Mixed Martial Arts - Local Bodies
Australia
In Australia, MMA is sanctioned in all the states and territories by various organizations. Although there was a debate about the cage, which was banned in the state of Victoria in 2007 but it was again legalized in 2015.
Belgium
In Belgium, MMA is not supported, but they do tolerate it enough to be legalized there. The Belgian MMA Federation or BMMAF was the third member of the IMMAF.
Brazil
The Brazilian MMA Athletic Commission joined the IMMAF on 17th January 2013. The commission is known as the Comissao Atletica Brasileira de MMA or CABMMA in Brazil. It represents state federations all across Brazil.
Bulgaria
MMA was professionally introduced in Bulgaria around 2008-2009. It is growing quite rapidly with an established strong wrestling and boxing culture. It was not regulated there until the Bulgarian Federation for Mixed Martial Arts was elected to be the national federation to represent Bulgaria under IMMAF in October 2014. It is also a non-profit organization established in November 2013.
Cambodia
The Cambodian Mixed Martial Arts Association or CMMAA was created in January of 2013 under the Cambodian Martial Arts Federation. Until then, there were no MMA events organized there.
Canada
MMA competitions were illegal in Canada for many years. Canada formally decriminalized MMA with a vote on June 5, 2013.
China
The Ranik Ultimate Fighting Federation or RUFF hosted the first MMA event in Shanghai, sanctioned by China’s governing body for combat sports called the Wushu Sports Management Center of the General Administration of Sport in China.
Denmark
MMA is not legally regulated in Denmark although it is supported by a federation called the Danish Mixed Martial Arts Federation.
France
MMA is illegal and is banned in France under their Pancrase Rules and its variants.
Ireland
The Irish Martial Arts Commission does not recognize MMA among its sports. The Mixed Martial Arts Federation Ireland (MMAFI) is intended as a federation for amateur MMA clubs and is still gaining the prospect of getting recognition.
Japan
MMA competitions are legal in Japan since the mid 1980s. There are many MMA related organizations like RIZIN FF, DEEP, Pancrase, Shooto, and ZST.
Malaysia
The Malaysia Mixed Martial Arts Association or MASMMAA was formally announced as the official national governing body for MMA in Malaysia in July 2013. It is registered under the Malaysian Sports Development Act 1997 and recognized by the Commissioner of Sports.
Norway
MMA and boxing are illegal in Norway. There is an elected body called the Norwegian MMA Federation by the IMMAF, which represents 49 member gyms across Norway. The fighters have to travel abroad in order to compete.
Portugal
MMA is legal in Portugal. The Federacao de Mixed Martial Arts de Portugal or FMMAP was founded in a collaborative effort by six existing non-profit organizations in 2012. Portugal needs at least three associated non-profit groups and they already have six, hence it is legal.
Romania
MMA is legal in Romania. The Romanian Mixed Martial Arts Federation (RMMAF) was established in 2012 under the Ministry of Youth and Sport in Romania as a non-profit federation.
Russia
MMA is legal in Russia. MMA was given the status of National Sport in Russia in September of 2012. On the same day, fighter and M-1 Global promoted Feddor Emelanenko was appointed to carry the role of Russian MMA Union President.
Sweden
MMA is legal in Sweden under the Swedish Mixed Martial Arts Federation or SMMAF which was formed in 2007. It has been overseeing MMA events and governing the sport of MMA as a whole in Sweden since 2008.
South Africa
MMA is legal in South Africa under the purview of the Professional Mixed Martial Arts Council or PROMMA Africa. It was founded in 2010 to regulate MMA at larger promotions like EFC Worldwide etc.
Thailand
MMA was banned in Thailand in 2012 but the same ban was removed on September 12th of 2013. They banned it on the first place as they speculated that MMA could potentially take away business from the Muay Thai industry.
United States of America
MMA is legal in the US. Professional MMA is looked after in the US by the Association of Boxing Commissions. According to them, professional MMA competitions are allowed all over the US.
