MMA at Asian Games: Debut in Aichi-Nagoya 2023

by Archynetys World Desk

MMA
Korean MMA Federation & Korean MMA Association
Application to join the Korean Sports Council in September 2025
It is not on the agenda of the board of directors in February 2026
Completed the committee and the board of directors by March
Korea, and the size of the previous Asian Championship No Gold
Team tied for 11th in Asia
Justification for Dispatching Asian Games↓
Federation & Korean Association, what if both are eliminated? The final qualifying round for May…We’re running out of time

The MMA was added as an official event at the 20th Aichi-Nagoya Summer Asian Games, which will open on September 19, 2026, at the 93rd Asian Olympic Council (OCA) Executive Committee in February 2025.

The mixed martial arts at the 2026 Asian Games will be divided into six weight classes, including ▲ men’s modern 60kg 71kg ▲ men’s traditional 65kg 77kg ▲ women’s modern 54kg ▲ women’s traditional 60kg, and will be held at the Inae Sports Center (3,441 seats) in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan from September 20 to 22.

The mixed martial arts at the 2026 Asian Games will be divided into six weight classes, including ▲ men’s modern 60kg 71kg ▲ men’s traditional 65kg 77kg ▲ women’s modern 54kg ▲ women’s traditional 60kg, and will be held at the Inae Sports Center (3441 seats) in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan. Photo = Organizing Committee for the 20th Summer Asian Games
The 93rd Asian Olympic Council Executive Committee's decision on the addition of the mixed martial arts program Aichi-Nagoya Summer Games, Japan, page 1. Photo =OCA Official Document PDF
The 93rd Asian Olympic Council Executive Committee’s decision on the addition of the mixed martial arts program Aichi-Nagoya Summer Games, Japan, page 1. Photo =OCA Official Document PDF

All MMA competitors wear △ mouthguard △ 4 ounces (0.11 kg) or more gloves △ shin guards. The man has a cystic brace added. Traditional MMA wears robes. You can also use the technique of catching and throwing robes and using a collar.

The Korea Sports Council (Chairman Yoo Seung Min) held its 12th board meeting on Feb. 2. A total of eight agendas were voted on and a plan to conduct its own regular comprehensive audit was received, but there was no deliberation on mixed martial arts.

The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) accepted the Asian MMA as a member of the Asian Games Federation (AF) in December 2022. The Korea MMA Federation (Chairman Jeon Jae-won) joined the Asian MMA Association on September 21, 2022.

Mixed martial arts is one of the 91 member sports of the Asian Federation. Photo =OCA
Mixed martial arts is one of the 91 member sports of the Asian Federation. Photo =OCA
The logo of the Korea MMA Federation
The logo of the Korea MMA Federation
Logo of the <a href=Korea MMA General Association“/>
Logo of the Korea MMA General Association

The Korea MMA General Association (Chairman Moon Jung-hong) was separated from the Korea MMA Federation in January 2025. In January 2026, he was promoted to an associate member of the Asian MMA during the 3rd AMMA Championship.

The Korea Sports Association conducted a preliminary public verification in November after the Korea MMA Federation and the Korea MMA General Association applied for membership in September 2025. If the subscription rating review committee, which was reported, decides, it will proceed to the deliberation of the board of directors of the Korea Sports Council.

In December 2025, the Korea Sports Council’s membership rating review committee was held, but MK Sports’ coverage was due to the review of the existing membership sports group level. Regarding new requests such as mixed martial arts, the committee has not yet been scheduled to be held.

Chairman, Yoo Seung Min, 12th Board of Directors. Photo = Korea Sports Council
Chairman, Yoo Seung Min, 12th Board of Directors. Photo = Korea Sports Council
Photo = Korea Sports Council
Photo = Korea Sports Council

The board of directors has already been held in February 2026, so it is difficult to set a date right away. ▲The closing of the 25th Milan-Cortina D’Ampezzo Winter Olympics in Italy on the 23rd (Korea Standard Time) ▲ The importance of the remaining schedule of the Korean Olympic Committee, including the regular general meeting of the House of Representatives on the 27th, is just so.

According to the regulations, the results of the application for membership in September 2025 must be notified to the Korea MMA Federation and the Korea MMA General Association by March 2026. When asked about MK Sports, the Sports Promotion Department of the Korea Sports Association explained, “We will not break the schedule that we have to keep.”

