IMMAF Double Standards.

In the statement issued by Martial Arts South Africa (MASA), dated 27 January 2023, it made clear the fact that the MMA South Africa (MMASA) Board had not adhered to “all protocols and procedures” despite the fact that they are “well known to all federations”.

For those that are still unaware of the shameful actions of the MMASA Board ahead of the 2022 IMMAF Youth World Championships in Abu Dhabi, the summary is that the MMASA Board failed to meet the required NC1 & NC2 requirements / timelines for ensuring that participating athletes were officially approved and had the relevant permissions to attend the Abu Dhabi event, all while greedily accpeting the money from the parents of these young athletes.

The final paragraphs of the MASA statement announce the fact that “several letters of resignation” have been received and also announce the approval of the new interim MMASA Board.

From a recent post by former MMASA CEO, Jason Brown, it is clear that both his wife – Maria Brown and himself – alongside former President Raymond Phillips have resigned. Why only them? Are they the only ones that made this decision to essentially lie and cheat parents out of their money and deceive athletes about their National colours? Were no other Board members involved? We are reliably informed that former MMASA vice-President, Ferdi Basson, is now the new President. So did the vice-President not know what the President, CEO and Secretary were up to? 

Too many questions and no-one at MASA is wanting to answer these questions!

If one notes that MMASA are affiliated to the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF) who, as an global organisation seeking Olympic recognition is meant to provide “rules, regulations and governance” for all national federations. They also state that they “take [their] purpose and vision seriously and pledge to safeguard the trust invested in [them] by our national federations, as well as that of all other stakeholders of the sport. [They] endeavour to earn this trust through [their] actions and by clearly communicating what the IMMAF brand stands for. [Their] promise is to at all times deliver upon being Open, Dependable and Progressive.”

This writer is not sure whether Directorship of IMMAF is linked to being part of a National Federation but as of this morning, Raymond Phillips, is still listed as an IMMAF Director! And not just listed as an active Director, he is still actively part of IMMAF as can clearly be seen in the below post which has also been shared by MMASA – the very organisation who he, in conjunction with several others, has dragged lower into disrepute!

Regarding IMMAF and their stance on the issue, they are progressive as it is clear that they now do allow bad governance within National Federations. They also do not safeguard the trust invested in them by their stakeholders (athletes and their parents) and quite clearly do not care about the actions as they continue to endorse a delinquent Director!

As for MASA and MMASA, we still have no official idea who the new interim MMASA Board are, but what we do know is that there is little faith in the “ladies and gentlemen” of that Board as “MASA will have several members in place for the next 12 months overseeing and assisting MMA-SA in all day-to-day events including the processing and issuing of current and future National Colours”.