International Mixed Martial Arts Federation
Abbreviation | IMMAF |
---|---|
Formation | 29 February 2012 |
Type | Sports federation |
Purpose | Mixed martial arts sanctioning organization |
Headquarters | Grono |
Location | |
Region served | Worldwide |
Membership | 123 |
President | Kerrith Brown[1][2] |
Website | immaf.org |
The International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF) was founded on 29 February 2012 as the international governing body for amateur Mixed Martial Arts (MMA). Registered as a non-profit organisation under Swedish law, IMMAF serves as a democratic hub for national MMA federations and supports the growth of regulation and sport safety globally by aiding countries in the formation of federations where none exist.[3] IMMAF launched with support of market leader, the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).[4][5][6] The UFC is among promotions sanctioned by federations under the IMMAF umbrella in countries that include Brazil and Sweden.[7][8][9][10]
After the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine the IMMAF suspended the memberships of the Russian MMA Union and the Federation of Hand-to-Hand Fighting & MMA of Belarus. It barred the Russian and Belarusian federations from participating in all IMMAF Championships, and banned the organisation of IMMAF events in Russia and Belarus.[11]
Amateur vs. professional level athletes
The IMMAF considers an athlete to be on a professional level and thus not eligible for participation if he or she meets any one of the following criteria:
- holds a Pro MMA or professional combat sports license issued by any sanctioning body
- is under contract with a professional MMA or professional combat sport promotion
- has received a fee for participating in an MMA or professional combat sports match
- has participated in a professional MMA match under the Unified Rules of MMA or equivalent in the country where the bout took place
- has competed against an opponent with a Pro MMA record at the time the bout took place
- has a professional MMA fight record published anywhere
- National amateur criteria do not hold for IMMAF international competition if it does not conform to the above stipulations
Amateur MMA rules
Compulsory equipment
- Competition gloves
- Competition shin guards
- Competition shorts made in a durable material and designed in such a way that they can't inflict injury on either one of the contestants
- Mouthpiece
- Competition top or rashguard (women only)
- Protective groin cup (optional for women, compulsory for men)
- Protective chest gear (optional for women, not applicable for men)
- Knee protection (optional)
- Ankle protection (optional)
Unauthorized techniques
The same from the Unified Rules of MMA plus:
- Elbow and forearm strikes of any kind
- Heel hook
- Twisters/Sit through crucifix and/or any submission deemed as applying pressure to the spine
- Knees to the head at any point
Length of the match
- A match shall contain three rounds.
- A round shall last three minutes.
- The round break shall last sixty seconds
Suspension
A contestant who was knocked out as a result of a blow to the head, or whose match was stopped by the judge because of several tough blows to the head which have made him/her defenseless and unable to continue, shall be suspended from competition and sparring matches.
Suspension periods starting from the day of the latest match:
- One knockout: Minimum four weeks suspension
- Two knockouts during a period of three months: Minimum three months suspension.
- Three knockouts during a period of twelve months: Minimum twelve months suspension.
Listed suspension periods are minimum periods and can be extended at the physician's discretion.
