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.