International mixed martial artists make magic
The Africa Open Championships are an opportunity for these nations to see their athletes enjoy a taste of safe and regulated competition in a friendly sporting environment.
The 2019 Africa Open Championships, organised by the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation and World Mixed Martial Arts Association (IMMAF – WMMAA) concluded on May 25 for the fourth year running at the Brakpan Indoor Sports Centre.
In comparison to record-breaking events such as the European Open or World Championships, now regularly boasting over 300 competing athletes from across the vast IMMAF – WMMAA global membership, the Africa Open is recognised as one of the smaller, more intimate championships of the international platform.
Nevertheless, the Africa Open serves its own unique purpose as an event showing annual growth in providing a platform for men and women of African nations in the developmental stages of cultivating, organising and streamlining national talent at the amateur level of MMA.
Read: Brakpan to host fourth IMMAF Africa Open
Once again hosted by MMA South Africa (MMASA), the continent’s longest running and most established national body, the fourth instalment of the Africa Open enjoyed a participation growth of 52 per cent following the 2018 event, welcoming athletes from Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and host nation South Africa, in addition to national teams from the Czech Republic, Lebanon, France, Spain and Bahrain.
No strangers to success at the Amateur MMA World Championships and continental events such as the European, Asian and Africa Open Championships, Bahrain edged out South Africa this year in Brakpan seeing four gold medal winners take to the podium with the host nation seeing three champions crowned.
Furthermore, while the likes of Jakub Tichota (men’s lightweight) and World Championships bronze medallist Enrique Hecher Sosa (men’s featherweight) achieved gold medals for the Czech Republic and Spain, and Lebanon’s Khaled Afara (men’s flyweight) achieved bronze, signs of the event’s root ambition could be seen with representatives of Cameroon and DRC also making their way to the podium, proving the emerging potential of their respective nations.
Director of Regulatory Affairs, Marc Goddard, attended the Africa Open for the first time and issued high praise as he commended the continent’s up and coming athletes and regulatory body leaders playing their part in unifying progression for the sport of MMA.
“It has been an amazing week here in South Africa at the IMMAF Open.
Read: MMA history made in Brakpan
“One thing has stood out and struck me this week that I must commend is the attitude, commitment and behaviour of some of the emerging teams which has been truly heart-warming and so encouraging.
“I see these young kids literally fighting for their dreams to move on to bigger and better things.
“The attitude and development of African nations like Cameroon, DRC and of course South Africa has been an absolute pleasure to be around – their conduct and respect must be commended, I’m so thankful and hopeful for these future athletes.
“Look out MMA world – the African nations are coming.”
Also a first for Africa is Brakpan’s shihan Raymond Phillips becoming an official MMA IMMAF/WMMAA black belt in Africa.
He will be overseeing and regulating the progression scheme and belt grading system in South Africa.
Phillips stated that it is a great honour to have achieved this goal and a new era is starting for MMA.
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