In the event that a match was not stopped the physician still has the right to decide on a suspension if he/she deems it necessary due to the contestant having received many tough blows to the head
Members
National Federations:[12]
Pan America
- Arrgentina - Argentine Association of Mixed Martial Arts and Contact Sports
- Aruba - Millard Academy
- Bahamas - Empire Mixed Martial Arts Bahamas
- Barbados - Barbados Mixed Martial Arts Federation (BMMAF)
- Belize - MMA Federation of Belize
- Bolivia - MMA Federation of Belize
- Brazil - Brazilian MMA Athletic Commission / Comissão Atlética Brasileira de MMA (CABMMA)
- Canada - Canadian Combat Alliance
- Cayman Islands - Under Review
- Colombia - Asociación Colombiana de Artes Marciales Mixtas (OCAMM)
- Costa Rica - Federacion de Artes Marciales Mixtas
- Dominican Republic - Federation Dominicana de Artes Marciale Mixtas
- Ecuador - Ecuador Mixed Martial Arts Federation (EMMAF)
- El Salvador - Federacion Salvadoreña de Kickboxing & MMA / Salvadorean Kickboxing & MMA Federation (presiding over Commission Salvadoreña de Artes Marciales Mixtas / Salvadorean Mixed Martial Arts Comission)
- Grenada - Grenada mixed martial arts federation
- Guatemala - Asociación Guatemalteca de Artes Marciales Mixtas
- Guyana - Guyana Mixed Martials Federation
- Jamaica - MMA Jamaica Sports Federation
- Mexico - Federacion de Artes Marciales Mixtas Equidad y Juego Limpio
- Panama - Asociación Nacional de mixed martial arts
- Paraguay - Federacion Paraguaya de Kick Boxing Muay Thai & MMA
- Puerto Rico - Federacion Independiente de Artes Marciales Mixtas de Puerto Rico (FIAMMPR)
- Saint Martin - Sint Maarten Martial Arts
- St Lucia - St Lucia Mixed Martial Arts Federation
- Trinidad and Tobago - Trinidad and Tobago Mixed Martial Arts Federation (TNT MMAF)
- Uruguay - Asociacion Uruguaya de Artes Marciales Mixtas Amateur y Profesional – AUAMMAP
- United States of America - USA Mixed Martial Arts Federation
- Venezuela - Federación Venezolana de Artes Marciales Mixtas (FEVAMM) National
Asia
- Afghanistan - Afghanistan MMA Federation (AMMAF)
- Bahrain - Bahrain Mixed Martial Arts Federation
- China - MMA Department Of Chinese Boxing Federation
- Hong Kong - Hong Kong MMA Federation Ltd
- India - MMA India[13]
- Indonesia - Indonesia Committee for Martial Art Sports / Komite Olahraga Beladiri Indonesia – KOBI
- Iran - Under Review
- Iraq - Iraq Champion Fighting Cage (ICFC)
- Japan - Japan MMA Federation JMMAF
- Jordan - Jordan Mixed Martial Arts Federation
- Kazakhstan - Kazakh National Public Union of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) Federation
- Kuwait - MMA Kuwait Association
- Kyrgyzstan - Republic Of Kyrgyzstan Federation Of MMA And Pankration
- Lebanon - Lebanese MMA Federation
- Malaysia - Malaysia Mixed Martial Arts Association (MASMMAA)
- Mongolia - Mongolian Mixed Martial Arts Federation
- Nepal - Nepal National Martial Art Games Confederation
- Pakistan - Mixed Martial Arts Pakistan (PAKMMA)
- Philippines - Philippines Mixed Martial Arts Federation
- Saudi Arabia - Saudi Mixed Martial Arts Federation
- Singapore - Under Review
- South Korea - Under Review
- Sri Lanka - Mixed Martial Arts Federation Sri Lanka
- Taiwan - Chinese Taipei Mixed Martial Arts Association
- Tajikistan - Federation Of Mixed Martial Arts Of The Republic Of Tajikistan
- Thailand - Thai Mixed Martial Art’s Federation (TMMAF)
- United Arab Emirates - UAE Jiu-Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts Federation
- Uzbekistan - Uzbekistan MMA Association
- Vietnam - Vietnam MMA Federation
Europe
- Albania - Albanian Free Fighting Federation
