MMA history made in Brakpan
Mixed martial arts (MMA) history has again been made in Brakpan.
The first unified South African National Championships for amateur mixed martial arts was held at the Brakpan Indoor Sports Centre from April 6 to 7.
Tournament director shihan Raymond Phillips, a director for the International Mix Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF) and Mixed Martial Arts South Africa (MMASA) vice-president said that the event exceeded his wildest expectations.
This is first year that MMASA had official provincial MMA representation competing for national selection.
Read: Brakpan wrestlers conquer nationals in Cape Town
The provinces that competed were hosts Eastern Gauteng, Central Gauteng, North Gauteng, Western Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, North West, Mpumalanga and Western Cape.
These provincial teams and fighters all competed for the first ever South Africa amateur titles in different weight categories.
It is also the first year that South Africa introduced the new junior cadet divisions for u-18 male and female mixed martial artists.
Athletes were selected for the national squad at the event and will represent South Africa at the IMMAF All Africa Open from May 22 to 25.
Read: MMA national champs coming to town
This is the fourth year that South Africa will be hosting the event.
The other tournaments the SA national MMA team will be competing in is the Senior and Junior European Open in June, the Junior Cadet World Championships in August and Junior (u-21) and Senior World Championships in November.
Phillips who has been involved with combat sports for most of his life said: “These are exciting times for the sport of MMA and it is growing at a tremendous rate.
Meanwhile, while the MMA champs were on the go on April 6, the popular Clash of the Tiny Titans kickboxing event hosted by Phillips’ Xtreme Kickboxing Technologies (XKT) was also on the go.
The event caters for junior kick-boxers under the age of 16.
“I believe in developing upcoming athletes at an event that is relaxed,” added Phillips.
“We are looking forward to the World Association of Kickboxing Organisations (WAKO) and South African Kickboxing Association (SAKA) nationals at the end of April in Oudtshoorn.”
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