Representatives of the mixed martial arts (MMA) in Romania expect the Sports Ministry to recognize and regulate this sport in the coming period. Once the sport is officially recognized, it also benefits from state financing.

From 2013, the MMA have been evaluated by the recognition commission within the Sports Ministry, meeting each of the criteria specified in the sports law and its implementing regulations. Great efforts have been made in this period to show that this sport is constantly developing both internationally and in Romania and therefore, amid the continuing increase in the number of athletes, this sports’ regulation is needed, reads a statement by MMA representatives, cited by local Agerpres.

The MMA community in Romania hasn’t missed any international tournament organized under the aegis of the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF). They’ve participated at the two world championships in 2014 and 2015 with money from their own sources, and at the European Open in 2015. Nine competitions have been organized in Romania, as well as arbitration seminars and an international course for MMA referees, all this hard work showing that the MMA should be regulated in Romania.

More than 40 clubs in Romania practice this sport, the number of participants getting close to 1,000. Some 200 of them are professional athletes.

Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com

(Photo source: RMMAFed on Facebook)