By Press Release

The International MMA Federation (IMMAF) announced a brand new event to its 2020 calendar at a press conference held on 29 February in Manama: The 2020 World Team Championships is to be hosted by the Bahrain Mixed Martial Arts Federation (BMMAF) from the 1 – 5 December at Khalifa Sports City Arena as part of BRAVE International Combat Week.

The World Teams Championship follows an Olympic format that differs from IMMAF’s World Championships as medals are awarded to National Teams rather than individual athletes. The winning team is the one that secures the most victories. Competition participation is limited to a total of 16 male teams and 8 female teams.

The MMA tournament is exclusively open to the world’s best male and female teams as according to the World Amateur MMA Rankings, following the 2020 IMMAF World Championships in Kazakhstan in October. Ranking points can be accrued by National Teams across the year from their participation in IMMAF Continental and World Championships.

Priority entry will be given to the Top 14 National Teams and Top 6 National Teams: If one of the world’s top teams decline, their place in the competition will be offered to the next team down and so on. There will also be an additional 2 male and 2 female Wild Card Teams, which will be selected at the sole discretion of IMMAF. Each male team will comprise 7 athletes with a maximum of 3 substitutes, and each female team will include 5 athletes and a maximum of 2 subs.

Following the 2020 World Championships, IMMAF will invite the top ranking teams to register. The Bahrain Mixed Martial Arts Federation will be generously covering the accommodation for World Teams and there will be no Participation Fee for entry.

IMMAF President, Kerrith Brown said:

“I would like to thank Bahrain Olympic Committee President, His Highness Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad, BRAVE CEO Mohammed Shahid and Bahrain Mixed Martial Arts Federation President Mohammed Qambar for their ongoing support of amateur MMA and its international development as a sport. The depth of talent in IMMAF competitions is deepening year-on-year, and I expect the level of competition to sky rocket at this prestigious World Teams event.”

Bahrain has to date hosted three consecutive IMMAF World Championships (2017 – 2019) under the patronage of HH Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad, and as part of BRAVE International Combat Week. Team Bahrain currently tops the National Team Rankings (for male athletes).