The Irish Amateur Pankration Association (IAPA) posted a statement on their Facebook page tonight announcing they have started the recognition process of establishing a National Governing Body to regulate MMA in Ireland.

Here is the statement in full:

“To date the Irish Amateur Pankration Association (IAPA) has acted as an associated body of the Irish Amateur Wrestling Association (IAWA) which is the National Governing Body for grappling arts in Ireland. The IAWA and its committee have provided invaluable support for the IAPA to date but now is time for us to start the recognition process with Sport Ireland for MMA under its own National Governing Body.

The IAPA would like to take a moment to thank the IAWA, in particular Michael McAuley and Daniel and Keith Kennedy. Without their advice and guidance we would not be in the position we are today. The IAWA have been a tremendous source of support, but we feel that it is now time to establish our own National Governing Body to enable the recognition and regulation of our sport in its own right.

This National Governing Body will be called the Irish Mixed Martial Arts Association (IMMAA). It will be a member of the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF) and agrees to follow IMMAF’s rules and guidelines. The following working committee has been set up to establish the IMMAA: John Kavanagh – President

Andy Ryan – Vice President

Paul Cowzer – Chairman

Dean Wade – Secretary

Owen Roddy – Child Protection Officer

Clive Staunton – Anti Doping Officer

Barry Oglesby – Sport Ireland Liaison Officer

Ray Butcher – Treasurer

Liam-Og Griffin – Assistant Treasurer

David Jones – Progression Development Officer The IMMAA will act as an advisory body for promoters looking to run amateur MMA events in Ireland. Our recommendations include but are not limited to Referees and judges to be appointed by the IMMAA Pre -event medical checks to be controlled by IMMAA Event medicals to be cleared by http://codeblue.ie/ Full IMMAF rules and regulations to be followed as listed here http://www.immaf.org/about/competition-rules/ All athletes to be registered to the IMMAA via the MyNextMatch registration system at https://www.mynextmatch.com/ To learn more about IMMAA follow our page and you can email Secretary Dean Wade [email protected]”