- Armenia - MMA Federation of Armenia
- Austria - Austrian Mixed Martial Arts Federation
- Azerbaijan - Azerbaijan Mixed Martial Arts Federation
- Belgium - Belgian Mixed Martial Arts Federation
- Bulgaria - Bulgarian Mixed Martial Arts Federation (BULMMAF)
- Croatia - Under Review
- Cyprus - Cyprus Mixed Martial Arts Federation (CMMAF)
- Czech Republic - Czech Association of MMA
- Denmark - Danish Mixed Martial Arts Federation
- England - England Mixed Martial Arts Association
- Estonia - Estonian Mixed Martial Arts Federation
- Finland - Finnish Mixed Martial Arts Federation / Suomen Vapaaotteluliitto ry
- France - Federation Francaise de Boxe
- Georgia - National Federation of Universal Martial Arts
- Germany - German Mixed Martial Arts Federation (GEMMAF)
- Greece - Panhellenic MMA Federation
- Hungary - Hungarian MMA Federation (HMMAF)
- Iceland - Iceland MMA Federation
- Ireland - Irish Mixed Martial Arts Association (IMMAA)
- Israel- ISR Mixed Martial Arts
- Italy - Federazione Italiana Grappling Mixed Martial Arts / Italian Grappling and Mixed Martial Arts Federation (FIGMMA)
- Kosovo - Kosovo Miksed Martial Arts Federation / Federation Federata Arteve Mikse Marciale
- Latvia - Under Review
- Lithuania - Lithuanian Mixed Martial Arts Federation
- Luxembourg - Fédération Luxembourgeoise de MMA (FLMMA)
- Malta - Malta Mixed Martial Arts Association
- Moldova - Moldovan MMA Federation
- Netherlands - Netherlands MMA Federation
- Northern Ireland - Ulster Amateur MMA
- Norway - Norwegian Mixed Martial Arts Federation
- Poland - Stowarzyszenie MMA Polska
- Portugal - Federação Portugusea de Lutas Amadoras (FPLA) / Comissão Atlética Portuguesa de MMA (CAPMMA)
- Romania - Romanian Kempo Mixed Martial Arts Federation (RKMMAF)
- Russia - Russian MMA Union (suspended)
- Scotland - Mixed Martial Arts Federation Of Scotland
- Serbia - Serbian MMA Federation
- Slovakia - Slovakian MMA Association
- Slovenia - Slovenia MMA Federation
- Spain - Federación Española de Lucha Olímpica y Disciplinas Asociadas (FELUCHA-IMMAF)
- Sweden - Swedish Mixed Martial Arts Federation
- Switzerland - Federation Switzerland Mixed Martial Arts
- Turkey - Turkey Combat Mixed Martial Arts Sport Association
- Ukraine - MMA League of Ukraine
- Wales - Mixed Martial Arts Cymru
Oceania
- Australia - International Mixed Martial Arts Federation of Australia
- French Polynesia - Wrestling Polynesian Federation & Associated Disciplines
- New Zealand - New Zealand Mixed Martial Arts Federation
Africa
- Algeria - Algerian Federation of Kickboxing, MMA & Similar Sports
- Angola - Associação Provincial de MMA de Luanda
- Cameroon - National League Mixed Martial Arts Cameroon (NLMMAC)
- Cote D Ivoire - Federation Ivoirienne D Arts Martiaux Mixtes
- Democratic Republic of Congo - Democratic Republic of Congo MMA Federation (DRCMMAF)
- Egypt - The Egyptian MMA Committee
- Ghana - Ghana Mixed Martial Arts Federation (GHAMMAF)
- Guinea - Guinean Federation of Krav-Maga and Associated Disciplines (MMA)
- Mauritius - Mixed Martial Arts Federation Mauritius
- Morocco - Fédération Royale Marocaine Du Sport de Combat Libre Et Mixte (FRMSCLM)
- Namibia - Namibian MMA Federation
- Nigeria - Nigerian Mixed Martial Arts Federation
- Senegal - MMA Senegal
- The Seychelles - The Seychelles Mixed Martial Arts Association
- South Africa - Mixed Martial Arts South Africa (MMASA)
- Tunisia - Tunisian Mixed Martial Arts Federation
- Zambia - Mixed Martial Arts Zambia
- Zimbabwe - Mixed Martial Arts Association (ZMMMA)
Championships
World Championships
- 2014 IMMAF World Championships
- 2015 IMMAF World Championships
