By Rawle Toney in Abu Dhabi
(Compliments: GYMMA/National Sports Commission)
THE Guyana Mixed Martial Arts Federation (GYMMA) was unanimously voted in as one of the 20 new member associations affiliated to the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF), following the global amateur MMA’s Annual General Meeting (AGM)/Congress in Abu Dhabi yesterday.

Guyana was represented by Dr Sawan Jagnarain at the AGM/Congress which was held at the Millennium Al Rawdah Hotel.
The IMMAF’s AGM/Congress featured 120 delegates at the event, which was chaired by Densign White, the Federation’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

The 18-month-old GYMMA, headed by Gavin Singh, in 2021 received its conditional affiliation to the IMMAF, pending approval of vote at their AGM.
At yesterday’s AGM, White asked the 120 delegates if they had any objections to Guyana receiving full membership and of the eligible 37 voters, the country was given a 34-0 nod of approval.

Jamaica and Barbados were also approved, joining Trinidad and Tobago, The Bahamas and St Lucia as the countries from the Caribbean that are members of the IMMAF.
Speaking to Chronicle Sport, Singh noted that the GYMMA was “proud of the accomplishments so far. However, we have a long journey ahead for further success.”

Singh said “the Federation is committed to ensuring proper strategy and planning is in place for our future success. We can only do this together with all our stakeholders. We will be continuously working diligently together with the IMMAF and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport to ensure that the future of Mixed Martial Arts in Guyana is a success.”

Meanwhile, Kerrith Brown, the IMMAF president, said the Federation will be working closely with its affiliates in the Caribbean, as they push to have as many accredited coaches to implement a development strategy, promoting Amateur MMA as a safe sport.

IMMAF president said his federation will also seek to foster a close working relationship with the respective governments in the Region, deeming it vital for the sustenance, development and enhancement of the sport in the Caribbean.

Guyana was the lone CARICOM country represented at the IMMAF’s World Championship, with Corwin D’Anjou and Ijaz Cave carrying the Golden Arrowhead at the tournament which will end today in Abu Dhabi.

D’Anjou competed in the Welterweight category, while Cave featured in the Light Heavyweight division.

This year’s event was the largest for the IMMAF in its 10-year history, as over 450 athletes from 57 countries, gathered to compete for a chance to be crowned the best in the world in their respective categories. It is also the first World Championships since the advent of COVID-19 in 2020.

The IMMAF president had told Chronicle Sport that his federation was more than happy with seeing Guyana present in the United Arab Emirates.
He admitted that while it was not the results the federation had wanted, the experience will form part of the learning curve, not just for the fighters, but also for the GYMMA.

“What you have to realise is, in terms of the National Federation, the job is that you’re learning in all aspects. You are learning the different processes that are put in place to run a competition at this level; so when you go back to develop the national federation, the clubs, referees, judges, the coaches; everything that’s happening in Abu Dhabi, we want the Federation to value and adapt,” Brown said.

The IMMAF was founded in Sweden by former athletes and presidents of the Swedish MMA Federation, August Wallén and George Sallfeldt, with support from the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).
IMMAF held its inaugural IMMAF World Championships of Amateur MMA in Las Vegas in 2014, as part of UFC International Fight Week.