IMMAF President Kerrith Brown has begun an official visit to Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, holding preliminary discussions regarding the potential hosting of the IMMAF African Championships in April 2027.
President Brown was joined by representatives of the national MMA federation and welcomed by a delegation of sporting and government stakeholders to discuss the requirements for staging a major Continental IMMAF Championship.
The discussions covered potential venues and sporting infrastructure, athlete accommodation and transportation, visa support, medical provision, security, broadcast and media capabilities, volunteers, and more.
A major focus of the discussions was also the long-term development of MMA in Côte d’Ivoire and across Africa, particularly through youth participation, women’s development, coach and officials’ education, safeguarding, anti-doping, and the creation of sustainable athlete pathways from grassroots participation through to international competition.
Brown highlighted IMMAF’s continued commitment to strengthening its African National Federations and providing young athletes across the continent with opportunities to represent their countries on the international stage.
Speaking during the visit, Brown said: “I have been extremely encouraged by the welcome we have received in Côte d’Ivoire and particularly by the number of key stakeholders who came together to discuss the future development of MMA.
“Our ambition is not simply to bring an event into a country and leave. We want to create a lasting legacy through youth development, education, safeguarding, opportunities for women and girls, and a pathway for athletes to progress from their communities to their national teams and ultimately the world stage.
“We are now exploring the possibility of bringing the IMMAF African Championships to Côte d’Ivoire in April 2027. This visit gives us the opportunity to assess the infrastructure, meet the relevant stakeholders, and understand what can be achieved together.
“I would love to see Côte d’Ivoire become an important centre for the development of MMA in Africa and, if we can successfully build that pathway together, potentially host even larger IMMAF international events in the future.”
The visit will continue with further meetings and assessments of potential venues, infrastructure, and operational requirements. Any future hosting decision will be subject to the completion of IMMAF’s assessment and agreement between the relevant parties.
IMMAF continues to prioritise the expansion of structured, safe, and sustainable amateur MMA across Africa, with athlete development and strong National Federations at the centre of its strategy.
