The English Mixed Martial Arts Association has appointed three new coaches ©EMMAA

The English Mixed Martial Arts Association (EMMAA) has added three new coaches to its ranks, including Paul Kelly, who has been named head coach of the junior and senior teams.

Kelly is the principal chief instructor at the Martial Arts Concepts gym in the West Midlands.

He will be joined in the EMMAA coaching set-up by Andrew Fisher and Christian Smith, who have been named assistant coaches.

"We are delighted that these three highly experienced, high-quality MMA coaches are joining us to work with our junior, youth and senior teams," EMMA President Marc Goddard said.

"Each of them brings extensive experience and will add considerable expertise to our already excellent coaching roster. 

"The fact we now have such a great group of coaches is a reflection of the growing strength of MMA in England.

"We look forward to working with them as we prepare our teams to compete in the many international tournaments on the calendar."

Nur-Sultan is due to stage the IMMAF Junior and Senior World Championships, begining in Novmeber ©IMMAF
Nur-Sultan is due to stage the IMMAF Junior and Senior World Championships, begining in Novmeber ©IMMAF

Smith runs the Resurrection MMA Academy in Sutton-in-Ashfield, while Fisher is in charge of the TFT MMA team from near Sunderland.

They join the EMMAA’s existing national coaches - head youth coach Mark Spencer, assistants Graeme Wheatley, Ryan Thomas and Allan Clarkin, and head of performance Paul Reed.

The EMMAA is affiliated with the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF), and the IMMAF Junior and Senior World Championships will be one if the new coaches' first assignments.

Kazakhstan's capital Nur-Sultan is due to stage the World Championships from November 27 to December 4.