THE INTERNATIONAL MIXED MARTIAL ARTS FEDERATION (IMMAF)

 

The International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF) is the global governing body for amateur MMA, working to develop the sport worldwide through safe, regulated, and inclusive competition. As a proud member federation, MMA-SA is committed to aligning with IMMAF’s mission to elevate athletes from grassroots to international competition.

IMMAF provides a structured pathway for amateur athletes to gain international experience, compete on the world stage, and transition into professional careers under a globally recognized system.

 

🇿🇦 South Africa at IMMAF Events

MMA-SA is proud to field national teams at various IMMAF-sanctioned tournaments. These events bring together elite amateur athletes from across the globe in pursuit of world titles and valuable international experience.

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SOUTH AFRICAN MMA ATHLETES ARE COMPETING AT THESE UPCOMING IMMAF TOURNAMENTS IN 2025

2025 IMMAF JUNIOR & SENIOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

IMMAF will host the IMMAF 2025 Junior and Senior World Championships from 27 Sep – 2 Oct in Tbilisi, Georgia.

Team South Africa will be sending its top Mixed Martial Arts athletes to represent their country at this prestigious tournament and will be aiming to bring home the gold, as they have done in previous World Championships.

This tournament is anticipated to be the largest event in IMMAF history and will be delivered in collaboration with Georgia’s Ministry of Sport, shining a spotlight on the country’s deep-rooted combat sports culture and rising influence in global MMA.

PAST TOURNAMENTS IN 2025

IMMAF Youth World Championships 2025

IMMAF hosted the 2025 Youth World Championships from 20-27 July 2025 in Abu Dhabi.
This record-breaking tournament saw over 1000 athletes competing, from 53 countries.

MMA-SA proudly congratulates our Youth National Team for their performance at the IMMAF Youth World Championships.

Our athletes represented South Africa with pride, professionalism, and excellence, achieving five medals on the world stage. Competitors participated across all age divisions – Youth A, Youth B, Youth C, and the newly introduced Youth D – showcasing the depth of talent and growth within our sport.

This success is a result of structured athlete pathways, high-level coaching, and the unwavering commitment of our Affiliated Academies to youth development.
We are immensely proud of how our athletes conducted themselves both on and off the field of competition, setting an example of true sportsmanship and South African spirit.

We also extend our congratulations to all African nations who competed, proudly representing our continent and showcasing the rapid development of MMA across Africa. Every event sees an increase in athlete participation from our continent.

These achievements stand as a testament to the remarkable progress of MMA in South Africa, and we look forward to watching our youth athletes continue to excel in the years ahead.

MMA-SA Nationals Tournament

MMA-SA hosted the Mixed Martial Arts Nationals tournament in Durban in June. This was an incredibly successful event which showcased the very best of South African amateur MMA.

The Youth A, B, C & D divisions delivered high-energy, passionate performances — packed with technique, heart, and future champions in the making and our 18+ Junior and Senior divisions brought the heat all weekend, with returning champions defending their titles and rising talents stepping up to claim Gold.

Team Gauteng earned an impressive 58 Medals, followed by Team KZN with 51 Medals, 14 Medals for Team Western Cape, and finally 2 Medals for the Team from Eastern Cape.

Top competitors from Nationals have earned their place on the MMA South African National Team, representing their country in Abu Dhabi in July and Georgia in September.

Congratulations to all of these athletes for their outstanding achievements!

2025 IMMAF AMATEUR AFRICA CHAMPIONSHIPS

The South African MMA National Team made their mark at the IMMAF African Championships held in Angola, delivering a powerful performance.

Out of 16 international match-ups, our athletes secured 12 victories, resulting in an outstanding 75% win ratio — a true testament to their preparation, skill, and heart.

With a compact squad of just nine athletes, Team South Africa walked away with an impressive medal haul of:

  • 4 African Champions Gold Medals for Caiden Bouwer, Caleb Swart & Caitey Karagiannidis in the Youth A division and William Oberholzer in the Masters division
  • 4  Silver Medals for Leandro Freitas & Dante D’Amico in the Youth A division and Tiano Frau in the Youth C division and JJ Karagiannidis in the Senior division
  • 1 Bronze Medal for Kwaanza Zondo in the Junior division.
Proudly South African. Proudly MMA.