160 athletes compete at the National Mixed Martial Arts Club Cup

On the evening of July 17, the 2025 National Mixed Martial Arts Club Cup officially kicked off at the Bac Ninh University of Physical Education and Sports Gymnasium (Bac Ninh province). The tournament was jointly organized by the Vietnam Sports Department, the Vietnam Mixed Martial Arts Federation (VMMAF) and the Bac Ninh University of Physical Education and Sports.

The Organizing Committee awarded souvenir flags to the participating units. Photo: Organizing Committee

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Permanent Vice President of the Vietnam Mixed Martial Arts Federation Dao Gia Bao said: “For the first time, the National Mixed Martial Arts Club Cup is organized within the national competition system - a major turning point, affirming the increasingly clear position of this sport in Vietnam. Since being officially recognized in Vietnam, Mixed Martial Arts - with its characteristic combination of diverse martial arts and wrestling - has quickly attracted the attention of young people, coaches, athletes, and a large number of martial arts lovers across the country. And today's tournament is the clearest proof of the strong vitality and great development potential of this sport."

The 2025 National Mixed Martial Arts Club Cup will take place from July 16 to 21 at the Bac Ninh University of Physical Education and Sports Gymnasium (Bac Ninh province). Photo: Organizing Committee

Taking place from July 16 to 21, the tournament brings together 160 athletes from 24 clubs from 14 provinces and cities across the country to compete. Athletes are divided into 2 age groups from 16-18 years old and over 18 years old. The age group from 16-18 will compete in the weight categories of 48kg, 52kg, 60kg, 65kg, 70kg and 77kg for men and the weight categories of 45kg, 58kg, 52kg, 56kg and 60kg for women. In the age group over 18, athletes compete from 52kg to 84kg for men and from 48kg to 65kg for women.

The tournament is held to select and prepare athletes to compete at the 33rd SEA Games in Thailand. Photo: Organizing Committee

This is the first time that Vietnam Mixed Martial Arts has a tournament within the high-performance sports competition system issued by the Vietnam Sports Administration (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism ). The tournament plays an important role in developing the movement in localities, searching for potential athletes in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA).

In early 2025, the Vietnam Mixed Martial Arts Federation was tasked with developing a plan to prepare athletes to compete at the 33rd SEA Games in Thailand, and especially the 20th ASIAD in Japan in 2026.

The 2025 National Mixed Martial Arts Club Cup will be a premise for the Vietnam Mixed Martial Arts Federation to build a national MMA team, ready for future international tournaments.

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/160-van-dong-vien-tranh-tai-tai-cup-cac-cau-lac-bo-vo-thuat-tong-hop-toan-quoc-709426.html