Affirming MMA's position in the high-performance sports system

The tournament attracted nearly 200 athletes and coaches from 24 units in 14 provinces and cities across the country. Immediately after the opening ceremony, the matches for the over-18 age group officially began, following the first match for the 16-18 age group that took place in the afternoon of the same day.

The tournament will take place from July 17 to 20 and will award a total of 24 sets of medals. It is not only an opportunity for martial artists to demonstrate their talent, bravery and endurance in mixed martial arts, but also an opportunity for units to exchange expertise, spreading the spirit of true sportsmanship, martial arts, honesty and dedication.

In particular, this event marks a historic step forward when for the first time mixed martial arts (MMA) is organized as a tournament within the national high-performance sports competition system, according to the official decision of the Vietnam Sports and Physical Training Department from the beginning of 2025.

Affirming MMA's position in the high-performance sports system - photo 2 — Mr. Dao Gia Bao - Permanent Vice President of VMMAF delivered the opening speech of the tournament.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mr. Dao Gia Bao - Permanent Vice President of VMMAF emphasized the importance of this milestone for the development of the sport: "Today, we are all present at Bac Ninh University of Physical Education and Sports to witness an important milestone: for the first time, the National Mixed Martial Arts Club Cup is held within the national competition system - a major turning point, affirming the increasingly clear position of this sport in Vietnam.

Since its official recognition, mixed martial arts – characterized by a diverse combination of martial arts and wrestling – has quickly attracted the attention of young people, coaches, athletes and fans across the country. And today’s tournament is a clear demonstration of the strong vitality and great development potential of this sport.”

Affirming MMA's position in the high-performance sports system - photo 3 — The tournament is a good opportunity for athletes to compete and gain experience.

Mr. Dao Gia Bao also thanked the Vietnam Sports Administration for supporting and facilitating the organization of the tournament, and acknowledged the close coordination from Bac Ninh University of Sports and Physical Education - the leading sports training unit - to create a large-scale, meticulous and effective tournament.

The active participation of provincial and municipal teams and private clubs shows that MMA is increasingly spreading strongly in the Vietnamese sports and martial arts community.

This is a solid foundation for developing MMA athletes to compete in domestic and international tournaments, contributing to making this sport an important part of the country's investment and high-performance sports training strategy.

Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/the-thao/khang-dinh-vi-the-mma-trong-he-thong-the-thao-thanh-tich-cao-153328.html