A tryout session at 1Borneo Hypermall.
KOTA KINABALU: Shoppers at 1Borneo Hypermall yesterday were treated to an action-packed power show when Malaysian Invasion Mixed Martial Arts (MIMMA) Season 2 held their tryout round for the first time here.
More than 70 participants registered for the two-day tryout which continues today at the same venue.
Sabah becomes well known as one of the famous homes for talented MMA fighters when the season 1 MIMMA was won by two Sabahans, namely Adrian Tham in the Heavyweight category and Allen Chong in the Lightweight category.
Tune Talk Warrior and the first ONEFC Malaysian National Featherweight Championship, AJ ‘Pyro’ Lias Mansor and Malaysian female MMA star, Ann Athena Osman also hail from the land below the wind.
“What better place to find MMA talents than in Sabah? The state has already proven that it can produce excellent fighters like Adrian Tham, Allen Chong, AJ Pyro and Ann Osman,” said Tune Talk Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
“There are more talents to be discovered in Sabah and we will make sure those talented ones show up for the tryouts. All we can do is provide a platform and the motivation that these fighters need so that they can make the life changing decision on their own,” he added.
He believed that the MIMMA2 Sabah tryouts will be huge solely based on the MMA alumni that the state currently has.
According to the secretary of Malaysian Mixed Martial Arts Association, Brent Yap, One Borneo witnessed a huge turnout for the tryouts as expected. The event is targeting 100 competitors, and as of yesterday, they have already received over 70 participants.
Brent said that the cost for MIMMA nationwide doubled this year as they intend to reach more states so that more people will participate in the event.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Youth and Sports represented by its officer, P. Ponniah, said that the ministry gives full support to the event as well as the Malaysian Mixed Martial Arts Association.
Ponniah also said that the ministry is suggesting that the association set up a branch in Sabah, so that more people will be involved in mixed martial arts.
“This is not a violent activity, this is a very healthy sport and the ministry gives full support for the event in the State,” he said, adding that Sabah has six 1Malaysia gyms including one in Putatan and one in Sembulan that can be utilized by Sabahans.