Registration is in the final stages for the first Global Mixed Martial Arts Association event to use the fenced-in MMA Arena, which has become a trademark of the professional sport. The MMA Arena will be used for the senior, U18 and U16 competitions, while tatami mats will be used for the younger age categories. Medals will be awarded in two disciplines - Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) and Striking MMA. 

The senior events will be fought under amateur MMA rules and open to all athletes, including those with a professional record, which is sure to make for a highly competitive continental championship.

The first junior athletes will check in on the 12 May and undergo medical checks and weigh-ins. Senior athletes will undergo additional randomised hydration tests as part of their pre-competition requirements. 

GAMMA's return to Europe comes fresh from the federation's first event under the Olympic banner at the African Games in March, where it won inclusion for MMA for the first time. All competitions will be streamed live on the GAMMA YouTube channel and Facebook from 14-19 May. 

The last GAMMA European Championships were held in Georgia in 2022. The 2024 edition is set to be even bigger and will be another highlight in a busy year for GAMMA events, which began in March with the African Games in Ghana. 

GAMMA President Alexander Engelhardt commented, "With the Olympic Games taking place in Paris in less than 100 days, the interest in sporting events, particularly in Europe, is once again at an all-time high and we are delighted to be staging our European Championships in the heart of the continent. Many of our athletes dream of one day competing in MMA at the Olympic Games and if we achieve our long-term vision, it is our young competitors who could be the first MMA athletes to step onto the international, Olympic podium in years to come. 

"Our European Championships are going from strength to strength in terms of the competitiveness and popularity and we look forward to welcoming the best athletes of all ages from across Europe, those who may be competing at one of our events for the first time as well as GAMMA medallists and returning athletes from our previous editions. It promises to be a great event," he concluded. 

The Global Mixed Martial Arts Association (GAMMA) is the governing body for MMA with a vision to develop the amateur and grassroots sport, and lead it to formal international recognition. It provides a global platform for MMA participants through the growth of a safe, inclusive and well-regulated sport that serves as a positive force in communities worldwide, and through the organisation of elite, international amateur competitions. 

Led by President Alexander Engelhardt and headquartered in the Netherlands, GAMMA's membership has grown to include nationally recognised federations across five continents since its inception in 2019. GAMMA is committed to upholding the Olympic values of sportsmanship, excellence and fair play, as well as the martial arts' traditions of discipline, respect and humility.