“The 3rd AMMA Championship concurrently qualified for the first round of the 2026 Summer Asian Games and indoor martial arts Asian Games,” the Asian MMA Association said. The final qualifying round for the two competitions will be held in May,” he announced. The 6th indoor martial arts Asian game is hosted by Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The 3rd Asian MMA Championships took place in Luzhou, Sichuan Province, China from January 9-11. ▲World's largest video platform 'YouTube' ▲ Global number one SNS 'Facebook' ▲ mobile carrier 'China Mobile' ▲ China Mobile content subsidiary 'Migoo' ▲ China Central State Media Group CMG sponsored it. Photo = AMMA
The 3rd Asian MMA Championships took place in Luzhou, Sichuan Province, China from January 9-11. ▲World’s largest video platform ‘YouTube’ ▲ Global number one SNS ‘Facebook’ ▲ mobile carrier ‘China Mobile’ ▲ China Mobile content subsidiary ‘Migoo’ ▲ China Central State Media Group CMG sponsored it. Photo = AMMA

The Korea Sports Council’s accession rating review committee and the board of directors do not have to choose between the Korea MMA Federation and the Korea MMA General Association. There is a possibility of deliberating that there is no member sports organization that significantly meets the ▲ criteria or voting not to dispatch the ▲ Asian Games squad.

According to the Asian MMA Association, Korea won one silver medal and one bronze medal by participating in the 3rd AMMA Championship in January 2026, with eight members from the Korea MMA Federation and the Korea MMA General Association.

▲China 23 ▲ Iran 20 ▲ Kazakhstan 19 ▲ India 14 ▲ Mongolia 14 ▲ Uzbekistan 13 ▲ Indonesia 11 ▲ Taiwan 11 ▲ Thailand 10 ▲ Vietnam 9 and △ Saudi Arabia are tied for 11th place.

The 3rd Asian MMA Championships took place in Luzhou, Sichuan Province, China from 9-11 January 2026. Photo = AMMA
The 3rd Asian MMA Championships took place in Luzhou, Sichuan Province, China from 9-11 January 2026. Photo = AMMA

It is unclear how much the Korean Sports Association will feel the need to send a mixed martial arts national team, which has no gold medal at the previous continental competition and is not wide in base, to the 2026 Asian Games.

If the accession rating review committee agrees that it is difficult to distinguish the superiority and inferiority of the Korea MMA Federation and the Korea MMA General Association, the board of directors of the Korea Sports Council may urge integration or recommend a third group organization. However, it will be more urgent to meet the final qualifying schedule for the Asian Games mixed martial arts in May, which AMMA announced.

Size of the 3rd AMMA Championship squad

* Personality of the first qualifying round for the 2026 Asian Games

* Final qualifying round for the Summer Asian Games scheduled for May

1st place, 23 people from China

2nd place is Iran. 20 people

No. 3 Kazakhstan 19

4th place is India 14

4th place Mongolia 14 players

No. 6 Uzbekistan 13 players

7th place is Indonesia 11

7th place is Taiwan 11

9th place is Thailand 10

10th place, Vietnam. 9 people

Kim Min-gun of the Korea MMA General Association is leading the selfies of the presenters as the men's Hyundai 65kg silver medalist at the 3rd Asian MMA Championship in January 2026. Mixed martial arts will be held as an official event at the 20th Aichi-Nagoya Summer Asian Games in Japan from September 20 to 22. Photo = AMMA
Kim Min-gun of the Korea MMA General Association is leading the selfies of the presenters as the men’s Hyundai 65kg silver medalist at the 3rd Asian MMA Championship in January 2026. Mixed martial arts will be held as an official event at the 20th Aichi-Nagoya Summer Asian Games in Japan from September 20 to 22. Photo = AMMA

11th place, 8 in Korea

Choi Eun-seok of the Korea MMA General Association takes a photo to commemorate the men's 71kg bronze medal at the 3rd Asian MMA Championship in Luzhou, Sichuan Province, China, in January 2026. Mixed martial arts will be held as an official event at the 20th Aichi-Nagoya Summer Asian Games in Japan from September 20 to 22. Photo = AMMA
Choi Eun-seok of the Korea MMA General Association takes a photo to commemorate the men’s 71kg bronze medal at the 3rd Asian MMA Championship in Luzhou, Sichuan Province, China, in January 2026. Mixed martial arts will be held as an official event at the 20th Aichi-Nagoya Summer Asian Games in Japan from September 20 to 22. Photo = AMMA

No. 11 Saudi Arabia 8

#13 Kyrgyzstan 7

#14 Tajikistan: Six

15th place Cambodia 5 people

No. 15 Jordan Five

17th place, Hong Kong 7

17th place Malaysia 3 people

19th place Singapore 1 person

[Kang Daeho, MK Sports Reporter]

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