#AmateurMMA, #Pankration

Novi Sad to host first-ever Amateur MMA World Championships

Friday, May 9, 2025 - 12:39 By United World Wrestling Press

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CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (May 8) -- The World Grappling and Amateur MMA Championships will be held in Novi Sad from October 15 to 19.

United World Wrestling will organize the World Grappling Championships on October 15 and 16 and the first-ever World Amateur MMA Championships from October 17 to 19 in Novi Sad, Serbia. Both these competition will be organized only in the senior category.

The Youth World Championships in Pankration, Amateur MMA and Grappling will also be organized by UWW in Greece. The dates for the Youth World Championships will be communicated later.

According to new structure, UWW will conduct Amateur MMA for U20 and Senior age-group while Pankration is limited to U17 and lower age-groups.

To test the revised ruleset, UWW will also conduct two international tournaments in all styles.

The first tournament will be held in Andijan, Uzbekistan from June 1 to 4. Grappling will be held in U17, U20 and Senior age-groups, Pankration in U17 and Amateur MMA in U20 and Senior age-groups.

The second international tournament will be held in Poland in June. The exact dates for the tournament will be communicated by UWW later.

For full list of events, refer to uww.org/events.

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Five-time Olympic champ Lopez named UWW Ambassador

Saturday, June 14, 2025 - 09:51 By United World Wrestling Press

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CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (June 13) -- United World Wrestling has named Mijain LOPEZ (CUB), five-time Olympic gold medalist, as UWW ambassador.

Lopez, first athlete to win five Olympic gold medals in the same event, will be representing United World Wrestling (UWW) globally as an ambassador of the sport. This includes engaging in international relations, attending official events and championships, delivering masterclasses, and more.

“I’m thrilled to take on this new role as a UWW Ambassador and share my passion for wrestling across the globe," Lopez said. "I’m committed to giving back and inspiring future generations.

"My son has taken up wrestling and is following in my footsteps, so it feels only natural to embrace this role and contribute on a broader level. I’m also actively involved in supporting the training of the Cuban national team as I transition into this new chapter."

Lopez will also serve as an advisor to the UWW President and Bureau, offering strategic input on the future of wrestling and supporting various development projects.

Recently, Lopez attended the International Olympic Committee Athlete Forum in Lausanne organized by the IOC and spent two days at the UWW Headquarters along with UWW Athletes Commission Chair Arsen JULFALAKYAN (ARG).