- 2016 IMMAF World Championships
- 2017 IMMAF World Championships
- 2018 IMMAF World Championships
- 2019 IMMAF World Championships
- 2021 IMMAF World Championships
World Cup
- 2021 IMMAF World Cup
Super Cup
- 2022 MMA Super Cup
European Championships
- 2015 IMMAF European Open Championship
- 2016 IMMAF European Open Championships
- 2017 IMMAF European Open Championships
- 2018 IMMAF European Open Championships
- 2019 IMMAF European Open Championships
- 2021 IMMAF European Open Championships
- 2022 IMMAF European Open Championships
African Championships
- 2016 IMMAF Africa Open Championships
- 2017 IMMAF Africa Open Championships
- 2018 IMMAF Africa Open Championships
- 2019 IMMAF Africa Open Championships
- 2022 IMMAF Africa Open Championships
Asian Championships
- 2017 IMMAF Asian Open Championships
- 2019 IMMAF Asian Open Championships
- 2022 IMMAF Asian Open Championships
Oceanian Championships
- 2018 IMMAF Oceania Open Championships
- 2019 IMMAF Oceania Open Championships
- 2020 IMMAF Oceania Open Championships
Pan American Championships
- 2019 Pan American Open Championships
- 2022 Pan American Open Championships
Overall Medals Standing (World Championships)
Totals do not include medals from the 2016 or 2017 World Championships.
Ranking | Country | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | United States of America | 6 | 1 | 7 |
2 | United Kingdom | 1 | 2 | 7 |
3 | Sweden | 0 | 7 | 2 |
4 | Italy | 1 | 0 | 6 |
5 | Finland | 3 | 1 | 1 |
6 | Canada | 2 | 1 | 2 |
7 | Poland | 1 | 1 | 3 |
8 | Norway | 0 | 3 | 1 |
9 | France | 0 | 1 | 3 |
10 | South Africa | 2 | 0 | 1 |
11 | Ireland | 1 | 1 | 1 |
12 | New Zealand | 0 | 0 | 3 |
13 | Denmark | 2 | 0 | 0 |
14 | Czech Republic | 1 | 0 | 1 |
14 | Germany | 1 | 0 | 1 |
16 | Kazakhstan | 0 | 2 | 0 |
17 | Lebanon | 0 | 1 | 1 |
17 | Romania | 0 | 1 | 1 |
17 | Ukraine | 0 | 1 | 1 |
20 | Belgium | 0 | 0 | 2 |
21 | Austria | 1 | 0 | 0 |
21 | Brazil | 1 | 0 | 0 |
References
- ^ "Former British Judo Association president to lead MMA body". 8 July 2015.
- ^ "Kerrith Brown elected as President of IMMAF".
- ^ "ESPN". ESPN. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
- ^ "UFC backs creation of International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF)". MMAmania.com. 12 April 2012. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
- ^ "Dana White Discusses UFC's Support of IMMAF »". Fightersource.com. Archived from the original on 6 January 2015. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
- ^ "UFC Supports Creation of International MMA Federation". UFC. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
- ^ Ben Szwediuk (17 October 2014). "Swedish Mixed Martial Arts Federation: an exclusive in-depth interview with President Johan Halldin". Mirror.co.uk. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
- ^ "SMMAF explains why Lapilus was denied, Rosa approved for UFC Fight Night 53". MMAjunkie. 29 September 2014. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
- ^ "CABMMA official responds to Piotr Hallmann's UFC drug test denials". MMA Fighting. 13 October 2014. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
- ^ "Piotr Hallman Says UFC Brazil Drug Testing was Unprofessional; Commission Responds". Yahoo Sports. 14 October 2014. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
- ^ "IMMAF suspends The Russian MMA Union & Belarusian MMA Federation". IMMAF. 1 March 2022.
- ^ "National Federations". IMMAF. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
- ^ "MMA India – National Sports Federation now the only recognised Indian MMA body by IMAAF - MMA INDIA".