The Asian Mixed Martial Arts Association (AMMA), FIMMA’s recognised Asian Confederation, has entered the final phase of preparations to deliver the first-ever Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) competition at the Asian Games. In September, the sport will make its historic debut at Aichi-Nagoya 2026 .

The inclusion of MMA on the programme of Asia’s largest multi-sport event represents a landmark moment for the sport. For FIMMA and AMMA, this represents an opportunity to demonstrate that MMA can be make a strong contribution to a major multi-sport event, strengthening the sport’s case for future inclusion in other continental Games and, ultimately, the Olympic Movement.

“The Asian Games are a defining moment for Mixed Martial Arts,” said Gordon Tang, President of FIMMA and AMMA. “Our athletes have earned the opportunity to compete on one of the biggest stages in international sport. With that comes a responsibility to deliver a competition of the highest standard. We are proud to be working with the Olympic Council of Asia and the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Organising Committee to showcase our sport, our athletes and our officials, while demonstrating the professionalism, governance and technical expertise that continue to drive Mixed Martial Arts forward.”

Competition will take place at the Nagoya City Inae Sports Center across three competition days beginning on 20 September. The inaugural Asian Games Mixed Martial Arts competition will bring together 59 athletes representing 23 National Olympic Committees, competing for six Asian Games gold medals across Modern and Traditional MMA disciplines. The programme features men’s Modern MMA (-60kg and -71kg), men’s Traditional MMA (-65kg and -77kg), women’s Modern MMA (-54kg) and women’s Traditional MMA (-60kg).

Behind the scenes, preparations have intensified in recent months as AMMA works closely with the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Organising Committee to finalise every aspect of competition delivery. A Technical Committee meeting in Nagoya in early August will bring together organisers and AMMA officials to review competition venue, operational planning and final technical arrangements ahead of the Games.

Preparation has also built on the systems and experience developed through AMMA’s continental championships. Regular technical meetings, continuous review of officials’ performances and close collaboration with National Federations have helped establish consistent competition standards across the sport as it prepares for its Asian Games debut. Drawing on these foundations, the federation has continued to strengthen athlete welfare, technical governance and competition delivery throughout the Games planning process.

An experienced International Technical Official panel (ITO) has been assembled to oversee the competition. AMMA has appointed 33 ITOs representing 18 Asian National Federations, supported by 14 National Technical Officials from host nation Japan. Many of the appointed officials have officiated at recent AMMA continental championships and were selected through an ongoing evaluation process conducted by the federation’s Technical Committee.

Galastein Tan, Director General of AMMA and FIMMA said: “Preparing for the Asian Games has been an opportunity to strengthen the way we work as a federation. Through our recent championships, we have continued to refine our technical processes, working closely with our officials and National Federations, and embedding consistently high standards across every aspect of competition delivery. That preparation gives us confidence that we are ready to deliver a successful debut for Mixed Martial Arts at the Asian Games.”

As the countdown to 20 September continues, attention is now firmly focused on ensuring that the sport’s long-awaited Asian Games debut leaves a lasting legacy not only for the athletes who will make history in Nagoya, but also for the continued growth of Mixed Martial Arts across the international sporting landscape.

About FIMMA

The Federation of International Mixed Martial Arts (FIMMA) was founded to provide unified global governance for MMA and drive the sport toward Olympic recognition.

Building on the successful model established by the Asian Mixed Martial Arts Association (AMMA), FIMMA emphasises athlete safety, transparent governance, and technical excellence. The federation is committed to collaborating with all organisations that share its vision for protecting and promoting the global interests of MMA and its athletes.

FIMMA operates under rules that prioritise athlete safety, including the elimination of cages/rings in favour of an open field of play (FOP) and implementing comprehensive medical, anti-doping and safety protocols.

Contact information

For interview requests, additional information or media assets relating to this announcement, please contact the FIMMA Communications Team.

Email: media@fimma.org

Continental titles, Asian Games qualification, and national pride were on the line as Asia’s elite mixed martial artists converged in Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan | 22 – 24 May 2026

The Asian Mixed Martial Arts Association has successfully concluded the 4th AMMA Championship 2026 in Uzbekistan, marking three days of world-class competition that brought together the continent’s top mixed martial arts athletes in pursuit of championship glory and qualification for Asia’s biggest multi-sport events.

From 22 to 24 May, national teams from across Asia stepped onto the open field of play to compete in both Modern MMA and Traditional MMA divisions, delivering high-level performances that showcased the continued evolution of mixed martial arts throughout the region.

