Mixed martial arts (MMA) is a full-contact combat sport based on striking, grappling and ground fighting, incorporating techniques from various combat sports from around the world. The first documented use of the term mixed martial arts was in a review of UFC 1 by television critic Howard Rosenberg in 1993.
Shooto is a combat sport and mixed martial arts organization that is governed by the Shooto Association and the International Shooto Commission. Shooto was originally formed in 1985, first as a particular fighting system and then in 1989 as a mixed martial arts promotion. It is considered one of the first true mixed martial arts competitions, with its Vale Tudo Japan events being essential to the rise of PRIDE Fighting Championships and the development of modern MMA. Many Japanese MMA fighters had their start at Shooto and the organization still holds both professional and amateur tournaments.
Miletich Fighting Systems (MFS) was a mixed martial arts (MMA) training organization. It was recognized as an excellent training camp. It has been the training camp for fighters such as Matt Hughes, Tim Sylvia, Jens Pulver, Robbie Lawler, and Jeremy Horn. MFS is widely regarded as one of the most successful MMA camps of all time.
Chad George is a retired American professional mixed martial artist. Chad has fought in the WEC, Bellator, Tachi Palace, BAMMA and many other MMA Organizations. He also competes in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and has been featured in Metamoris Challengers, Fight To Win and the Eddie Bravo Invitational.
Bertrand Amoussou-Guenou is a retired French mixed martial artist and judoka. He is a trainer for his younger brother Karl of Team Amoussou and, following official recognition of mixed martial arts in France, became the president of the national sanctioning body, the Commission National de Mixed Martial Arts, in January 2008. On 1 October 2013, Amoussou assumed the position of president of the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF).
While mixed martial arts is primarily a male dominated sport, it does have female athletes. For instance, Female competition in Japan includes promotions such as DEEP Jewels. Now defunct promotions that featured female fighters were Valkyrie, and Smackgirl. Professional mixed martial arts organizations in the United States that invite women to compete are industry leader Ultimate Fighting Championship, the all female Invicta Fighting Championships, Resurrection Fighting Alliance, Bellator Fighting Championships, and Legacy Fighting Championship. Now defunct promotions that featured female fighters were Strikeforce and EliteXC. There has been a growing awareness of women in mixed martial arts due to popular female fighters and personalities such as Amanda Nunes, Megumi Fujii, Gina Carano, Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos, Ronda Rousey, Miesha Tate, Holly Holm and Joanna Jędrzejczyk and among others. Carano became known as "the face of women's MMA" after appearing in a number of EliteXC events. This was furthered by her appearances on MGM Television's 2008 revival of their game show American Gladiators.
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 organisation 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. IMMAF launched with support of market leader, the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). The UFC is among promotions sanctioned by federations under the IMMAF umbrella in countries that include Brazil and Sweden.
Full Contact Championship (FCC) is India's longest running professional mixed martial arts fight network. Founded in 2009, under the banner of Full Contact Entertainment Pvt. Ltd, FCC is India's first pro MMA organization. FCC has been sanctioned by Mixed Martial Arts Association of India and has followed the usual "Fight Night" format. It is one of the MMA organisations, formed to promote the sport of MMA in India and globally. Till date, FCC has had 13 fight nights; the most recent one being held at Indore on 9 July 2016 by the name of FCC-13.
BRAVE Combat Federation is a mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion based in Bahrain. The organization was established on 23 September 2016 by Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa. BRAVE Combat Federation features mixed martial artists from more than 80 nations located in five continents. BRAVE Combat Federation events are aired though multiple media partners including El Rey Network, Combate, Myx TV, S+A ESPN 5 and Bahrain Radio and Television Corporation. BRAVE Combat Federation produced six pay-per-view events apart from announcing events in Abu Dhabi and Brazil.
Alessio Di Chirico is an Italian former mixed martial artist who competed in Middleweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).
Julia Dorny, is a German athlete, media scientist, journalist and television presenter who has won various World and European Championships in three martial arts disciplines. She is the only female athlete in the world who has won championships in judo, mixed martial arts and sumo wrestling. She was the first German woman to become MMA European Champion and MMA World Champion in featherweight within the IMMAF amateurs. In her professional career she was an undefeated fighter until her first loss in March 2022. She fought for the German Mixed Martial Arts Championship (GMC) and was under contract with PFL. In May 2023, she signed a multiple fight contract in the women's league Invicta FC. Julia Dorny holds a black belt in three sports and a BJJ purple belt.
Micol Di Segni is an Italian professional Mixed martial artist and Alternative model for the website SuicideGirls since 2007.
The Nigerian Mixed Martial Arts Federation (NMMAF) was founded on 11 March 2014 as the National governing body for amateur Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) in Nigeria. NMMAF is the body in charge of amateur mixed Martial arts championship and development of the sports in the federation. The NMMAF is also fully supported and recognized by the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF) and also affiliated to the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF). NMMAF is interested in bringing to limelight local talents and also the promotion of mixed martial arts in Nigeria. Selected to head the federation is a National and International karate champion AMB. Sensei Henry George.The Technical Director and Chairman of the technical community is Shihan (Pharm) Victor Akhimien (Vicamen) 7th Dan, a Nigerian Shito Ryu Karate President.
Leah McCourt is a Northern Irish professional mixed martial artist who competes in the Featherweight division of Bellator MMA. She is a former IMMAF World and European Amateur champion and International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation gold medalist. She is also a black belt in Judo and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
Union of Mixed Martial Arts "MMA" of Russia is an all-Russian public organization, a sports federation engaged in the popularization and development of mixed martial arts as a kind of sport. It is the main regulator for MMA in the Russian Federation. Founded in 2012. In the first year of its existence, the Russian MMA Union held the national mixed martial arts championship in Chekhov, Moscow Oblast, became a permanent member of the World Mixed Martial Arts Association (WMMAA) and held the European mixed martial arts Championship in St. Petersburg under WMMAA auspices. As of 2021, the Russian MMA Union included 80 accredited regional federations in its structure, ensures the holding of the national championships and cups, forms Russian national teams to participate in the World and European championships, represents Russia in the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF), provides refereeing and organizational support for professional MMA tournaments spent in Russia.
Shavkat Rakhmonov is a Kazakh professional mixed martial artist. He currently competes in the Welterweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Rakhmonov is also a former M-1 Global Welterweight Champion. As of March 7, 2023, he is No. 6 in the UFC welterweight rankings.
Bianca Barbosa Basílio also known as Bia Basílio is a submission grappler, mixed martial artist and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) black belt athlete.
Umar Nurmagomedov is a Russian professional mixed martial artist who currently competes in the Bantamweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). He has previously competed in the Eagle Fighting Championship (EFC) and Professional Fighters League (PFL). He is the older brother of Bellator champion Usman Nurmagomedov and a cousin of former UFC Lightweight Champion Khabib Nurmagomedov. As of December 6, 2022, he is #11 in the UFC bantamweight rankings.
Ken Nyaondo(born January 15, 2002) is a Zambian Mixed Martial Artist and Full Contact Karate practitioner based in South Africa. Ken minted silver medal at the 2022 IMMAF Africa Championships which was held in South Africa. and He is the three times GFC champion.
ZNAL 2 (2022 season) 