MMA bosses are lobbying the International Olympic Committee to get the sport to the Games in time for Los Angeles in 2028.
Individual combat codes such as amateur boxing, judo, taekwondo, wrestling and karate have been regular Olympic features.
But the sport of collective MMA still has no place in the Games.
Peter Murray – CEO of MMA promotion Professional Fighters League – is calling on the IOC and the International Federation of Mixed Martial Arts to make the change.
Murray told SunSport: “We’ve laid the foundations, now it’s about showcasing our sport of MMA to influential leaders at the IOC and IMMAF.
“There is a huge amateur community among mixed martial artists in all corners of the world, with people competing in tournaments to pit their skills against each other to find out who is truly the best.
“This competitive spirit and drive from MMA athletes epitomizes what the Olympics are all about, and we need to get it out to the right people.”
Two-time PFL champion Kayla Harrison has won two Olympic gold medals in judo, as has boxer-turned-MMA star Claressa Shields.
And Murray believes that MMA has grown to the point of justifying a position in the Games.
He said: “MMA has overcome the negative image it once had and is now seen as an athletic competition of highly skilled individuals who master multiple disciplines to beat their opponents under a set of rules that has attracted millions and millions of people around the world. .
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“The athletes are there, the fan base is there, now we just need to work with the IOC to promote this incredible sport that has built communities around the world.
“We understand that measures will be needed to ensure the safety of fighters, but we are confident that this can be done effectively to put health and well-being above all else, while also rewarding MMA athletes with medals. they deserve.”
America is 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 are made up of martial arts, from wrestling and judo to boxing and karate, all of which are fundamental to our sport.
“At PFL, we want to be the main driving force in getting the IOC to recognize the potential of MMA.
“And we are confident they will understand how MMA is a gold medal sport by 2028 in Los Angeles.”
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This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
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