USA Qualifier for IMMAF Youth MMA World Championships & 2022 US National Pankration Championships

May 14, 2022

Hosted by Dan Henderson's Athletic training center

27901 Jefferson Ave., Temecula, CA 92590

2 MMA cage Double Elimination tournament 

Sessions may be spilt to accommodate specific COVID attendance capacity caps if in place at time of tournament

Nearby major airports: Ontario or San Diego.

Tournament will be filmed by A&E network

***HEADGEAR IS REQUIRED IN CALIFORNIA ***

EVENT FEES

Participants $100 or $125 after April 14th

Registration closes May 7th. Some divisions may close earlier depending on entries

Free T-Shirt if Registered by April 9th

Spectators - $20 (Under 4yrs free) CASH PLEASE!

GENERAL INFORMATION

• Only one division per athlete. You can change weight categories up to a week prior to competition. Keep in mind this will be the qualifiing weight for worlds. Do not select a division that requires cutting weight.
• ****An annual USFL Youth Athlete and Youth Coach License is required to participate. You can obtain your license HERE ****
• Have your License available at check in. Can be printed, download or saved on Google pay or Apple wallet. Its fast and simple! See directions
• Please bring hard copy of annual sports physical or letter of clearance to participate in contact sports by doctor to check in.
• RULES - LINK TO U.S. COMPETITION RULES

WEIGH IN / CHECK IN/ GEAR INSPECTION/ PRE-BOUT MEDICAL SCREENINGS:

Bring competition gear to include uniform and proof of medical clearance to check in. 

• Night Prior: Friday May 13th at Venue 4PM - 7PM   
• Late Check in: Saturday at venue 7:30AM - 8:30AM
• Mandatory athlete meeting at 10am for all athletes to ensure brackets are correct, relay info & notify of options to change divisions. Rules meeting to follow. 
• Tournament start time: Estimated 12 noon

AWARDS

Custom Gold, Silver & Bronze Medals for all divisions

National Championship Belts will be available to Champions for Purchase 

Team awards for Top 3 teams 

Format

• This tournament will select the official U.S. Youth team for the 2022 IMMAF World Youth MMA Championships in Abu Dhabi (tentatively set for 1st week of Aug 2022). (World Championship divisions are only for ages 12-17)
• Age for divisions for 8-11yrs are actual age on day of tournament
• Age for divisions 12-17yrs are that of day 1 for the World Championships. Example: if you are 11 but turn 12 by day one of the World Championships in Aug, you will register and compete in the 12/13 year old category. This is regardless of plans to participate in World Championships or not. 
• Athletes 17 yrs at time of National Championships but 18 for world Championships may compete at nationals but not for the World Championships.  
• Non U.S. citizens or those unable to obtain a US passport may compete in national championships but not participate in the world championships as part of Team USA. U.S. Citizens who previously competed as part of another nations national team will not be eligible for U.S. team membership unless they can demonstrate extreme circumstances. 
• Dates for the 2022 IMMAF World Youth MMA Championships to be announced soon. 

COMPETITION FORMATS:

• Bouts will occur in MMA Cages. Two cages will be set up.
• Preliminary bout of Single Round Matches (3 minutes for ages 8-13yrs / 4 minutes for ages 14-17yrs)
• Athletes with only 2 competitors will compete in a single bout of 3 rounds of 2 minus.

• Double elimination w/ loser having a chance to comeback for Bronze/ 3rd (4 or more entries) Not true 1st or true 2nd
• Seeding may occur if enough information on athletes is available. 
• Round Robin- All contestants compete against each other. The following criteria will be used to place entries if a 3 way tie. 1. Most submissions 2. Most Points Earned  (3 entries)
• Single Bout of 3 rounds – If both athletes go straight to finals.
• Uncontested Champions (Single Athlete Divisions) will have the option to move up in weight or age to participate in a 2nd category. (Must be within USFL age and weight parameters)
• NO SPECIAL REQUESTS OR ACCOMMODATIONS OUTSIDE THE LISTED RULES 

NOTE: DO NOT SELECT A WEIGHT CATEGORY THAT REQUIRES ANY FORM OF WEIGHT CUTTING, ESPECIALLY IF YOU INTEND ON PARTICIPATING IN THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS.

