The 2nd Asian Mixed Martial Arts Championship were held in Phnom Penh last year. NOCC
Vath Chamroeun, secretary-general of the National Olympic Committee of Cambodia (NOCC), has lauded the decision to include mixed martial arts (MMA) in the Aichi Nagoya Asian Games 2026. He viewed it as positive sign for the promotion of traditional Cambodian martial arts, and suggested it will improve the Kingdom’s potential to compete on the international stage.
The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) and the Aichi Nagoya Asian Games Organising Committee (NINAGOC) announced that MMA would be added to the upcoming 2026 Asian Games in Japan, in a statement shared with the Olympic Committees of OCA members, on March 2.
The announcement shared that next year’s games, which will run from September 19 to October 4, will feature both men’s and women’s MMA competitions.
The modern MMA competition will include weight categories of under 60kg and under 71kg for men, and under 51kg for women, while the traditional MMA competition will feature weight categories of under 65kg and under 77kg for men, and under 60kg for women.
The Kingdom’s fighters secured one gold, five silver and nine bronze medals, placing them 5th out of 15 competing nations. NOCC
Chamroeun, who also serves as president of the Cambodian Mixed Martial Arts Federation, revealed that Cambodia, under the leadership of Prime Minister Hun Manet, has started preparing for the Cambodian Traditional Mixed Martial Arts Championship, which will be held from October 18 to 20, this year.
The event is aimed at preserving and promoting the traditional martial arts which have been passed down from the ancestors of modern Cambodia.
Chamroeun believed that the inclusion of MMA in the 2026 Asian Games will become an essential part of helping develop traditional Cambodian mixed martial arts, as well as encouraging the Kingdom’s martial artists to strengthen their skills and prepare for international competition.
The inclusion of MMA in the Asian Games is a positive sign for our martial arts and helps our traditional national identity.
It will give Cambodian martial artists a chance to compete internationally,” he told The Post on March 4.
“If MMA is eventually included in the Olympic Games, it will open even more opportunities for us because Cambodia has strong potential and resources in combat sports, and we can build world-class athletes in the future,” he added.
He encouraged the Kingdom’s MMA athletes to keep developing their skills so they can earn the opportunity to participate in the Asian Games.
He believed that Cambodian athletes can compete internationally, as evidenced by their recent success in the 2nd Asian Mixed Martial Arts Championship 2024, where they won one gold, 5 silver, and 9 bronze medals, securing 5th place out of 15 participating countries.
“Our MMA team earned gold, silver, and bronze medals from the Asian Mixed Martial Arts Championship, which Cambodia hosted. We need to strengthen our potential and maintain technical proficiency to compete in the upcoming Asian Games,” he continued.
