Caught in the grip: why China wants a piece of the global mixed martial arts boom
Newly created mainland federation wants to host Asian championships next year, with three fighters experiencing the inaugural event in Singapore this weekend
China’s move to embrace the sport of mixed martial arts has gathered pace over the past week with the country now poised to host the next edition of the Asian Open Championships.
The newly created China International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (CIMMAF) will invite its international counterpart to Beijing in July to seal the deal.
“We hope to make it formal then,” CIMMAF secretary-general Adrian Lee told the Post. “We have very strong government support and the sport can only go forwards from here.”
“We are just here for the experience really this time around,” said Lee. “It’s all very new but we have a management team in place and we are contacting all the clubs that have sprung up around the country.
“We want to get in and help China’s young fighters as soon as possible.”
A total of 16 nations have been represented across the 10 weight divisions in action at this event as the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF) continues to formalise the regulations of a sport which has been unique in that is developed from the professional level down.