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.
SOUTH AFRICAN MMA ATHLETES ARE COMPETING AT THESE UPCOMING IMMAF TOURNAMENTS IN 2026
IMMAF YOUTH WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
TBA August 2026 Abu Dhabi, UAE
IMMAF JUNIOR & SENIOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
1 – 7 November Tblisi, Georgia
PAST TOURNAMENTS
2026 SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
MMA-SA hosted the Mixed Martial Arts Nationals Championships in Vanderbijlpark from 30 April to 3 May 2026.
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.
2026 IMMAF MMA AFRICA CHAMPIONSHIPS
IMMAF hosted the 2026 Africa Championships from 13 – 19 April in Luanda, Angola. This tournament had a record viewership of over 11 Million viewers across social media.
7 Athletes from Team South Africa competed, bringing home 2 Gold and 2 Silver Medals. This makes South Africa’s Caleb Swart a 3-Time African Champion and Caitey Karagiannidis a 2-time champion, both attaining the Gold! Well done to Dante Damico and Liam Smith for also bringing home Silver medals for their country!
2025 IMMAF JUNIOR & SENIOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
IMMAF hosted the IMMAF 2025 Junior and Senior World Championships from 27 Sep – 2 Oct in Tbilisi, Georgia.
Team South Africa sent its top Mixed Martial Arts athletes to represent their country at this prestigious tournament and Charmaine Rabbolini brought home gold for her country after defeating 4 phenomenal opponents.
This tournament was one of the largest events in IMMAF history and was 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.
IMMAF Youth World Championships 2025
This record-breaking tournament saw over 1000 athletes competing, from 53 countries.
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.
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.
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.
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.