(ATR) The International Mixed Martial Arts Federation and World Mixed Martial Arts Association have merged under efforts to join the Olympic program in 2024 or 2028.
An agreement was reached between the heads of both organisations on Jan. 16 and approved at the federations’ general assemblies on March 25 and April 10 respectively.
Global unification of mixed martial arts (MMA) allows the sport to make an application to the Global Association of International Sports Federations. Under GAISF criteria only one governance application can be made per sport.
The merger also strengthens the sport’s application by delivering the required number of member federations to be recognised by their sports ministry or NOC. The joint membership now includes 90 national federations including an increased number of NOC-recognised members.
Leaders from mixed martial arts will take their campaign for GAISF recognition to Bangkok, site of next week’s SportAccord.
The sport is seeking to obtain GAISF observation status this year. It is aiming to gain full recognition through a vote at the 2019 GAISF general assembly, a spokeswoman tells Around the Rings.
In the months ahead, the sport also needs to attain signatory status to the World Anti-Doping Agency’s code. IMMAF is currently disputing WADA's rejection in the Swiss courts.
"We are excited to join forces with IMMAF. The move is now approved unanimously by all the members on both sides. It's time to move towards GAISF,WADA and the IOC," WMMAA president Vadim Finkelchtein told ATR.
He said the merger would provide an opportunity to achieve recognition for MMA at every official level and to enter the Olympic movement.
Mixed martial arts aspires to join the Olympic program for the Paris 2024 or Los Angeles 2028 Games.
"I'm pleased that our organisations have similar goals and a shared vision for the acceptance of MMA into the Olympic Games for 2024 – 2028," Finkelchtein added.
Commenting on the merger deal, IMMAF president Kerrith Brown told Around the Rings that the agreement "clears a significant obstacle from MMA's path to sport recognition, which as a young sport has grown at an exponential rate, echoed by the development of its regulation since 2012".
"It will also support a unified approach to safeguarding the sports' participants, particularly in areas such as anti-doping where we will have more control," he added.
The federations’ boards and administration teams now have the task of mapping out more precisely how they will be working together moving forwards, he said.
He said the move will bring benefits to the members of both organisations including combined championships and events, joint education courses for officials and a consolidation of resources "which will in turn boost growth".
Brown said he and WMMAA president Vadim Finkelchtein planned to meet with GAISF president Patrick Baumann on the sidelines of SportAccord to discuss the mixed martial arts application.
Reported by Mark Bisson
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