MMA under the aegis of the boxing federation: progress and questions

And the winner is ... boxing! Roxana Maracineanu, the Minister of Sports proposed on Tuesday that the French Boxing Federation receive the delegation to manage for a year the MMA (Mixed Martial Arts). A combat sport that allows kicks, fists, knees and elbows, as well as blows to the ground and strangling inside a closed enclosure.

It is a decisive step towards its legalization in France. Six federations had applied to supervise the MMA so far banned from competition in France: kick boxing and muay thai, karate, wrestling, judo, boxing, as well as the sports and gymnastics federation of work (FSGT).

Is MMA officially legalized in France?

Not yet but ... The opinion of the Ministry of Sports is a real step forward but does not yet mean that MMA is legalized. "This is a decisive moment, as if we were crossing the red flame of a stage of the Tour de France," considers a source close to the matter. The Minister of Sports has for the moment issued an opinion to the French Olympic Committee by proposing that the MMA be placed under the aegis of the FFB. The CNOSF should position itself favorably. This done, MMA can be legalized.

What does this decision change for discipline?

It is a real recognition. It is estimated that there are more than 50,000 MMA practitioners in France. Because if the practice is authorized, only fights are currently prohibited. But ultimately, the French champions, like the heavyweights Ciryl Gane or Francis Ngannou, will no longer be forced to go into exile abroad, and will make themselves known to the general public. “I am 27 years old, I have been practicing for ten years and I have never fought at home in France. When I win, nobody knows, I have no recognition and not always the respect of my foreign opponents since my sport is prohibited in my own country, "said Taylor Lapilus, one of the best French fighters.

Why is it going to be managed by a Federation?

The French federation of MMA does not exist, that of boxing will have to help this sport to be structured in all the fields starting from a white sheet. "Boxing will have to invent a new model and help MMA to grow," notes Brahim Asloum, the Olympic boxing champion in 2000. We will have to train educators, create all security measures, new licenses. There is everything to do and it is exciting. The French boxing federation will bring all its legitimacy to this spectacular and attractive sport, this is good news. The FFB will also gain in terms of licensees and therefore in financial terms.

When will the first fight take place?

"I think we can attend our first meeting in France in the spring, maybe in March," we hope in the midst of MMA. For now, we still have to wait for legalization. No date has therefore yet been scheduled on the calendar. But according to our information, the AccorHotels Arena (Paris XII) is already in contact with organizations, such as the American and powerful, the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).