The event is due to take place on January 27 at the Millennium Al Rawdah hotel in Abu Dhabi, during the World Championships in the United Arab Emirates capital.

It will be a black-tie event to honour athletes, coaches, officials and National Federations in amateur and grassroots MMA.

"It's been a challenging year for participants of MMA globally in the face of the pandemic," Brown, an Olympic judo bronze medallist at Los Angeles 1984, said. 

"This year's Awards pays tribute to the commitment and passion of our athletes, coaches and National Federations who have achieved against the odds in progressing the sport despite the closure of gyms and stopping of competitions throughout the period. 

"Although not every national team could attend the three Championships that IMMAF achieved in 2020, new talent emerged while returning athletes showed an increase in their skill level and competitiveness. 

"This is a credit to their tenacity and to the support given by their coaches and Federations. 

"We look forward to reuniting with the IMMAF family and celebrating their tremendous achievements at IMMAF's first in-person Awards in two years."

The awards will crown senior male and female athletes of the year, as well as a junior athlete of the year.

Other categories include newcomer of the year and performance of the year.

The best National Federation of 2021 will also be crowned, with other prizes for member nations the coach education award, the IMMAF grading scheme award, the best in IT award, the best on social media award, the anti-doping education award, the host federation award and the MyNextMatch excellence award.

There will also be a regulatory contribution award and a regulatory excellence award for officials.

The IMMAF World Championships are scheduled to start next Monday (January 24) and conclude on January 29.