To IMMAA Athletes, Coaches, and the MMA Community

We are excited to share Team Ireland’s strategy for the 2025 Junior/Senior IMMAF competition campaign. Below is an outline of our plans, including team selection, national squad training, and domestic tournaments. As we build toward another year of representing Ireland on the world stage, we aim to create opportunities for athletes to excel and elevate Irish MMA internationally.

European Championships – Serbia – February 2025

The IMMAF European Championships will take place in Serbia this February. The post-Covid disruption to the IMMAF international calendar has presented challenges, with key tournaments often announced at short notice. With this event falling so early in the year, we will not have time to conduct a full selection process.

For this championship only, team selection will be based on an application process. If you believe you are the best athlete in your division to represent Ireland, consult with your coach and apply using the form at this link. Applications will close on Sunday, December 22nd, and the team will be selected by a coaching panel based on athlete activity and performance over the last 12 months.

Click here to apply

National Squad Development 2025

The development of Ireland’s national MMA squad is at the heart of our 2025 strategy. Beginning in January, national squad training sessions will take place on the second Sunday of every month, rotating across provinces to distribute travel requirements fairly.

These sessions are open to all IMMAA athletes aspiring to compete at IMMAF level, whether you’re already at that standard or working toward it. Consistent attendance at these sessions will be essential for national team selection.

Proposed Schedule:

January 12th – Dublin
February 9th – Galway
March 9th – Dublin
April 13th – Belfast
May 11th – Dublin
June 8th – Cork
July 13th – Dublin
August 10th – Galway
September 14th – Dublin
October 12th – Belfast
November 9th – Dublin
December 14th – Cork

*Dates and venues are subject to change.*

Domestic Tournaments 2025

Mark your calendars for Sunday, June 22nd, 2025. On this date, IMMAA will host a major Youth International event and the IMMAA National Championships Finals. Information on qualifiers for the National Championships will be released in January.

With the IMMAF confirming that the European Championships will take place in February and the World Championships in November annually for the next three years, this gives us the opportunity to set consistent dates for the National Championships. This will ensure an effective and fair selection process for future international events.

National Team Selection Criteria

Apart from the European Championships in Serbia, all national team selections for 2025 will follow these criteria:

Athlete must be from an IMMAA Club.
Athlete must have an up-to-date individual IMMAA Membership.
Athlete must have full SafeMMA Green Light medical clearance for the remainder of the 2025 season.
Athlete must achieve a minimum 80% attendance at squad training.
Athlete must participate in the National Championships.
Athlete must be deemed by the coaching panel to have the potential to medal at an IMMAF tournament.

Representing Ireland at the international level is a tremendous honor and responsibility. As we embark on the 2025 campaign, we are focused on building a strong, united team and fostering the development of Irish MMA talent. Let’s make 2025 a year to remember for Irish MMA.

For more information or inquiries, please contact us at info@mmaireland.ie