AGE & WEIGHT CATEGORIES 

Pounds are Rounded up or down to closest Kilo

Rookie Age Group 8-9yrs as of May 14, 2022

(Boys & Girls Combined)
-50lbs
-55lbs
-60lbs
-65lbs
-70lbs
-80lbs
-90lbs

Novice Age Group 10-11yrs as of May 14, 2022 

(Boys & Girls combined)

-63lbs Email [email protected] to enter this category

-70lbs
-75lbs
-85lbs
-95lbs
-105lbs
-115lbs
-125lbs
-135lbs

WORLD TEAM QUALIFYING AGE GROUPS

Schoolboy/Girl 12 – 13 years old but under 14yrs as of Aug 5, 2022  

Please notify [email protected] of DOB is 1st week of August

(Seperate Male & Female Divisions)
-31kg/ -68lbs
-34kg/ -75lbs
-37kg/ -82lbs
-40kg/ -88lbs
-44kg / -97lbs
-48kg/ -106lbs
-52kg/ -115lbs
-57kg/ -126lbs
+57kg/ to a maximum of 137lbs
Heavyweight (contact [email protected] with weight.) **This is not a World Championships weight group. 

Cadet 14 – 15 years old but under 16yrs as of Aug 5, 2022

Please notify [email protected] of DOB is 1st week of August

(Seperate Male & Female Divisions)
-40 kg/ -88lbs
-44 kg/ -97lbs
-48 kg/ -106lbs
-52 kg/ -115lbs
-57 kg/ -125lbs
-62 kg/ -137lbs
-67 kg/ -148lbs
-72kg/ -159lbs
+72 kg/ to a maximum 170lbs
Heavyweight (Athletes above 170lbs should contact [email protected] with weight. This is not a world championship division

Junior 16-17 years old but under 18yrs as of Aug 5, 2022 (athletes who are 17 but turn 18 before worlds May participate in nationals but not worlds) 

Please notify [email protected] of DOB is 1st week of August

(Male)
Straw weight: -52.2 kg /-115lbs
Flyweight: -56.7 kg /-125lbs
Bantamweight: -61.2 kg /-135lbs
Featherweight: -65.8 kg /-145lbs
Lightweight: -70.3 kg /-155lbs
Welterweight: -77.1 kg /-170lbs
Middleweight: -83.9 kg /-185lbs
Light Heavyweight: -93.0 kg /-205lbs
Heavyweight: -120.2 kg /265lbs

Junior 16-17 years old but under 18yrs as of Aug 5, 2022

Please notify [email protected] of DOB is 1st week of August

(Female)
Atom weight: - 47.7kg /-105lbs
Straw weight: -52.2 kg /-115lbs
Flyweight: -56.7 kg /-125lbs
Bantamweight: -61.2 kg /-135lbs
Featherweight: -65.8 kg /-145lbs
Lightweight: -70.3 kg /-155lbs
Welterweight: 77.1 kg /-170lbs

CHANGING DIVISIONS:

If you need to change divisions after registering and have trouble, please see: https://support.smoothcomp.com/article/89-how-to-change-weightclass-or-cancel

ONLINE TIMELINES FOR BRACKETS: 

Smoothcomp will estimate each athlete’s competition timeline. Please be ready at least 1/2 hr. prior. How to check your timeline: https://support.smoothcomp.com/article/90-find-out-your-dynamic-starting-time

WORLD TEAM POSITIONS

The United States can enter 2 athletes in each age and weight group. 

All Athletes must be U.S. Citizens with ability to get a U.S. passport to compete in the World Championships. 

A deposit for World Championships participation fee will be required to secure position. 

Timely competition of IMMAF paperwork and physical will also be required to secure the world team position. 

USA Team uniform must be purchased

SELECTION CRITERIA: 

1. 1st and 2nd place from the represented division have 1st right of refusal for world team positions in that weight category. 

2. 3rd place has second right of refusal for world team position of the same age/ weight category.

3. Athletes competing in a different weight category at nationals have 4th right of refusal for a world team position in a different weight class under the same selection criteria as #1&2.

4. All other National Championship participants have 5th final right of refusal to fill vacant world team positions under the listed selection criteria. 

Athletes who do not participate in the National Championships/ World Team Selection tournament will not be eligible for a World Team Position.