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.

The next generation of Asian MMA returns as young athletes from across the region gather for three days of elite youth competition

Uzbekistan | 18 – 20 May 2026

The Asian Mixed Martial Arts Association (AMMA) has officially announced the 2nd AMMA Youth Championship 2026, set to take place in Uzbekistan from 18 to 20 May 2026, bringing together the region’s most promising young mixed martial arts athletes for three days of high-level competition.

Following the success of the inaugural Youth Championship and the sport’s historic appearance at the Asian Youth Games Bahrain 2025, the upcoming event marks another important step in AMMA’s long-term commitment to developing youth pathways for mixed martial arts across Asia.

The championship will feature youth athletes representing national federations and associations from across the continent, competing under AMMA’s unified ruleset designed to prioritise athlete safety, technical skill development, and sportsmanship. The competition will once again showcase both Modern MMA and Traditional MMA categories, providing a structured platform for young martial artists to test their abilities at an international level.

“The AMMA Youth Championship represents the future of mixed martial arts in Asia,” said Mr. Galastein Tan, AMMA Director General. “By creating opportunities for young athletes to compete in a safe, structured, and internationally recognised environment, we are building the next generation of martial artists who will represent the sport on the global stage.”

Since its establishment, the AMMA Youth Championship has served as a key platform for talent identification and athlete development, allowing young competitors to gain international experience while strengthening the sport’s grassroots foundations across Asia.

With Uzbekistan hosting the upcoming edition, the event is expected to bring together a vibrant community of athletes, coaches, officials, and supporters, further reinforcing the growing momentum of mixed martial arts in the region.

As AMMA continues to work closely with national federations and sporting organisations, the 2nd AMMA Youth Championship 2026 will once again highlight the discipline, respect, and competitive spirit that define the sport.

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