The International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF) was founded on 29 February 2012 as the international governing body for amateurmixed 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]
Amateur vs. professional level athletes
The IMMAF considers an athlete to be on a professional level and thus not eligible for participation if he or she meets any one of the following criteria:
holds a Pro MMA or professional combat sports license issued by any sanctioning body
is under contract with a professional MMA or professional combat sport promotion
has received a fee for participating in an MMA or professional combat sports match
has participated in a professional MMA match under the Unified Rules of MMA or equivalent in the country where the bout took place
has competed against an opponent with a Pro MMA record at the time the bout took place
has a professional MMA fight record published anywhere
National amateur criteria do not hold for IMMAF international competition if it does not conform to the above stipulations
Amateur MMA rules
Compulsory equipment
Competition gloves
Competition shin guards
Competition shorts made in a durable material and designed in such a way that they can't inflict injury on either one of the contestants
Mouthpiece
Competition top or rashguard (women only)
Protective groin cup (optional for women, compulsory for men)
Protective chest gear (optional for women, not applicable for men)
Twisters/Sit through crucifix and/or any submission deemed as applying pressure to the spine
Knees to the head at any point
Length of the match
A match shall contain three rounds.
A round shall last three minutes.
The round break shall last sixty seconds
Suspension
A contestant who was knocked out as a result of a blow to the head, or whose match was stopped by the judge because of several tough blows to the head which have made him/her defenseless and unable to continue, shall be suspended from competition and sparring matches.
Suspension periods starting from the day of the latest match:
One knockout: Minimum four weeks suspension
Two knockouts during a period of three months: Minimum three months suspension.
Three knockouts during a period of twelve months: Minimum twelve months suspension.
Listed suspension periods are minimum periods and can be extended at the physician's
discretion.
In the event that a match was not stopped the physician still has the right to decide on a suspension if he/she deems it necessary due to the contestant having received many tough blows to the head
Argentina - Argentine Association of Mixed Martial Arts and Contact Sports
Aruba - Millard Academy
Bahamas - Empire Mixed Martial Arts Bahamas
Barbados - Barbados Mixed Martial Arts Federation (BMMAF)
Belize - MMA Federation of Belize
Bolivia - MMA Federation of Belize
Brazil - Brazilian MMA Athletic Commission / Comissão Atlética Brasileira de MMA (CABMMA)
Canada - Canadian Combat Alliance
Cayman Islands - Under Review
Colombia - Asociación Colombiana de Artes Marciales Mixtas (OCAMM)
Costa Rica - Federacion de Artes Marciales Mixtas
Dominican Republic - Federation Dominicana de Artes Marciale Mixtas
Ecuador - Ecuador Mixed Martial Arts Federation (EMMAF)
El Salvador - Federacion Salvadoreña de Kickboxing & MMA / Salvadorean Kickboxing & MMA Federation (presiding over Commission Salvadoreña de Artes Marciales Mixtas / Salvadorean Mixed Martial Arts Commission)
Grenada - Grenada mixed martial arts federation
Guatemala - Asociación Guatemalteca de Artes Marciales Mixtas
Guyana - Guyana Mixed Martials Federation
Jamaica - MMA Jamaica Sports Federation
Mexico - Federacion de Artes Marciales Mixtas Equidad y Juego Limpio
Panama - Asociación Nacional de mixed martial arts
Since 2017, IMMAF has partnered with Brave Combat Federation to host world championships outside the USA.[15] As a result, Bahrain became the second nation to host IMMAF World Championships in 2017, 2018, and 2019. Subsequently, IMMAF partnered with the organization to host the 2021 IMMAF World Cup and 2022 MMA Super Cup.[16][17] Further, the organization hosted its first world championship in Europe by partnering with Brave Combat Federation to host IMMAF World Championships Week from February 10-18, 2023 in Belgrade, Serbia.[18]
