E28: Tim Murphy, Irish Mixed Martial Arts Association

This week on All Things MMA, we're turning our attention towards the regulation of the sport in Ireland.

To help with that, we're joined by Tim Murphy, head coach of Point Blank Submissions in Galway, but also the chairperson of the Irish Mixed Martial Arts Association (IMMAA).

We've touched on this subject previously with Andy Ryan but as time ticks along, it's clear that getting a national governing body up and running and officially recognised in order to regulate the sport of MMA in Ireland, all under Sport Ireland, is proving quite difficult.

Following the passing of Joao Carvalho in 2016 in the wake of an MMA show in Ireland, the Coroner's Count recommended the introduction of standardised safety procedures and protocols to MMA events in the country, as well as the establishment of a national governing body.

Four years on from the formation of IMMA, that recognition is still lacking so speak with Tim about why this is the case, what changes have been made surrounding the safety aspects of the sport, club structures and Ireland's participation at international amateur level and what the future looks like with recognition secured.

We begin with what IMMAA is, why they exist and continue by looking at the roadblocks, conflicts with other sports and exploring what support at ground level is like.

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