ONE Championship is very happy to learn that mixed martial arts has been recognized as a legal sport in France. The Singapore-based martial arts organization’s chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong not only expressed his excitement about the news but also praised the country.
“As leader of the world’s largest martial arts organization ONE Championship, I would like to personally congratulate the entire mixed martial arts community in France,” Chatri stated. “France is a beautiful country with a rich history of martial arts and some of the most talented martial arts athletes in the world. I am excited for the possibilities the future holds.”
Among the well-known French MMA fighters is Sylvain “Punisher” Potard, 39, who hails from Paris, France. He competed in ONE Championship from 2013 to 2014 back when the organization was called ONE Fighting Championship.
Algerian-French kickboxer Samy “AK47” Sana, 31, is also from Paris. He competed in ONE Championship’s striking-only league ONE Super Series from 2018 to 2019.
“Now, we can focus on properly building young amateur talent from the grassroots in France, guiding and nurturing their careers towards becoming esteemed professionals in mixed martial arts,” Chatri stated. “Together, we can achieve a brighter future for our community and all who share our passion for this incredible sport.”
Along with Roxana Maracineanu, the Minister of Sport in France, the French national Olympic committee called Comité National olympique et Sportif Français assigned the French boxing commission called Fédération Française de Boxe to oversee and supervise the sport of MMA in the country until December 31, 2020. The commission was selected from the six federations that submitted applications.
During a press conference on February 7, 2020, Maracineanu officially announced that the French Boxing Federation will be responsible for developing MMA in France. Watch it here:
CONAN Daily 