From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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)
|
Mohamed Said Maalem
|
Sep 16, 2023
|
0
|
Lightweight
|
154 lb (69.9 kg)
|
Keweney Lopes
|
Jan 27, 2024
|
0
|
Featherweight
|
145 lb (65.8 kg)
|
Vacant
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Bantamweight
|
135 lb (61.2 kg)
|
Alfan Rocher-Labes
|
Sep 16, 2023
|
0
|
Flyweight
|
125 lb (56.7 kg)
|
Michael Aljarouj
|
Mar 4, 2023
|
1
|
Light Heavyweight Championship
[
edit
]
- Weight limit: 205 lb (93.0 kg)
No.
|
Name
|
Event
|
Date
|
Defenses
|
1
|
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
|
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
|
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
|
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
|
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
]
External links
[
edit
]
|
---|
Asia
| |
---|
Australia
| Current
|
- XFC (AUS)
- Hex Fight Series
- Eternal MMA
|
---|
Defunct
| |
---|
|
---|
Canada
| |
---|
Europe
| |
---|
Middle East
| |
---|
South Africa
| |
---|
South America
| |
---|
United Kingdom
| |
---|
United States
| |
---|
|