On December 15 in Riga took place the long-awaited event in the world of single combats – the First official Championship of Latvia on MMA which organizer there was the Latvian MMA (LMMAA) Association .
The championship was held by amateur rules of the MMA World Association, about 10 clubs participated in the championship from Riga, Jürmala, Madonna, Tsesis and Valmiyera.
The president of LMMAA Vyacheslav Semenkov in interview to representatives of mass media noted: "... The championship of Latvia took place under the auspices of WMMAA (MMA World Association), and became the main event of leaving 2013 for the clubs of Latvia practicing mixed single combats of MMA. We managed to bring together fighters from different regions of the country and to play all six sets of medals in all weight categories. Unfortunately, date of holding the championship of Latvia coincided with date of carrying out a cup-final of the World on MMA which passed in Baku, for this reason on our Championship there couldn't arrive guests of honor from the MMA World Association, but during negotiations we got from WMMAA approval and support for holding our championship. Moreover, we plan to advance fighters of our Association for participation in the MMA international tournaments, both among fans and among professionals. Agreements on participation of our fighters in Show TV in Russia and in Ukraine are reached. MMA association of Latvia closely cooperates with Global M-1, and also with the professional combative organizations Fight Nights and with SPB Fighters. All this opens excellent prospects for adequately proved fighters, members of our organization".
The Prize-winner of the Olympic Games on Judo and the participant of four Olympic Games - Vsevolod Zelyony was the guest of honor of the championship. It represented the Martial Arts Baltic company which acted as the General sponsor Chempionat. This company is the official representative of Adidas and Green Hill in Baltic.
In interview after competitions Vsevolod shared the impressions about the seen. He noted: "… .sorevnovaniye passed at high organizational level, and athletes showed good duels and showed a resistant fighting spirit".
Champions of each weight category were expected by a surprise – gifts from the general sponsor. Awards and gifts to winners handed over: the prize-winner of the Olympic Games on judo Vsevolod Zeleny, both the World champion in Pankration and the President of the Latvian Federation Pankrationa - Sergey Domnin.
The first Champions of Latvia on MMA became: Vitaly Melnikov (to 65,8 kg), Vyacheslav Belyaev (to 70,3 kg), Sergey Gulakov (over 93 kg) – SK "Sparta"; Didzis Verbitskis (to 77,1 kg) – SK "JD Gym", Dzintars Chich (to 84 kg) – SK "Profesionālis", Artis Rod (to 93 kg) – SK "Latvian Top Fighters". In a team competition the Sparta club got the main cup, the second place at "Latvian Top Fighters", the third at SK "Profesionālis".
This year the Latvian MMA Association became the full member of the MMA (WMMAA) World Association which honourable President is the glorified athlete Fedor Emelyanenko. In the summer of this year athletes of LMMAA for the first time participated in the European championship, and in the fall, in the World Cup. Their participation became possible, including thanks to support which was given by the Martial Arts Baltic company.
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