Gavin Singh, President of the Guyana Mixed Martial Arts Federation (GMMAF), has confirmed the nation’s participation at the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF) Youth World MMA Championships and IMMAF World Junior and Senior MMA Championships.
This was disclosed during an exclusive interview with Stabroek Sport yesterday.
“The Guyana Mixed Martial Arts Federation is pleased to announce that Guyana will be one of the countries competing in the IMMAF Youth World MMA Championships in Bulgaria from July 30 to August 2 and IMMAF World Junior and Senior MMA Championships in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan November 27 to December 5, 2021,” said Singh.
“This will be the first Youth and Senior World MMA Championships that Guyana will be participating in and we are very proud to make our successful mark in the sport of Mixed Martial Arts. This will be Guyana’s first World Championship. We will not only participate, we will win,” he added.
The IMMAF has announced the relocation of its scheduled 2021 Youth MMA World Championships from Istanbul to Sofia (Bulgaria) due to the threat of the escalating COVID-19 situation in Turkey and increasing government restrictions. The competition dates of 30 July to 1 August remain the same.
Singh, who boasted about the safety surrounding the discipline, especially for participants under the age of 18, said that competitors will be selected from the three clubs which are registered under the umbrella of the entity.
“Athletes are currently being selected from the three registered clubs with the federation: Phoenix Fight Central Club (Head Coach of GMMAF Bruce Frazer), The Guyana Police Force Club (Sensei Troy Bobb), and 3 Ryu Club (Technical Director of GMMAF Sensei Roland Fanfair), with the delegation to led by team manager Troy Phillips and operations director Michael Singh.”
He added, “Michael Singh was the pioneer for the introduction of the sport in 2017 hosting the first ever fight night at the Giftland Mall in collaboration with the Guyana Amateur Boxing Federation.”
According to Singh, the association has forged a partnership with the Guyana Police Force as well as conducted several initiatives in an effort to develop coaches and athletes for international competitions.
He explained, “The federation is working with the Guyana Police Force in the development of the sport and the officers. Online seminars with IMMAF have been conducted for the year to certify both coaches and athletes for the international platform. My meetings with the Deputy Commissioner (Clifton) Hickens have been proven more than successful; the Deputy Commissioner is a man of action and since meeting the Caribbean federation, he has given his full support for the development of the sport.”
He stated that the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, has also signalled its intention to provide administrative support for the sport’s long term development, adding, “Honourable Minister Charles Ramson Jr., continues to demonstrate that he is a minister of his word and his actions endorse objectives. The minister has given his administrative support to the sport and federation and plans to assist in the future.”
Singh continued, “President Kerrith Brown of the IMMAF and President Jason Frazer of the CMMAF, continue to give the support needed for the development of the sport in Guyana and are both scheduled to visit later in the year with a surprise celebrity athlete.”
