MMA chiefs lobby IOC in bid to get sport into Olympics in time for 2028 Games in LA
MMA chiefs are lobbying with the International Olympic Committee to get the sport into the Games in time for Los Angeles in 2028.
Individual combat codes such as amateur boxing, judo, taekwondo, wrestling and karate have all been regular Olympic features.
But the sport of MMA collectively is still without a place in the Games.
Peter Murray – CEO of MMA promotion Professional Fighters League – is calling on the IOC and International Mixed Martial Arts Federation to make the change.
Murray told SunSport: “We’ve set the foundation, now it’s about showcasing our sport of MMA to the influential leaders at the IOC and IMMAF.
“There is a huge grassroots and amateur community amongst mixed martial artists in every corner of the world, with people competing in tournaments to pit their skill sets against one another to find out who is truly the best.
“That spirit and competitive drive of MMA athletes encapsulates what the Olympics is all about, and we need to make it known to the right people.”
Two-time PFL champion Kayla Harrison won a pair of Olympic gold medals in judo and so did boxer-turned-MMA star Claressa Shields.
And Murray believes MMA has grown to the magnitude of justifying a position in the Games.
He said: “MMA has grown out of its negative image it once had, and is now seen as an athletic competition of highly skilled individuals who have mastered multiple disciplines to beat their opponent in a rule set that has garnered millions and millions of people worldwide.
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“The athletes exist, the fanbase is there, now we just need to work with the IOC to platform this incredible sport that has built communities all over the world.
“We understand measures will need to be put in place to ensure fighter safety, but this is something we’re confident can be done effectively to put health and wellbeing above all, whilst rewarding MMA athletes with the medals they deserve.”
America is the next to host the Olympics in 2028 – and Murray hopes it will be the first to include MMA as a medal sport.
He said: The Olympics is made up of martial arts, from wrestling and judo to boxing and karate, all of which are pivotal to our sport.
“At PFL, we want to be the core driving force behind getting the IOC to recognise the potential in MMA.
“And we’re confident that they’ll understand how mixed martial arts is a gold medal sport by 2028 in LA.”