World Mixed Martial Arts Federation – WMMAF / PRO-WMMAF
History of WMMAF
The World Mixed Martial Arts Federation (WMMAF) was founded in Monza, Italy, in 2003 under the name World Kick-Jitsu Federation. The name was later changed to WMMAF to reflect a broader vision: developing not only Kick-Jitsu but also other MMA styles, both light (veteran-friendly) and full-contact.
Today, we feature five competition styles in our amateur events:
• MMA Light
• MMA Full
• MMA Elite (the toughest style, also suitable for professional fights, including elbow techniques and several submission techniques not used in amateur fights)
• MMA Grappling
• MMA Musical Forms
We are primarily an amateur organization with a professional department (WMMAF Pro) that operates under separate rules for pro fights. The headquarters of WMMAF is currently located in Kyiv, Ukraine.
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WMMAF Pro
We are the global governing body for Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), the world’s fastest-growing sport with millions of followers worldwide. WMMAF is committed to the international development of MMA—from recreational to elite levels—by promoting standardized rules, safety regulations, structured pathways, and mutual exchange across nations.
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National Federations
What is a National Federation?
A national federation is a non-profit, democratic organization responsible for the development and governance of MMA within a country. Our aim is for each national federation to be officially recognized by the Ministry of Sports (or its equivalent) and the National Olympic Committee of its country.
The responsibilities of a national federation are similar to those in any other sport:
• Overseeing the amateur side of MMA
• Offering coaching and referee education
• Representing MMA in discussions with politicians and the sports community
• Proposing and protecting legislation regarding MMA
• Ensuring recognition and safety standards in the national sports framework
A national federation unites MMA academies, teams, and organizations into a democratic forum. It supports members with practical issues and serves as a hub for the MMA community, from recreational participants to professionals.
Members are effectively the “owners” of the national federation, with voting rights in the general assembly. Each national federation, in turn, holds the same rights and obligations as a member of the WMMAF. Federations host national championships and manage national teams for participation in WMMAF World Championships.
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National Federations and Professional MMA
Our vision is for each national federation to have the authority to govern MMA and sanction professional events in countries where no functional state-controlled governance exists.
In most of the world, MMA lacks proper regulation—there are no standardized safety rules, referee guidelines, or athlete insurance. While the State Athletic Commissions in the USA and the Swedish MMA Federation are exceptions with official governance powers, many countries remain unregulated.
This lack of regulation can lead to unsafe practices and athletes being exploited. To address this, WMMAF is actively working to establish national federations worldwide, ensuring safe governance of both amateur and professional MMA tailored to each country’s needs