Photo: Ramsey Cardy/SportsfileDFBellator 217, which takes place on Saturday at the 3Arena in Dublin, will be a huge night for the sport of MMA in Ireland. Sport Ireland does not yet officially recognise the sport’s governing body, the Irish Mixed Martial Arts Association (IMMAA). A year later I was asked by John Treacy, Sport Ireland’s CEO, to draft a report on a possible pathway for recognition of MMA. Sport Ireland can only recognise sports in Ireland (and then fund them). Whatever is decided, MMA in Ireland continues to grow and is here to stay.

Source: Irish Examiner February 21, 2019 00:00 UTC