For Our MMA Fans and Participants: A Recap of the 2014 WMMAA Congress
Eighteen different countries were represented at the annual World MMA Association (WMMAA) Congress held July 3-5 in Amsterdam.
Honorary president Fedor Emelianenko speaking on the issue of holding (open) continental championships @ World WMMAA Congress
L-R: Vadim Finkelchtein & Fedor
Confirmation of WMMAA President Vadim Finkelchtein, also the president of M-1 Global, the largest MMA group in Russia and Europe, was approved unanimously. WMMAA’s honorary president is legendary Fedor Emelianenko, considered by many to be the greatest MMA fighter of all time.
Fedor Emelianenko in his fighting days
The first day was dedicated to the discussion of a variety of hot topics pertaining to statutes, amendment of the rules, places, dates, and conditions for the next major international championship under the WMMAA auspices. Every country had an opportunity to speak about any matter regarding WMMAA’s functioning.
The Congress
Members proceeded the following day with democratic voting on issues ranging from the strategic selection of committee members to the possibility of more stringent restrictions (read: the number of professional bouts) for the athletes allowed to take part in the WMMAA amateur competition.
On several occasions, WMMA Vice President Joel Bouzou addressed ethical conduct, underpinning the difference between moral and ethics, and suggested improvement of WMMAA rules of combat by adding expectations concerning ethics and respect. This addition might soon be heard clearly by fans when the referees start reminding the fighters about this intangible side of battle moments before their bouts commence.
During the final day of the WMMAA Congress, the main points of voting ~ including adapting the statutes discussed during the previous day and amending rules as previously reviewed ~ unanimously passed. The next elections into the Governing body and the Executive Board and of the heads of the WMMAA Continents were held, as was voting for non-open Continental Championships (the unanimous results of that vote were that the non-open championship rule would become effective Jan 1, 2015, rather than the previously proposed fall of 2014).
It was voted for by a majority to hold one World Championship each year, and November was chosen unanimously to become the month for the future World Championships.
Since the continental championships were chosen to become accessible strictly to the residents of the continents in question, the WMMAA Congress decided to launch a series of tournaments with an open geography so that other nations would be allowed to participate as well.
Last but not least was the subject of Universal implementation of the SportsID system. Countries that have not implemented this system and do not allow their local athletes to register themselves to get SportsID members cards will not be allowed to take part in the future international championships.
More About WMMAA: Its goal is to be the official world governing body for Mixed Martial Arts. A non-profit organization founded in 2012, WMMAA is on a mission to develop a standardized and regulated organization, including competition, training, officiating, testing and growth when necessary. More than 400 countries have been granted WMMAA membership.