5 November 2025

NZMMAF joins United World Wrestling – and makes history in Greece

The New Zealand Mixed Martial Arts Federation (NZMMAF) has officially joined United World Wrestling (UWW) — a historic step forward for the sport in Aotearoa. The affiliation connects New Zealand’s MMA community to a globally recognised structure under the same international body that governs wrestling and Pankration, both ancient Olympic disciplines.

To mark the milestone, NZMMAF has sent New Zealand’s first-ever U20 amateur MMA team to compete at the UWW Pankration and Amateur MMA World Championships in Loutraki, Greece (5–9 November 2025). The event brings together U15, U17, and U20 athletes from around the world and follows UWW’s inaugural senior Amateur MMA World Championships held in Serbia earlier this year.

This affiliation officially recognises NZMMAF as the only national body governing Pankration and Amateur MMA in New Zealand, as certified by United World Wrestling in August 2025.

The recognition establishes a clear and credible pathway for athletes, coaches, and officials — from grassroots development to international representation. The milestone also forms part of NZMMAF’s wider organisational review and reform programme, which has focused on strengthening governance, international partnerships, and athlete development pathways to position New Zealand MMA for long-term growth and recognition on the world stage.

“To have our first team competing in Greece, where the Olympics began, under the UWW banner — that’s huge,” said NZMMAF President Terry Hill. “This partnership gives our athletes a recognised pathway and helps put New Zealand amateur MMA back on the global map.”

The partnership with UWW represents a major step toward NZMMAF’s long-term vision of creating safe, structured, and internationally aligned pathways for the sport. It also strengthens the Federation’s commitment to integrity, athlete welfare, and the development of combat sports across Aotearoa.

Read the full media release: Download here