UFC star Amanda Ribas joins IMMAF Board of Directors
The International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF) has added UFC star Amanda Ribas and Irman Smajic as non-executive members of the Board of Directors.
Amanda and Irman join the IMMAF Board of Directors as athlete representatives with their combined experience as IMMAF champions and professional contenders enabling the IMMAF leadership to benefit from a world class athlete perspective.
Amanda Ribas represented Brazil at the inaugural IMMAF Amateur MMA World Championships in Las Vegas, 2014, winning gold in the flyweight division. She was the first IMMAF champion to enter the top tier of professional MMA and is a current top 10 challenger in the UFC, ranked 9th in the UFC Women’s Flyweight rankings and 7th in the Women’s Strawweight division. She accompanied Team Brazil at the 2023 IMMAF Pan American Championships in Bogota, Colombia, where future IMMAF world champion Guilliany Perea won gold for Brazil in the strawweight tournament.
Heavyweight veteran Irman Smajic is among the most decorated champions in IMMAF history and represented Sweden during the nation’s most successful period on the IMMAF platform to date. He is a two-time heavyweight world champion, in 2016 and 2017, a 2017 Asia Open champion, and won a gold medal in the 2017 European Open super-heavyweight division. As a professional Irman has competed in several standout promotions, including BRAVE CF, and he has been Chairman of the IMMAF Athletes Commission since 2020 with fellow members including UFC Hall of Famer Forrest Griffin, and IMMAF veterans Daniyal Shamkhalov, Colleen Augustin, Veja Hinda, and youth athlete Lariah Gill.
IMMAF President Kerrith Brown welcomes Amanda and Irman, stating: “It is with great pleasure that I extend a warm welcome to Amanda Ribas and Irman Smajic as the newest additions to our Board of Directors, serving as Athlete Representatives. Their dedication to the sport, coupled with their profound insights and experiences, will undoubtedly enrich our discussions and decisions as we continue to advance the mission and vision of IMMAF.
“Amanda Ribas and Irman Smajic bring with them not only a wealth of knowledge from their respective careers but also a passion for their fellow athletes, supporting young talent and the growth and development of mixed martial arts. Their commitment to upholding the values of integrity, respect, and excellence aligns perfectly with the ethos of IMMAF.
“As Athlete Representatives, Amanda and Irman will serve as vital voices, ensuring that the perspectives and needs of our athletes are at the forefront of our deliberations. Their input will be invaluable as we navigate the evolving landscape of MMA and work towards further enhancing the welfare and opportunities for all participants.
Please join me in extending a heartfelt welcome to Amanda Ribas and Irman Smajic. I have no doubt that their contributions will greatly benefit IMMAF and its members.”
Amanda Ribas stated: “As a proud representative of MMA and a former IMMAF world champion, I am thrilled to start this interesting new chapter with the IMMAF Board of Directors. My journey from clinching the women’s flyweight gold medal in 2014 to becoming a professional contender with the UFC has been exhilarating and the journey continues still. I am excited to use my experiences wherever I can to help the interests of athletes worldwide and advance the sport of MMA.”
Irman Smajic stated: “I am glad that I am a part off IMMAF, it feels great to be in such great organisation. I think I can contribute with many things when it comes to athletes because off my background and my time in IMMAF. IMMAF is a great federation and MMA is a young sport that is developing every day and hopefully I can contribute to make it even better in the future.
“Thank you so much for believing in me and giving me this opportunity.”
