In the presence of over 100 delegates, the congress elected an executive board of 21 members, with Ngo Duc Quynh, Chairman of the Members’ Council of the East Sea Shipping Service Limited Company, being awarded the inaugural VMMAF presidency.
In Vietnam, many MMA lovers have participated in MMA practice and international competition over the past years, thereby creating a rapidily developing movement. According to statistics, there are currently more than 50 MMA clubs in the country, notably including Dragon MMA Hanoi and Saigon Sport Club, which are equipped with modern facilities and have gained the involvement of up to 5,000 people.
Aside from some well known overseas Vietnamese fighters, namely Cung Le (Strike Force champion), Martin Nguyen (double weight class champion) and Ben Nguyen (UFC), there are a number of domestic fighters who have gained an international reputation, such as Tran Quang Loc, currently ranked ninth in the Asian bantamweight rankings.
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President of the Vietnam Mixed Martial Arts Federation Ngo Duc Quynh. (Photo: Webthethao)
However, some major barriers, especially regarding legal and organizational aspects, posed numerous difficulties to MMA-related activities. This then prompted the birth of a voluntary social-professional organisation, the VMMAF.
On April 26, 2019, given the approval of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, a 13-member campaign board for the founding of the VMMAF was recognised. After nearly one year of effort, the board has mobilised more than 200 individuals and 10 organisations across the country to voluntary join the federation. After completing procedures, on January 22, 2020, the Ministry of Home Affairs officially issued a decision permitting the establishment of the VMMAF.
The VMMAF founding congress marked a historic milestone in the development history of MMA in Vietnam, towards standardising the organisation, the competitive rules system and professional techniques, and promoting MMA Vietnam’s more extensive integration with the international MMA community.
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The founding of the VMMAF is a great source of encouragement for fighters. (Photo: Webthethao)
The congress agreed on the development orientations and major goals for its first tenure. The set tasks are both immediate and sustainable, including organising and building an effective operational mechanism; developing the profession and movement; organising national and international competitions; training human resources; and other issues.
Specifically, the VMMAF will soon establish a number of MMA training and competition centres in key areas, while advocating for MMA to be included in the school programme in some localities, coordinating to organise international tournaments in Vietnam and facilitating linkage with the world’s MMA powerhouses in training.
