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British Challenge Mixed Martial Arts (BCMMA) will be working with the United Kingdom Mixed Martial Arts Federation (UKMMAF) for its upcoming event on Saturday 3rd October at Charter Hall in Colchester, Essex (UK).
The promotion will be voluntarily working to implement standards required by the MMA governing body on a pathway towards third party sanctioning in 2016.
As a first requirement, BCMMA 12 must meet guidelines as outlined by medical consultancy, Safe MMA. This includes the presence of a doctor to carry out pre and post fight medical examinations for all competing athletes, and a commitment to submitting medical results and injury suspensions to Safe MMA. All professional athletes will be required to undergo annual medical examinations and blood tests for blood borne viruses, and to be independently cleared to compete by the medical body.
Further to raising its medical safety standards, BCMMA will be hiring UKMMAF licensed officials and the UKMMAF will be carrying out assessments of referees on the night. BCMMA is the first promotion to make the commitment to hiring independent UKMMAF trained and certified officials. UKMMAF sanctioning representatives will also be in attendance.
BCMMA is co-promoted by Jack Mason and Chris Cook. Mason commented:
“BCMMA as a promotion is all about providing fighters with a consistent, solid platform to showcase their skills at a grassroots level whilst they build and progress on their way to the big shows.
“BCMMA are taking an important step forward in working with the UKMMAF and Safe MMA from BCMMA 12 on 3rd October 2015 to ensure we meet our primary focus which is the health and safety of our fighters who put it all on the line when they compete on the show.
“From BCMMA 12 on 3rd October all our Professional MMA fighters will be Safe MMA approved to compete and we will have a full medical team including paramedics, doctor and ambulance on site. We will also be implementing new UKMMAFmeasures by employing trained, qualified and independent officials (referees, judges and commissioners) to ensure all our fighters receive the best experience and a fair shout when they compete on the show.
“We understand that the extra cost to a young fighter on a grassroots show like BCMMA to become Safe MMA approved can be a challenge so we work with the fighters to make this as easy as possible and truly believe that the health of our fighters is priceless so the extra cost is well worth the small investment.
“Completion of medicals and licencing is also an important part of the sport at the top level so if any fighter has aspirations of making it to the big shows then this is something they will need to get used to as part of the process. It’s worth mentioning also that the cost of obtaining a Safe MMA licence for a Professional MMA athlete is far cheaper than obtaining a Professional Boxing licence for the same peace of mind for the athlete and promoter.
“The benefit of the emergence of the UKMMAF and Safe MMA to the sport of MMA in the UK is huge as this will go a long way to helping the sport become recognised as a professional sport by such bodies as Sport England. It’s also another step forward in the very long journey to establish MMA as a recognised sport and obtaining respect and recognition for our fighters as some of the hardest working athletes in the world.”
For more about BCMMA visit: http://bcmma.co.uk/
Follow BCMMA on Twitter: @BCMMAUK
