Albanian Mixed Martial Arts Federation
| Federata Shqiptare e Arteve Marciale Mikse | |
 | |
| Sport | Mixed martial arts |
|---|---|
| Jurisdiction | Albania |
| Abbreviation | AMMAF |
| Founded | 2012[1] |
| Affiliation | IMMAF |
| Affiliation date | January 2016[2] |
| Headquarters | Tirana |
| President | Arjan Rizaj[3] |
| Official website | |
| www | |
The Albanian Mixed Martial Arts Federation (AMMAF; Federata Shqiptare e Arteve Marciale Mikse, ALBMMAF) is the national governing body for mixed martial arts (MMA) in Albania. It is based in Tirana and is affiliated with the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF).[3] The federation was previously known in Albanian as Federata Shqiptare e Ndeshjes së Lirë (FSHNL), a name often translated in English-language sources as the Albanian Free Fighting Federation.[2][4]
AMMAF organises and promotes MMA competitions, training and club activity in Albania. Its activities are connected with several combat-sport disciplines used in MMA, including boxing, wrestling, kickboxing, Brazilian jiu-jitsu and other martial arts.[1] In 2022 it was accepted as a member of the Albanian National Olympic Committee (KOKSH), and the committee's list of sports federations includes the federation under its former Albanian name.[5][4]
History
Foundation and early development
AMMAF states that it was founded in 2012 with three clubs, later expanding to ten member clubs and more than fifty organised activities.[1] The federation's early development was associated with Arjan Rizaj, who has served as its president and head coach.[3][6]
In January 2016, IMMAF announced that the Albanian Free Fighting Federation had become its fiftieth member since IMMAF's launch in 2012. IMMAF described the Albanian body as recognised by the Albanian Ministry of Sport as the national governing body for MMA and stated that it represented MMA gyms and participants in Albania.[2] According to the same announcement, the federation had organised twelve championship events under the unified rules of MMA and Albania had nearly 500 practitioners and 30 officials at the time.[2]
International participation
After joining IMMAF, Albanian athletes began appearing in international amateur MMA competitions. At the 2017 IMMAF World Championships in Manama, Bahrain, Albanian athletes Florian Doskja and Ermal Hadribeaj won bronze medals in the men's bantamweight and men's lightweight divisions respectively.[7] IMMAF reported that Ilir Latifi, a Swedish-Albanian UFC fighter, supported the Albanian team during the event, while Rizaj described the result as important progress for the national team.[7]
Hadribeaj's athlete profile in IMMAF's database lists him as representing Albania and records his bronze medal at the 2017 World Championships in the men's lightweight category.[8] IMMAF later described Hadribeaj as an Albanian representative in amateur MMA during 2016 and 2017 before his later transition to professional boxing.[9]
Domestic recognition and media cooperation
In July 2019, IMMAF reported that Rizaj had met with executives of RTSH, Albania's public radio and television broadcaster, and that a cooperation agreement had been signed between RTSH and FSHNL-MMA to promote MMA and support the sport's national development.[10]
In 2022, the federation was accepted as a member of the Albanian National Olympic Committee. IMMAF reported that the acceptance was voted on unanimously at the KOKSH assembly and that Rizaj attended the meeting together with Ilir Latifi.[11] Albanian sports outlet Panorama Sport also reported that KOKSH admitted the Federata Shqiptare e Ndeshjes së Lirë as one of two new members at the assembly.[5]
2023 IMMAF World Championships in Tirana
In November 2023, Albania hosted the IMMAF World Championships in Tirana. The event took place at the Tirana Olympic Park from 20 to 25 November 2023 and included senior and junior tournaments.[12] IMMAF stated that the championships were hosted by the Albanian MMA Federation and marked the second time that the event had been held in Europe.[12]
Name and statute changes
The federation later adopted the Albanian name Federata Shqiptare e Arteve Marciale Mikse (Albanian Mixed Martial Arts Federation), while older sources and KOKSH listings continued to use Federata Shqiptare e Ndeshjes së Lirë.[13][4] In its 2024 annual report, published on its website, the federation described the change as part of a process of unifying MMA disciplines and adapting its statute to Albania's newer sports-law framework.[13]
