MMA possible as demonstration sport in 2028 Olympics

[nuraknu]

IMMAF President, Kerrith Brown:



How realistic are Amateur MMA’s chances for 2028?

"MMA’s chances are looking up. Until last month, the bid to host the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games was a two-horse race between Paris and Los Angeles. The host city matters because it has the power to elect non-Olympic sports into the Games programme as demonstration sports. For example, Tokyo 2020 will feature baseball, skateboarding and surfing. It is as a demonstration sport that we would expect MMA to debut.

"It would certainly have been bad news for MMA, if France had defeated LA in its bid for the Games. MMA competition is outlawed in France and has fierce opposition from French Judo which is very powerful there. An interesting sea change occurred in July, when the IOC proposed to bring the bid race to a win:win finish, with the simultaneous allocation of the 2024 and 2028 Olympic Games to Los Angeles and Paris. Los Angeles has since opted to host the 2028 edition of the Games, leaving the 2024 Games for France.

"Now a Los Angeles Games is certain, we believe our prospects are strong because MMA is a mainstream sport in the US and has a strong media, commercial and political presence. MMA is recognised under state laws there and in LA it is regulated lawfully by the California State Athletic Commission.

"While we will continue lobbying in France and will push for inclusion in 2024, I am more confident about inclusion for 2028."

IMMAF PRESIDENT SETS SIGHTS ON 2028 OLYMPICS FOR MMA - IMMAF

 

[Mix6APlix]

Great. The UFC isn't corrupt enough. Let's get the Olympics involved.

Unless it's bare knuckle optional pankration to the death, I don't care.

 

[The Big Guy]

Shit ill probably be dead or have CTE by then

 

[benjo0101]

Not a chance in hell.

Mind you they put some bullshit in this time round

 

[Muridae83]

Is this Dana's new campaign to get MMA involved in the most corrupt sportsorg. to make himself look better?

 

[Wild]

I'd watch for sure but the question is, would any elite fighters compete in it if they weren't getting paid?

 

[Mix6APlix]

I'd watch for sure but the question is, would any elite fighters compete in it if they weren't getting paid?

no. they wouldnt.

 

[Mix6APlix]

no. they wouldnt.

#ReebokMoney

 

[Wild]

no. they wouldnt.

Agreed. Maybe I'm wrong and there's fighters out there that would do it for the love of competition and their country, but I have a hard time believing many would be interested.

 

[nuraknu]

Agreed. Maybe I'm wrong and there's fighters out there that would do it for the love of competition and their country, but I have a hard time believing many would be interested.

This is being sought by the IMMAF. They have competitions with amateurs from all over the world, and some of them are really good. They have developed a safety protocol, including shin guards, that allows for fewer injuries and more competitions in a shorter period of time. They have plenty of fighters. They have essentially been helping to develop national teams already - they started a world competition in 2014, and they have other competitions throughout the year. They just did a big one in Singapore, I think, right around the time of Holm vs. Correia.

Here's an article about some familiar names involved:
Nogueira brothers lead Brazilian return to IMMAF World Championships - IMMAF

Competition Rules - IMMAF

They also post from time to time when they give ref and cutman courses.

 

[GSPTrainingInAPool]

Agreed. Maybe I'm wrong and there's fighters out there that would do it for the love of competition and their country, but I have a hard time believing many would be interested.

Would be way more about national pride imo. Russians, Brazilians, Croatians, English, Canadians, Dutch, Japanese, Korean, Irish for example

 

[Mix6APlix]

English. lol.

 

[Wild]

This is being sought by the IMMAF. They have competitions with amateurs from all over the world, and some of them are really good. They have developed a safety protocol, including shin guards, that allows for fewer injuries and more competitions in a shorter period of time. They have plenty of fighters. They have essentially been helping to develop national teams already - they started a world competition in 2014, and they have other competitions throughout the year. They just did a big one in Singapore, I think, right around the time of Holm vs. Correia.

Here's an article about some familiar names involved:
Nogueira brothers lead Brazilian return to IMMAF World Championships - IMMAF

Competition Rules - IMMAF

They also post from time to time when they give ref and cutman courses.

Interesting. Thanks for the info.

 

[CutmanMatt]

As someone who started off my martial arts training in TKD and Judo, i'm 100% against this. It completely changed both sports, moving them away from fundamentals and creating rule changes specifically to make the matches faster and more interesting. It ruined them in my opinion.


The last thing MMA needs is the IOC trying to insert their own rules into a sport that already cant even get all the commissions on the same page.