Prize Money Announced for Medallists of 2019 IMMAF/WMMAA Senior World Championships

PRIZE MONEY ANNOUNCED FOR MEDALLISTS OF

2019 IMMAF | WMMAA SENIOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

AT BRAVE INTERNATIONAL COMBAT WEEK

10 - 16 NOVEMBER 2019, MANAMA

WATCH LIVE ON IMMAF.TV

[29 August 2019. London] The International Mixed Martial Arts Federation has announced prize money for medallists at the 2019 IMMAF | WMMAA World Championships which takes place from 10 to 16 November 2019 in Manama, Bahrain.

IMMAF will be awarding $1000 to each Senior Gold Medallist, $500 to Senior Silver Medallists and $250 to Senior Bronze Medallists across the tournaments’ 16 weight categories.

IMMAF President Kerrith Brown said:

"IMMAF's focus on is the athletic development of MMA talent in the amateur divisions based on the Olympic model, and the prize money is to support the training of our World Championship medallists.

"As a sport governing body, IMMAF is committed to evolving the best, effective training pathways for MMA participants based on cutting edge sports science, and to providing a rigorous, international competition circuit to facilitate their progression: Our World Championships and larger continental tournaments will see athletes compete up to 5 times in 5 days, and they may participate in 20+ matches a year on the international platform alone. This sees them outstrip many of their professional counterparts in experience and has led to IMMAF veterans being scouted by renowned promotions globally that include UFC, Bellator, KSW, M1, EFC, Invicta and Cage Warriors, to name a few. We hope to offer more prize money also at future events, in order to support our athletes' training over longer amateur careers and greater time for their evolution into the world's absolute best.

"I thank H.H. Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad and the Bahrain Federation for their backing of the IMMAF vision in their hosting of a third World Championships and their investment into grassroots and amateur MMA."

In welcoming IMMAF athletes to Bahrain, His Highness Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa (First Deputy President of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports and President of the Bahrain Olympic Committee), commented on the significance of the World Championships for the host nation:

"The Kingdom of Bahrain is gearing up to host the biggest MMA event in Asia, 2019 Brave International Combat Week, from 10-16 November. The event will feature the sixth Amateur World MMA Championships. Holding this prestigious event for the third time confirms Bahrain's great capabilities…that will contribute to making this event a tremendous success building on Bahrain’s previous successes in organizing top sports events."

"Organizing the 2019 Brave International Combat Week implements the directives of HM King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the King of Bahrain, to maintain the efforts to make Bahrain a prominent destination for various sports activities as well as to mirror its development in sports and the achievements it has accomplished in this area."

Elite amateur athletes wishing to compete should contact their IMMAF affiliated National Federation for information on how to apply.

## /ENDS

Contact: carnwath@immaf.org

Notes for Editors:

· IMMAF- WMMAA is the global governing body for MMA working for the development, recognition and regulation of the sport.

· IMMAF - WMMAA has a seven-year track record of organising international amateur MMA Championships and developing the sport globally.

· It takes at least three years of organisational compliance to meet the sport recognition criteria required by the Global Association of International Sports Federations.

· According to GAISF’s own website, IMMAF - WMMAA meets all known criteria.

· IMMAF- WMMAA has 110 member federations with National Olympic Committee recognition in around 50 countries.

· With Olympian leaders coming from judo, IMMAF- WMMAA fully respects Olympic values.

· IMMAF-WMMAA has a democratically elected board, audited accounts, General Assemblies, a robust anti-doping programme and a qualifying number of recognised members.

· IMMAF-WMMAA governance is subject to independent audit by the Sport Integrity Global Alliance.