Organisation
AMMAF is headquartered in Tirana and is led by president Arjan Rizaj.[3] The federation's website lists member clubs including Albania Fight Club MMA, Tirona MMA, Progress MMA Teuta Durrës and Vllaznia MMA Shkodër, as well as roles connected with physiotherapy and refereeing.[1]
Internationally, AMMAF is listed by IMMAF as Albania's national federation for mixed martial arts.[3] Domestically, KOKSH lists the federation among Albanian sports federations under the name Federata Shqiptare e Ndeshjes së Lirë.[4]
Activities
The federation's main activities include the promotion of MMA clubs, the organisation of national events and the preparation of athletes for international amateur competitions. IMMAF's 2016 announcement stated that Albanian championship events were organised under the unified rules of MMA and covered male and female weight categories and different age groups.[2]
Albanian media have reported on federation-backed domestic events. In 2021, BalkanWeb reported that the federation organised a public MMA event in central Durrës, near the municipality building, describing it as one of the largest MMA events organised in Albania at that time.[14]
The federation has also been involved in anti-doping and coaching certification through IMMAF structures. In 2020, Albanian media reported that Rizaj was among more than 100 IMMAF head coaches certified through a WADA online education programme connected with clean sport and anti-doping information.[6]
Funding and institutional issues
The federation has publicly raised concerns about the level of state support for MMA in Albania. In an interview with Panorama Sport, Rizaj said the federation had organised annual activities but had not received state funding, and argued that MMA deserved financial support similar to other sports federations.[15] The same article reported that Rizaj had complained about difficulties in obtaining full institutional recognition and support, despite the federation's tax and organisational status.[15]
See also
References
- 1 2 3 4 "Federata Shqiptare e Arteve Marciale Mikse (AMMAF)". AMMAF (in Albanian). Retrieved 8 July 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "IMMAF's Reaches 50 Members with Albanian Free Fighting Federation". International Mixed Martial Arts Federation. 10 January 2016. Retrieved 8 July 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "National Federations". International Mixed Martial Arts Federation. Retrieved 8 July 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 "Federatat". Komiteti Olimpik Kombëtar Shqiptar (in Albanian). Retrieved 8 July 2026.
- 1 2 Lleshaj, Artin. "KOKSH mban Asamblenë, KAS-i në rend dite rikthen FSHF-në në Komitetin Olimpik". Panorama Sport (in Albanian). Retrieved 8 July 2026.
- 1 2 "Komando Arjan Rizaj, çertifikatë ndërkombëte si kryetrajner i Arteve Marciale të Përziera". Syri.net (in Albanian). 22 July 2020. Retrieved 8 July 2026.
- 1 2 "Ilir Latifi proud to be part of Team Albania at IMMAF World Championships". International Mixed Martial Arts Federation. 29 November 2017. Retrieved 8 July 2026.
- ↑ "Ermal Hadribeaj". International Mixed Martial Arts Federation. 8 June 2021. Retrieved 8 July 2026.
- ↑ "Former IMMAF Medallist Earns Boxing World Title Shot". International Mixed Martial Arts Federation. 26 May 2026. Retrieved 8 July 2026.
- ↑ "Albanian Federation Teams with National Broadcaster in Partnership to Develop MMA". International Mixed Martial Arts Federation. 29 July 2019. Retrieved 8 July 2026.
- ↑ "Albanian Free Fighting Federation Accepted as a Member of the Albanian National Olympic Committee". International Mixed Martial Arts Federation. 30 May 2022. Retrieved 8 July 2026.
- 1 2 "2023 IMMAF World Championships". International Mixed Martial Arts Federation. 12 October 2023. Retrieved 8 July 2026.
- 1 2 "Federata Shqiptare e Arteve Marciale Mikse: Asambleja". AMMAF (in Albanian). Retrieved 8 July 2026.
- ↑ "Ndeshje të MMA në mes të Durrësit, dueli kryesor që do të zhvillohet më 20 gusht". BalkanWeb (in Albanian). Retrieved 8 July 2026.
- 1 2 "MMA në Shqipëri, Arjan Rizaj: Asnjë mbështetje, shteti po na shpërfill! Meritojmë fond si të tjerët". Panorama Sport (in Albanian). Retrieved 8 July 2026.