WAMMA, BAMMA, Thank you Mamma

We recently had the opportunity to have some questions answered by Michael Lynch (COO) in regards to the who, what, when, where and why of WAMMA.  Below are the Q & A with Mike via email.  For more information on WAMMA, check out their website at www.gowamma.com

MMAChump.com: What is WAMMA?

WAMMA: WAMMA is an independent organization that brings a value added proposition to promoters, fighters and the sport as a whole through its neutral, independent rankings and undisputed, world champions. WAMMA derives its revenue from corporate sponsors, not promoters and fighters.

MMAChump.com: What does it mean to us as fans?

WAMMA: By having an undisputed, world champion or champions inside their promotions, promoters will have the opportunity to sell more tickets to events, reap greater PPV revenue and add to the allure and branding of their promotions by having the very best fighters. All this will equate to better promotions, increases in fighter pay and benefits and greater fan appreciation of the significance of a fighter laying claim to an undisputed, world Championship. Once more fighters are crowned WAMMA Champions, more fighters will insist on having the ability to fight for the honor of a WAMMA Championship. For fans, it means seeing more of the very best fighting the best across promotional lines.

MMAChump.com: Were any proposals made to the UFC or other Promotions prior to Affliction?

WAMMA: Yes. Prior to our Championship fight at Affliction: Banned, WAMMA had personal meetings
(in some cases more than one) with the UFC, EliteXC, Strikeforce, M-1 Global and the IFL. The purpose of the meetings were to make introductions, educate the promotions on our independent ranking system and business model (i.e., the fact the WAMMA is not a competitor promotion and does not charge a sanctioning fee or dip into a fighters purse) and finally to discuss some of WAMMA’s goals for the sport keeping with our fighter and fan-forward ideology, such as the development of a fighter pension fund and insurance pool. Across the board, these meetings went very, very well. Even though the UFC is not working with WAMMA at this time, we certainly feel the door was left open for future dialogue.

With Affliction Entertainment, we found a perfect partner for our first WAMMA Championship. The Affliction team is passionate about the sport, is great to work with and are dedicated to signing the very best fighters. Moreover, Affliction promotions are distinguished by highly competitive matchmaking. And, of course, we always had a fight involving our #1 ranked heavyweight Fedor Emelianenko as our choice for WAMMA’s first
Championship fight. Fedor was firmly atop our WAMMA rankings at www.gowamma.com and universally recognized as the top heavyweight in the world. All this came together on July 19th at Affliction: Banned in crowning our first champion. We could not be prouder to have Fedor as our WAMMA Undisputed World Heavyweight Champion.

MMAChump.com: UFC fails to acknowledge the WAMMA titles, does this mean that title holders are not
actually the champions of the world? What does the refusal of UFC to adopt WAMMA mean?

WAMMA: From the casual fan to the MMA die-hard, everyone agrees the UFC is the dominant MMA promotion. The UFC has the vast majority of the top fighters in the world. Everyone owes the UFC a tremendous debt of gratitude for where they have taken the sport. We have nothing but respect for the UFC and do hope that we work with them in the future. With that being said, there can be no argument that we don’t have a true, undisputed world champion in Fedor Emelianenko. Fedor cemented his place as the greatest heavyweight in the sport and perhaps the greatest MMA fighter of all time.

One of the primary functions of WAMMA is to help facilitate the best fighters fighting the best, regardless of promotional affiliation – in short, the fights the fans want to see.  WAMMA will always be very selective of matches that warrant a WAMMA Championship. It all comes down to our rankings, and are goal will always be to do our best to see #1 fight #2. For example, WAMMA would have been honored to award the winner of GSP v. Fitch or Jackson v. Griffin with a WAMMA Championship. But since the UFC is not cooperating with WAMMA at this time the fighters could not accept the WAMMA belt or title. No one will be happier than I when the day comes when within the UFC entirely (or by way of cross promotion with another organization) we can see a UFC promotional Championship be contested along side a WAMMA Undisputed World Championship.

MMAChump.com: When will we see another WAMMA Belt Match (excluding Fedor defending title)? Could
it be in another promotion other than affliction?

WAMMA: Very soon, and yes it could be very well outside the Affliction Entertainment promotion. With incredible fighters like Lindland, Lawler, Shields, Gomi, Yamamoto, Hansen and Alvarez, just to name a few, all fighting for promotions cooperating with WAMMA, don’t be surprised to see a WAMMA Championship fight in a division outside of the heavyweights in early 2009 and several more throughout that year.

MMAChump.com: WAMMA doesn’t recognize Bantamweight fighters in their ranking, why? Would you ever
consider adding them?

WAMMA: With WAMMA, our goal has always been slow and steady development. When WAMMA was first
established in November 2007, our Ranking Board consisted of 10 members. At that time, we did not feel that there was enough pollsters to adequately represent voting on a Bantamweight division. With the help of the excellent contribution of our Ranking Committee Chair Sam Caplan, we now have expanded our Ranking Committee to over 23 members, and I would expect to see the addition of a Bantamweight division by the end of 2008 or early 2009.

MMAChump.com: WAMMA doesn?t have Pound for Pound Rankings, Why? Would you ever consider compiling them?

WAMMA: As a die-hard fan myself, I personally enjoy Pound for Pound Rankings. They are lots of fun and allow fans to compare fighters who, due to body type, can’t compete on a level playing field. But, at this juncture in our business model, WAMMA feels it is important stay focused on crowning our weight class champions and moving our Fighter Advisory Board, chaired by our WAMMA VP Pat Miletich and Randy “The Natural” Couture, into high gear. So, WAMMA Pound for Pound WAMMA Rankings are unlikely for this year. However, they are on the agenda for 2009.

MMAChump.com: What role do you see your organization playing in the sport of MMA in 1 year, 5
years, and 10 years from now?

WAMMA: WAMMA fully intends to invest back into MMA and grow alongside this tremendous sport. Within 1 years time, WAMMA will have crowned Undisputed WAMMA Champions in most weight divisions and the title of a WAMMA Champion will have become synonymous with the very best fighter in his or her weight class.  Within 5 years, in addition to our WAMMA Championships, WAMMA will have an active, fully monetized fighter pension plan and insurance pool, as well as a very active involvement in amateur MMA. In 10 years, the sky is the limit for WAMMA and the sport of MMA!

MMAChump.com: When will we see WAMMA again?

WAMMA: WAMMA is involved in an incredible night of fights at Affliction: Day of Reckoning on October 11th in Las Vegas at the Thomas & Mack Center. The main PPV event is a showdown between Andre Arlovski and Josh Barnett. This fight has been sanctioned as a WAMMA Heavyweight Elimination Match. In addition to the Arlovski/Barnett match, the card is star-studded with some of the best talent and match-ups in the sport today. It is a must-see for any fan.

Mike and WAMMA would like to thank all the users that submitted questions to be answered.  Fans can also continue the dialogue individually by heading to our official website at www.gowamma.com and using the
“Ask Mike” feature to submit questions directly to Mike Lynch.

Last 3 posts by Mat Houchens

• Gina Carano is Back! Carano vs Cyborg August 15
• Kimbo Slice on TUF 10
• Affliction 3 Press Conference June 1

Similar Posts

• January WAMMA Rankings (Before Affliction DoR)
• Questions for WAMMA?
• Affliction Will Use 2008 Unified MMA Rules