The association has been created to develop mixed martial arts in England.
The sport of MMA has taken another step forward in being more respected and recognised in Europe as a host of the most notable faces in English MMA have come together to form the English Mixed Martial Arts Association (EMMAA). Veteran referee Marc Goddard is president of the group which aims to develop the amateur side of the sport with the long term goal of seeing MMA in the Olympics. It also looks to install a national rankings system and strives to represent English MMA internationally with the development of a national team via domestic competition.
EMMAA has been established under the auspices of the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF) and will promote MMA as a sport accessible to everyone regardless of social status, race or religion. The organisation also hope to educate people at a grass roots level in order to minimise risk in the discipline. Other significant names on the EMMAA board include Dan Hardy, Rosi Sexton, Leon Roberts, Paul Sutherland, and Nick Peet.
Among their first objectives over the coming weeks, the association aim to build a cooperative relationship with the Team GB Olympic committee, lobby for the regulation of MMA licensing with Sport England and hopes to launch a series of amateur tournaments that culminates with the inaugural English national championships in 2020.
This news comes hot on the heels of a similar group (MMA POLSKA Association) being formed in Poland which is led by KSW CEO, Martin Lewandowski. They have mirroring goals to improve conditions for amateur mixed martial artists and hope to give the sport more credibility in Poland.