MMA: first official fights in France
The first official MMA fights are organized this Thursday, October 8 in Vitry-sur-Seine.
Photo: MMA GRAND PRIX
Text by: Farid Achache Follow
3 min
Several months after its official recognition, the first official meeting of MMA, the MMA Grand Prix, is organized this Thursday, October 8 in Vitry-sur-Seine in the Parisian suburbs.
This discipline from the United States had long suffered from refusals of legalization on French soil.
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The date will remain in the history books of French sport.
This Thursday, October 8, eight months after its legalization, MMA signs its birth certificate with the first event (MMA Grand Prix) organized in France, in Vitry-sur-Seine in the Paris suburbs, under the aegis of the French Federation of boxing (FFB).
MMA, a sport with a sulphurous image in France
The FFB's mission is to structure this sport, the best of all martial arts practiced with fists, feet, knees, or elbows, which has already conquered a large part of the planet.
But Mixed Martial Arts, the acronym of MMA, was debated in France.
MMA has long suffered from a sulphurous image.
“
We were waiting for the boxing federation to be ready to host our event.
Our goal is to prove to the Minister of Sports that she was right to authorize MMA in France
”, explains to RFI Eric Konako, promoter of the evening, and known in the world of muay Thai (Thai boxing) .
In 2016, a ministerial decree had explicitly prohibited the possibility for a combat sport to authorize shots on the ground, something possible in MMA, but very limited.
Kicks and knee kicks in the face while the opponent is on the ground are therefore strictly prohibited.
In halls, ground strikes are not allowed for beginners and it takes a certain level of practice before you can use all the techniques unique to MMA.
The beginnings of Laëtitia Blot
Roxanna Maracineanu
, Minister Delegate for Sports, who worked for the legalization of the discipline, will be present at this first major MMA meeting.
And according to the organizers, the room should be filled to its maximum level due to the coronavirus pandemic, that is to say 1,000 spectators.
And the evening will be televised on one of the biggest combat sports streaming platforms, the UFC Fight Pass.
Internet users will therefore be able to attend the six fights of the evening.
With in particular Mickaël Lebout, former of the UFC, Karim Ghajji, seven times world champion of kick-boxing, or Laëtitia Blot, world and European champion of judo by team and champion of France of wrestling, who starts a new career in MMA.
On Saturday, Bellator, a recognized international organization, will host a meeting at the AccorHotels Arena in Paris.
The history of MMA in France is launched.
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