Asian MMA Takes Center Stage at the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya

In a landmark development for combat sports, the Asian MMA Association—established in December 2022—has successfully qualified for the 2026 Asian Games, signaling a new era for Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) in the region. The 20th Aichi-Nagoya Summer Asian Games, scheduled to take place in Nagoya, Japan, from September 19 to October 4, 2026, will feature MMA as an official sport, marking a historic inclusion approved unanimously by the Asian Olympic Council (OCA) Executive Committee in Harbin, China.

According to reports, the OCA Sports Council declared in Kuwait in August 2022 that they support the rapid growth of MMA, while opting not to partner with existing international MMA organizations. Instead, member countries of the OCA are encouraged to form their own MMA federations and join the soon-to-be-created Asian MMA Association (AMMA), which held its inaugural meeting in Singapore on December 31, 2022.

The new MMA competition at the Asian Games will feature six weight classes—three each for men and women. The categories are divided into modern and traditional formats:

Men’s Modern: 60kg and 71kg
Men’s Traditional: 65kg and 77kg
Women’s Modern: 54kg
Women’s Traditional: 60kg

A key distinction between traditional and modern MMA lies in the uniform: traditional MMA competitors wear robes that allow techniques such as catching, throwing, and using the collar, whereas modern MMA athletes sport fight shorts paired with a sleeveless rash guard for men and a long-sleeved version for women. All competitors are required to wear mouthguards, gloves weighing at least 4 ounces (0.11 kg), and shin guards—with male athletes additionally donning a cystic brace.

The momentum behind this initiative is further driven by the tireless efforts of the Asian MMA Association. In Korea, for instance, the Korea MMA Federation, led by Chairman Oh Jun-hyuk, is a proud member of the organization. Impressively, AMMA achieved qualification for the Asian Games in just 769 days (2 years, 1 month, and 7 days) since its inception, with the Aichi-Nagoya competition set to open 1,359 days (3 years, 8 months, and 20 days) after the organization was founded.

Gordon Tang Kang, a 58-year-old sports leader from Cambodia and president of the Asian MMA Association, plays a dual role in this transformation. As an executive member of the OCA and vice chairman of Future Games—as well as chairman of e-sports, martial arts, and mind sports at the Asian Olympic Council—Tang Kang is poised to lead both AMMA and OCA into a new frontier of integrated combat sports.

From the OCA’s perspective, the inclusion of MMA—once considered unrelated to the traditional Asian Games—is a bold step towards embracing Future Games and modern martial arts. Through the Nagoya competition, Tang Kang is set to serve simultaneously as AMMA president and OCA vice chairman and standing chairman, reinforcing his pivotal role in shaping the future of the sport.

MASTKD is proud to bring this exclusive update, highlighting a historic moment that will redefine the landscape of combat sports in Asia. With the integration of MMA into the 2026 Asian Games, the region is on the cusp of a revolution—one that promises to bring innovative competition, enhanced athletic development, and a new global stage for fighters from every corner of Asia.