What Does A National Federation Do?

USA Mixed Martial Arts Federation is a national federation serving as a 501c3 non-profit, democratic organization that deals with the overall development and structure for MMA in the USA. Our stated ambition is to be approved by each state Athletic Commission as applicable and the United States Olympic Committee when the sport of Mixed Martial Arts becomes accepted by the International Olympic Committee. The responsibilities and activities of a national federation for MMA is much like those of any other sport. The national federation…

…governs, manages and develops the amateur side of the sport. This covers everything from offering coach and referee education to representing MMA with politicians and the sports community, suggesting or protecting legislation regarding MMA and overall ensuring that MMA has a standing in the sports community of the country in question.

…handles questions regarding rules, regulations, safety and so forth. It is a driving force behind ensuring that these areas are developed, communicated, standardized and adapted to the specific needs of the MMA community in the USA.

…gathers all MMA academies, teams and organizations as members in a democratic forum. It helps the members with practical issues and provides a hub for all those active within MMA in the USA, from the recreational entry level, to advancing up to the professional level. The members in turn are the “owners” of the national federation, they are all eligible to vote in the general assembly or the like, and as such have both rights and obligations, much like the national federations have as members in the International Mixed Martial arts Federation (IMMAF) which the UMMAF represents in the USA.

…hosts national championships and manages the selection of a national team to participate in the USA MMA National championships to qualify for the IMMAF World Championships.

The core purpose of a national federation is thus not to offer training or host its own events, although, that may sometimes be the case; the focus for the national federation should be on the above mentioned areas. It is an organization consisting of members, and these members are MMA academies, teams and organizations that train, coach and stage sanctioned and approved competitions.

National Federations And Professional MMA

Our stated ambition is that our USA Federation has been granted the right to govern and sanction MMA amateur and professional events in the USA. The state athletic commissions of the USA as applicable oversee and approve amateur and professional MMA, and the UMMAF will cooperate with all applicable State Athletic Commissions and welcomes all individuals and organizations to come together for one common cause. Internationally, The IMMAF is currently working on establishing national federations around the world, thus ensuring safe governance of both amateur and professional MMA in whatever form that suits each individual country.