 |
| The meeting among founding members of the Southeast Asia Mixed Martial Arts Association in Thailand on December 11. (Photo: Sports Authority of Vietnam) |
Hanoi (VNA) – Representatives from Vietnam and five other ASEAN member states convened on December 11 to finalise key matters concerning the operation of the newly formed Southeast Asia Mixed Martial Arts Association (SEAMMAA), on the sidelines of the ongoing 33rd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Thailand.
According to the Vietnam Mixed Martial Arts Federation (VMMAF), the other founding members include Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines and Singapore.
Tong Ngoc Hoa, Deputy General Secretary of VMMAF and head of the Vietnamese MMA delegation at SEA Games 33, noted that the establishment of SEAMMAA marks an important step towards ensuring MMA becomes an official sport at future SEA Games. Notably, Malaysia – one of the six founding members – will host SEA Games 34 in 2027.
Following its inclusion as a demonstration sport at SEA Games 33 and as an official medal sport at the 20th Asian Games in Japan in 2026, MMA is expected to also have its first official Southeast Asian championship next year.
Under the memorandum of understanding signed by representatives of the six countries, SEAMMAA will serve as the official regional body for MMA, responsible for guiding the development of the sport within Southeast Asia, across Asia, and the globe.
The parties agreed on several core objectives, including the formal establishment and registration of SEAMMAA; the development of unified rules for both amateur and professional MMA competitions within the region; advocacy for MMA to become an official medal sport at future SEA Games; the promotion of athlete safety, fair play, and full compliance with international anti-doping standards.
Also on December 11, Vietnamese MMA athletes delivered impressive performances, securing two gold medals, one silver and two bronzes in their debut appearance at SEA Games 33./.
