The International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF) have announced that the preliminaries of the 2015 IMMAF World Championships of Amateur MMA at UFC® International Fight Week will be held at Flamingo Las Vegas Hotel and Casino.
The 5-day tournament at the Flamingo Las Vegas will begin with preliminaries from Monday, July 6 to Thursday July 9. The pioneering casino, launched in 1945 by Vegas visionary Bugsy Siegel is the oldest to operate on the strip today. Tickets to the 2015 IMMAF World Championships of Amateur MMA at UFC® International Fight Week are to be released shortly.
The finals of the World Championship tournament will then move to the UFC Fan Expo at the Sands Expo & Convention Center on Saturday, July 11, where IMMAF’s 2015 champions and medallists will be crowned. UFC Fan Expo® tickets are available at www.ufcfanexpo.com with two-day passes beginning at $60 online and $65 onsite. One-day passes begin at $35 online and $45 onsite.
The inaugural 2014 IMMAF World Championships of MMA was the first international competition for amateur MMA in the world to be organized by a non-profit, democratic governing body in accordance with Olympic values, attracting over 100 athletes from 23 countries. Returning to Vegas as bigger and better, the 2015 IMMAF Championships of Amateur MMA at UFC® International Fight Week is expected to welcome up to 200 athletes across 30 countries and 5 continents. Competitors are expected from as far and wide as Ukraine, Cameroon, Bahrain, Malaysia, New Zealand and the UK. The event which forms part of the planet’s largest celebration of combat sports, as it hits the city for Fight Week, is to be broadcast on UFC FIGHT PASS and international television.
The contest follows a tournament format and competitors will be selected each day by draw to determine who they will face in the next rout over 5 days of competition. With 8 weight classes for men (Flyweight – Heavyweight) and 4 for women (Strawweight – Featherweight), the international event
follows IMMAF Rules of Amateur MMA in accordance with local legislation, under the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
IMMAF CEO, Densign White, said:
“MMA was first born onto a professional platform spawning grassroots communities globally, and as a young sport has had some catching up to do. The support of the UFC to our movement, which was born from grassroots MMA community for the MMA community, is invaluable. All over the world volunteer groups are working hard to develop safe training pathways and competition ladders for recreational participants in the sport, as well as the stars of tomorrow. It has taken the forward thinkers in all our member countries to initiate the journey that will bring MMA into alignment with all recognized sports. Vegas has historically been a city that has seen dreams come to fruition and the Flamingo is a monument to this past. IMMAF is proud to have its athletes set foot to compete in such an arena, where everything is possible, before moving on into the inspirational UFC Fan Expo for the Finals.”
The following events are currently scheduled for UFC International Fight Week:
Wednesday, July 8
• IMMAF Amateur MMA World Championships at The Flamingo (beginning Monday, July 6)
• Official UFC 189 Open Workouts
• UFC Community Day
Thursday, July 9
• IMMAF Amateur MMA World Championships at The Flamingo
• USJJO Ju-Jitsu National Championships at Harrah’s Las Vegas
• Liquid pool party at Aria hosted by UFC stars
• Official UFC 189 press conference at MGM Grand
• Charity bowling at Brooklyn Bowl with UFC fighters
Friday, July 10
• UFC Fan Expo (Day I) o USBJJF American Jiu Jitsu Championships (Gi and No Gi) o WAKO North American Amateur Kickboxing Championship
o ISKA Vegas Open
o The Ultimate Wrestling Championships
• UFC Gym® Fitness Challenge ($35,000 Prize Money)
• Official UFC 189 Weigh-In at MGM Grand Garden Arena
• Official UFC 189 UFC Kit Unveil at MGM Grand Garden Arena
• Meet UFC stars as they takeover downtown Las Vegas
• UFC presents free concert at Fremont Street Experience
• USJJO Ju-Jitsu US International Open at Harrah’s Las Vegas
Saturday, July 11
• UFC Fan Expo (Day II) o IMMAF Amateur MMA World Championships Finals o USBJJF American Kids Jiu Jitsu Championships o WAKO North American Amateur Kickboxing Championship o ISKA Vegas Open
o The Ultimate Wrestling Championships
• Ulti-man 5k with UFC President Dana White in support of Three Square
• UFC Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at UFC Fan Expo
• UFC 189: ALDO vs. MCGREGOR at MGM Grand Garden Arena
• UFC 189 viewing parties at MGM, Ri Ra Irish Pub, Double Barrel and more • Official UFC 189 After Party
Sunday, July 12
• Bud Light Pool Party at Monte Carlo Resort and Casino
• The Ultimate Fighter Finale at MGM Grand Garden Arena
Tickets for UFC Fan Expo are currently on sale at www.ufcfanexpo.com with two day passes beginning at $60 online and $65 onsite. One-day passes begin at $35 online and $45 onsite. *Events are subject to change.