With qualification spots for the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya and the 6th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games Riyadh 2026 on the line, every contest carried added significance. Athletes competed not only for medals and titles, but for the opportunity to represent their countries and nations on the biggest stages in Asian sport.

Throughout the championship, competitors demonstrated exceptional technical skill, resilience, and sportsmanship, reflecting the growing strength and depth of MMA talent across Asia. The event also served as a gathering point for athletes, coaches, referees, and officials committed to advancing the sport under a unified and internationally recognised framework.

“The 4th AMMA Championship represents the pinnacle of mixed martial arts competition in Asia,” said Galastein Tan, Director General of Asian Mixed Martial Arts Association “Over the past three days, we have witnessed outstanding performances from athletes who have dedicated themselves to their craft and proudly represented their nations. The standard of competition continues to rise with every edition, demonstrating the tremendous progress of MMA across the continent.”

Hosted in Uzbekistan, the championship reinforced the country’s growing role as a destination for international combat sports and provided a fitting stage for Asia’s elite athletes to compete at the highest level.

The event also capped off a landmark week for Asian mixed martial arts. Earlier in the week, the 2nd AMMA Youth Championship 2026 welcomed close to 100 youth athletes from 11 countries and regions, highlighting the next generation of talent emerging across the continent. Together, the two championships brought nearly 300 athletes from 22 countries and regions to Uzbekistan, showcasing both the future and present of Asian mixed martial arts on one international stage.

As the championship concludes, AMMA extends its gratitude to all participating national federations, athletes, coaches, referees, officials, volunteers, and partners whose collective efforts contributed to another successful edition of the championship.

With athletes now turning their focus towards the Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya and the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games Riyadh 2026, the performances in Uzbekistan have once again demonstrated that the future of Asian mixed martial arts has never looked stronger.

Asia’s next generation of mixed martial artists took to the open field of play in three days of elite youth competition, sportsmanship, and international exchange

Tashkent, Uzbekistan | 18 – 20 May 2026

The Asian Mixed Martial Arts Association has officially concluded the 2nd AMMA Youth Championship 2026 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, following three days of high-level youth mixed martial arts competition that brought together some of Asia’s most promising young athletes.

Held from 18 to 20 May 2026, the championship welcomed youth athletes representing national federations and associations from across the continent, competing in both Modern MMA and Traditional MMA divisions under AMMA’s unified ruleset focused on athlete safety, technical development, and sportsmanship.

Across the three-day championship, athletes showcased discipline, resilience, and skill as they competed on the international stage, while also building friendships and connections beyond the competition arena. The event once again highlighted the rapid growth of youth mixed martial arts across Asia and the increasing standard of competition among the region’s emerging athletes.

“The future of Asian mixed martial arts is incredibly bright,” said Galastein Tan, Director General of AMMA. “Over the past three days, we witnessed not only the talent and determination of these young athletes, but also the values that define our sport: respect, discipline, courage, and unity. The AMMA Youth Championship continues to be an important platform for developing the next generation of martial artists in Asia.”

The championship also reinforced AMMA’s long-term commitment to building sustainable youth development pathways for mixed martial arts across the continent following the sport’s successful inclusion at the Asian Youth Games Bahrain 2025.

Hosted in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, the event brought together athletes, coaches, referees, officials, and supporters in a celebration of martial arts and international sporting exchange, further strengthening regional collaboration and the continued growth of mixed martial arts in Asia.

As the 2nd AMMA Youth Championship comes to a close, AMMA extends its appreciation to all participating federations, athletes, officials, volunteers, and partners who contributed to the success of the event.

The championship once again demonstrated the power of sport in bringing together Asia’s next generation — both on and beyond the field of play.

With the conclusion of the 2nd AMMA Youth Championship, attention now turns to the 4th AMMA Championship, which will be held at the same venue in Uzbekistan from 22 to 24 May 2026. The championship will bring together Asia’s top senior mixed martial arts athletes as they compete on the continent’s premier stage, continuing a week-long celebration of mixed martial arts in the region.

11 March 2026 – The Federation of International Mixed Martial Arts (FIMMA) has been recognised by the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA) reinforcing FIMMA’s rapid progress in developing MMA globally and ambitions to secure the sport’s place at the world’s most prestigious events, including the Olympic Games.

