NAIROBI, April 5 (Xinhua) -- Kenya has become the latest country where an American martial arts sport has been introduced.
Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) popularly known as Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) will join over 80 other sporting disciplines with a presence in the East African nation.
"We have already applied for formal recognition by the relevant authorities and the request has received a positive response from the Sports Registrar," Alice Omayo, an official of a local entertainment company, who are coordinating activities related to the game in the country, said on Thursday.
MMA is a full-contact combat that allows both striking and grappling of an opponent, both standing and on the ground by using techniques from other combat sports and martial arts.
Omayo said they have lined up a number of activities including a world championship bout on Jun. 3.
"Our launching pad will happen on April 21 in Nairobi when we stage bouts for women combatants. After that we shall be holding bouts every Sunday as to identify potential exponents for the World Championships," she said.
Omayo said they are working with Macharia Muhoho, an MMA exponent who is back in the country from the United States where he participated in Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Macharia will be assisted by foreign instructors to conduct training for judges, referees and coaches to popularize the game and build its technical capacity.
"This is one of the fastest growing sports in the world which celebrated international boxers are considering taking up and I am sure it will spread like wildfire in Kenya as we endeavor to take to spread it across the country," Macharia said.
Robert Nabertson, East and Central Africa's welterweight champion in Muathay, a martial arts sport with origins in Thailand, has expressed interest in joining the new sport and said he will vie for a world title berth during the June 3 Ultimate Fighting Championship.