International Mixed Martial Arts Federation

International Mixed Martial Arts Federation
Abbreviation(IMMAF)
Formation29 February 2012; 12 years ago (2012-02-29)
TypeSports federation
PurposeMixed martial arts sanctioning organization
HeadquartersGrono
Location
Region served
Worldwide
Membership
123
President
Kerrith Brown[1][2]
Websiteimmaf.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 organization 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]

IMMAF now is in Switzerland (Roveredo via Toveda n. 3) near the Swiss Mixed Martial Arts Federation, which oversaw the transfer in all administrative aspects. In 2023, IMMAF extended its partnership with Brave Combat Federation to expedite the development of the sport at grassroots levels with financial and operational support.[11]

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 organization of IMMAF events in Russia and Belarus.[12]

  1. ^ "Former British Judo Association president to lead MMA body". 8 July 2015.
  2. ^ "Kerrith Brown elected as President of IMMAF".
  3. ^ "ESPN". ESPN. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
  4. ^ "UFC backs creation of International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF)". MMAmania.com. 12 April 2012. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
  5. ^ "Dana White Discusses UFC's Support of IMMAF". Fightersource.com. Archived from the original on 6 January 2015. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
  6. ^ "UFC Supports Creation of International MMA Federation". UFC. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ "SMMAF explains why Lapilus was denied, Rosa approved for UFC Fight Night 53". MMAjunkie. 29 September 2014. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
  9. ^ "CABMMA official responds to Piotr Hallmann's UFC drug test denials". MMA Fighting. 13 October 2014. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
  10. ^ "Piotr Hallman Says UFC Brazil Drug Testing was Unprofessional; Commission Responds". Yahoo Sports. 14 October 2014. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
  11. ^ "BRAVE CF and AIMMAF Partner To Make History". The Daily Tribune. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  12. ^ "IMMAF suspends The Russian MMA Union & Belarusian MMA Federation". IMMAF. 1 March 2022.