MMA Grand Prix

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MMA Grand Prix
Sport Mixed martial arts
Founded 2020 ; 4 years ago  ( 2020 ) [1]
Founder Abdel Khaznadji
Eric Konako Faubert [2] [3]
Owner(s) Fight Sport Management [4]
Headquarters Vitry-sur-Seine ,
Val-de-Marne , France [1]
TV partner(s) Sport en France
RMC Sport
Official website mmagrandprix.com

MMA Grand Prix , often abbreviated MMA GP , is a professional mixed martial arts promotion based in Vitry-sur-Seine , Val-de-Marne , France . [1]

History [ edit ]

MMA Grand Prix was created in 2020, upon the legalization of MMA's internationally accepted rules (which include ground strikes) by the French government. Their first card was held on 8 October of that year, in presence of French Minister of Sports Roxana Maracineanu . [5] It was the first organization to present MMA in France under its complete ruleset. [4] It is sanctioned by the French Mixed Martial Arts Federation, a subsidiary of the French Boxing Federation , which has been accredited by the Ministry of Sports to regulate the activity. [6]

Co-founder Eric Konako Faubert is a London-based promoter for Muay Thai Grand Prix, an international thai boxing promotion, with whom MMA Grand Prix shares common branding. [2]

The promotion's first card held outside of the Paris region , The Last of the Kings in Le Havre , featured a comeback fight from veteran kickboxer turned mixed martial artist Jerome Le Banner . It served as a tribute to Le Banner's training partner and Le Havre mayor Edouard Philippe who, during his term as prime minister , was responsible for the legalization of French MMA. [7] [8] It was Le Banner's first MMA fight outside of Japan. [9]

Champions [ edit ]

Current MMA Grand Prix champions [ edit ]

Men's division Upper weight limit Champion Since Title Defenses
Light Heavyweight 205 lb (93.0 kg) Algeria Mohamed Said Maalem Sep 16, 2023 0
Lightweight 154 lb (69.9 kg) Brazil Keweney Lopes Jan 27, 2024 0
Featherweight 145 lb (65.8 kg) Vacant N/A N/A
Bantamweight 135 lb (61.2 kg) France Alfan Rocher-Labes Sep 16, 2023 0
Flyweight 125 lb (56.7 kg) France Michael Aljarouj Mar 4, 2023 1

Light Heavyweight Championship [ edit ]

Weight limit: 205 lb (93.0 kg)
No. Name Event Date Defenses
1 Algeria Mohamed Said Maalem
def. Yann Kouadja
MMA GP: Kouadja vs Maalem
Le Grand-Saconnex, France
Sep 16, 2023

Lightweight Championship [ edit ]

Weight limit: 154 lb (69.9 kg)
No. Name Event Date Defenses
1 Brazil Keweney Lopes
def. Mathias Poiron
JSC 1
Nimas, France
Jan 27, 2024

Featherweight Championship [ edit ]

Weight limit: 145 lb (65.8 kg)
No. Name Event Date Defenses
1 France Alioune Nahaye
def. Ariston Franca
MMA Grand Prix 4
Paris, France
Oct 14, 2021
Nahaye vacated.

Bantamweight Championship [ edit ]

Weight limit: 135 lb (61.2 kg)
No. Name Event Date Defenses
1 France Alfan Rocher-Labes
def. Deiby Tachon
MMA GP: Kouadja vs Maalem
Le Grand-Saconnex, France
Sep 16, 2023

Flyweight Championship [ edit ]

Weight limit: 125 lb (56.7 kg)
No. Name Event Date Defenses
1 France Michael Aljarouj
def. Ezzoubair Bouarsa
MMA GP: Doumbe vs Klimas
Paris, France
Mar 4, 2023

1. def. Liridon Ramani at JSC 1 on Jan 27, 2024

Notable fighters [ edit ]

Media [ edit ]

Select MMA GP shows, including the company's inaugural card, have aired on the UFC Fight Pass . [2] In May 2022, the promotion inked its first television deal with Sport en France . However, French media authority CSA still bans MMA broadcasts before 10:30 pm, forcing some fights to be shown on tape delay. [6] MMA GP made its premium TV debut with a 17 December 2022 card from Bordeaux , which was broadcast on RMC Sport 2 . [11]

References [ edit ]

  1. ^ a b c "Fight Sport Management" . pagesjaunes.fr . 7 February 2021 . Retrieved 6 September 2022 .
  2. ^ a b c Duseaux, Guillaume (8 October 2020). "Le MMA debarque en France : focus sur le premier evenement a Vitry-sur-Seine" . radiofrance.fr . Retrieved 6 September 2022 .
  3. ^ Maitre, Jean-Baptiste (8 October 2020). "MMA. Qui sont les deux hommes a l'origine de la premiere soiree officielle en France ?" . ouest-france.fr . Retrieved 6 September 2022 .
  4. ^ a b Godefroy, Greg (15 September 2020). "MMA : les premiers combats officiels en France auront lieu en octobre" . radiofrance.fr . Retrieved 6 September 2022 .
  5. ^ Lalanne, Gaspard (9 October 2020). "MMA GP : Le tout premier evenement de MMA en France" . actumma.com . Retrieved 31 December 2022 .
  6. ^ a b Saison 4 : Les annonces (in French). Sport en France . 22 September 2022. Event occurs at 44m44s . Retrieved 3 October 2022 .
  7. ^ Desaint, Benoit (3 June 2022). "Jerome Le Banner fait des confidences sur 'la bonne droite' d'Edouard Philippe avant son combat au MMA GP" . gentside.com . Retrieved 6 September 2022 .
  8. ^ Le Coz, Yohann (3 June 2022). "Jerome Le Banner : 'J'espere qu'il va bien me casser la gueule une bonne fois pour toutes' " . eurosport.fr . Retrieved 6 September 2022 .
  9. ^ " 'Geronimo' Jerome Le Banner" . tapology.com . Retrieved 5 October 2022 .
  10. ^ a b c d e "Mixed Martial Arts Grand Prix" . tapology.com . Retrieved 6 September 2022 .
  11. ^ Angelini, Olivier (15 December 2022). "MMA GP : Doumbe vs Burillon ? Quelle heure, quelle chaine ?" . boxemag.com . Retrieved 31 December 2022 .

External links [ edit ]