Following the formal granting of recognition at ANOCA’s General Assembly in Angola in

December 2025, FIMMA is now commencing work in partnership with ANOCA, to achieve

ambitious shared goals:

• Promoting sports participation among African youth
• Strengthening technical and organisational capacities
• Cooperating with National Olympic Committees and African sports institutions
• Respecting principles of good governance, sports ethics, and inclusion

“MMA is a universally-accessible sport. For us at the Federation of International Mixed Martial Arts, the development of MMA in Africa is a top priority,” said FIMMA President Mr Gordon Tang. “FIMMA is delighted to now have the opportunity to work with all African National Olympic Committees on the development of MMA in their territories. And we are deeply grateful to the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa for this opportunity to help African MMA athletes achieve their full potential.”

“The Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa is happy to recognise the Federation of International Mixed Martial Arts, and to support it in achieving the goals we share for African MMA athletes,” said ANOCA President Mr Mustapha Berraf. “MMA athletes from our territories have already proven their ability to lead the world. From Engolo in Angola, host of our last General Assembly, to Laamb in Senegal, host of the next Youth Olympic Games Africa, African nations have also made huge contributions to the development of different sporting combat styles. Together with FIMMA we are sure there is a bright future in African for MMA and its athletes.”

Since its establishment in December 2025 in Athens, FIMMA has already taken significant steps towards ensuring world-leading standards in sports development, including the ongoing creation of coaching education materials in conjunction with the International Olympic Academy, based in Olympia.

“As FIMMA continues its rapid progress to develop the sport, putting MMA athletes at the heart of its work, we look forward to continuing to develop partnerships in African and especially with the Pan-African organisations that do so much for sport throughout the continent,” continued President Tang.

FIMMA’s Asian confederation, the Asian Mixed Martial Arts Association (AMMA) has already achieved recognition from the Olympic Council of Asia. In addition to the Asian Youth Games in Bahrain and Southeast Asian Games in Thailand held in 2025, AMMA will organise competitions for the sport at the forthcoming 20th Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games in September 2026 and 7th Riyadh Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in December 2026.

About FIMMA

The Federation of International Mixed Martial Arts (FIMMA) was founded to provide unified global governance for MMA and drive the sport toward Olympic recognition. Building on the successful model established by the Asian Mixed Martial Arts Association (AMMA), FIMMA emphasises athlete safety, transparent governance, and technical excellence. The federation is committed to collaborating with all organisations that share its vision for protecting and promoting the global interests of MMA and its athletes. FIMMA operates under rules that prioritise athlete safety, including the elimination of cages/rings in favour of an open field of play (FOP) and implementing comprehensive medical, anti-doping and safety protocols.

National teams from across Asia compete for continental glory as the region’s premier MMA championship returns

Uzbekistan | 22 – 24 May 2026

The Asian Mixed Martial Arts Association (AMMA) has announced the upcoming 4th AMMA Championship 2026, set to take place in Uzbekistan from 22 to 24 May 2026, where the continent’s top mixed martial arts athletes will gather to compete for continental honours.

As AMMA’s flagship championship event, the tournament will feature national teams representing countries and regions across Asia, competing across multiple weight categories in both Modern MMA and Traditional MMA divisions. The championship continues to serve as the premier platform for elite MMA athletes in Asia to demonstrate their skill, discipline, and competitive spirit on the continental stage.

In addition to determining continental champions, the 4th AMMA Championship will also serve as the final qualification event for the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya and the 6th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games, Riyadh 2026, further raising the stakes for participating athletes and national teams.

Building on the momentum of previous editions, the 4th AMMA Championship will bring together athletes, coaches, and officials from across the region, reinforcing AMMA’s mission to promote structured and internationally recognised competition for mixed martial arts in Asia.

“The AMMA Championship represents the highest level of MMA competition in Asia,” said Mr. Galastein Tan, AMMA Director General. “It provides athletes the opportunity to represent their countries with pride while competing in a unified system that emphasises safety, fairness, and sportsmanship.”

The championship will be conducted under AMMA’s official ruleset and officiated by certified referees and judges, ensuring consistent standards across all bouts. The event will also continue to strengthen cooperation among national federations while raising the level of mixed martial arts competition across the continent.

With Uzbekistan hosting the upcoming edition, the event is expected to attract strong participation from national teams and further showcase the growing depth of MMA talent throughout Asia.

The 4th AMMA Championship 2026 will take place shortly after the 2nd AMMA Youth Championship, creating a week of international MMA competition that highlights both the next generation of athletes and the continent’s elite competitors.

Further details on participating nations, competition categories, and event schedules will be announced in the lead-up to the championship.