It is a three-sentence statement, but it carries significant weight. On Tuesday afternoon, the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF) announced the reintegration of the Russian MMA Union as a member federation. This had been suspended following the invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The decision was made by the IMMAF board of directors. unanimously ».
« IMMAF will put in place a dedicated working group tasked with developing an action plan to support the structured reintegration of Russian athletes into the international competition calendar. The reintegration process will begin with the IMMAF Junior World Championshipswhich will take place from August 17 to 23, 2026 in Abu Dhabi ", adds the organization.
Mikhail Degtyarev, Russian Minister of Sport and President of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC), is pleased that athletes will soon be able to represent their country with their flag and anthem. It is a first step towards the full return of our mixed martial arts fighters on the international scenehe wrote on his Telegram channel. Previously, our judokas and sambo wrestlers had already obtained full authorization. »
