olympic sports it is rare for athletes to medal in their early adulthood due to their stage of physical development and experience, and with MMA being a combat sport safe ‘match-making’ is paramount. I am excited about the new opportunity for younger talent to medal against competitors of more comparable experience. The 2018 senior event also breaks new ground as it will be IMMAF’s first tournament to truly define a European Champion.”