MMA: Third season of MIMMA draws massive turnout at tryouts

The tryouts for the third season of Malaysian Invasion Mixed Martial Arts Fighting Championship (MIMMA3) saw almost 1,500 amateur fighters putting their skill to the test.

After touring four states, the world's largest amateur mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion held its fifth and final tryout for this season at Paradigm Mall, Petaling Jaya, Selangor last weekend.

More ruthless and prepared compared to last year, the participants for this year's tryouts packed up some intense action inside the cage while impressing the judges.

MIMMA in a statement said they owe it to the huge number of good MMA gyms for the high concentration of MMA talents in the Klang Valley.

Apart from the usual seven categories, the introduction of two new categories, Female Division and Foreign Pride Division, have attracted more than 60 female participants and a large number of amateur foreign fighters with the goal of becoming the first champions for each category.

Tune Talk CEO and MIMMA co-founder, Jason Lo said the rising popularity for female fighters in the country has prompted them to introduce a female category for season 3.

“This year, we have also decided to introduce two new categories to further expand the immensity of the invasion. Last season, a good number of female fighters came to the tryouts and we all know, the public goes crazy for female fights.

"It seems apt to introduce a female category for season 3 as the country is in dire need of female MMA fighters.

"The MMA scene will not be complete without female fighters to continue the legacy of our very own Malaysian MMA Princess and Tune Talk Warrior, Ann Osman," said Lo.

Besides that, he said the introduction of the Foreign Pride category is a way to boost local fighters to train harder as the standards have now been lifted to a higher level.

“With the inclusion of these 2 new categories, we hope it will further drive the already rapid development of the sport in our country.

"Globally we have established ourselves as the biggest amateur fighting championship and we are not planning to be comfortable with the stature," he added.

Klang Valley on Saturday and Sunday has witnessed the biggest gathering of amateur fighters in Asia if not the world, with one goal in mind - to become the next MIMMA champion.

112 local fighters who have displayed exceptional striking, submission and grappling ability, will be selected to move on to the Ladder Match scheduled on May 16 and 17.

Apart from winning RM150,000 in prizes, the champions will be given exposure to enhance their MMA career.

MIMMA is the brainchild of Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin and Jason Lo with the objective of developing the MMA scene in Malaysia by focusing on the grassroots level in order to create a stronger base for the sport locally with the hope of one day producing a world champion.

The past two seasons of MIMMA saw the emergence of notable fighters such as Keannu Subba, Prabu Somanaidu, Allen Chong, Muhammad Aiman, and newcomers like policeman Muhammad Hasrul Abd Rasyid and young fighters, Agilan Thani and Jenarten Radhakrishnan.