Martial Arts Chief Battles Rivalry Claims

(ATR) World mixed martial arts federation president Kerrith Brown says he is "bemused" by "pop-up MMA federations" seeking Olympic recognition.

Brown, head of the recently merged International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF) and World Mixed Martial Arts Association (WMMAA), has issued a statement to head off a major rift in MMA sports which could impact the quest to join the Olympics.

He said the global governing body had received some inquiries about a new organization, Global Association of Mixed Martial Arts (GAMMA), and ONE Championship's recent statement of support for the group and its goal of getting mixed martial arts into the Olympics. GAMMA launched at the end of 2018.

"We are equally aware of a couple of other start-up groups of disputable credibility that have popped up lately on social media, purporting to represent the sport of MMA and appearing to co-opt our vision and goals," he said on Thursday."

Those who have followed or traveled with us on our journey over the past six years will know that it takes many years to build a federation that fulfills all its duties."

The process towards Olympic recognition is a long one. At least three years of organizational compliance are needed to meet the criteria set out by the Global Association of International Federations to achieve GAISF recognition.

GAISF requirements include a democratically elected board, audited accounts, evidence of general assemblies, a WADA compliant anti-doping program, a qualifying number of nationally recognized members and a track record of sport development. Meeting World Anti-doping Agency compliance is also needed before the IOC will even consider a federation for inclusion in the Olympic program.

The IMMAF – WMMAA has struggled to win the affections of GAISF leaders, missing out on recognition last time

round. In 2017, former GAISF president Patrick Baumann underlined one of the key problems for non-members: "We need to be very cautious in rivalry matters, we are very allergic to that."

Brown acknowledges the issue. "I am honestly bemused by the appearance of these pop-up groups: During our application process for "Observer Status" recognition, GAISF informed us that the greatest obstacle to MMA being accepted was rivalry from within the sport," he said, noting the competing claims from two world governing bodies, IMMAF and WMMAA, which merged last year to resolve the problem.

The federation has since been snubbed by GAISF. "We have continued to work hard to unify the sport. Having addressed this rivalry objection, we were surprised by GAISF’s subsequent rejection of our application. We have been in communication with GAISF since and are in the process of reapplying," he said.

"Against this background, the emergence of new, pop-up MMA federations does not serve the interests of the sport nor its bid for recognition," Brown added. "It can only serve to create unnecessary divisions and the perception of rivalry, which those who oppose our sport may try to use to obstruct us. It does not bring MMA any closer to

recognition, which is much needed for safeguarding the sport’s participants. And it certainly does not make MMA’s Olympic dream any more tangible."

With GAISF holding its annual assembly at SportAccord in Gold Coast Australia in two weeks, CEO White tells Around the Rings his federation will make its case again in private meetings with leaders of the global federations body.

"We've been invited to a meeting with GAISF to discuss the recent rejection of our application and the reasons why," he told ATR.

"Those cited eventually in a letter from the GAISF administration are not clear to us and we are seeking to understand them. One of these was a rivalry claim, which we thought we had already resolved with last year's merger between IMMAF and WMMAA, at their request.

"We are not aware of any other rival application. The letter also spoke of medical safety issues, but we also believe we have answered this concern comprehensively having previously provided our medical injuries records, medical policies and operational protocol in some detail. The third matter raised concerned our commercial

relationships, by which perhaps they are referring to UFC."

White said the IMMAF – WMMAA had resubmitted its application and as previously was "willing to follow advice".

"We hope that this meeting will serve to answer GAISF's questions and reservations, and advance our application for recognition," he added.Reported by Mark Bisson

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