Justin Brown, The founder of GAMMA USA
The path to Olympic recognition for Mixed Martial Arts has been long, complex, and often overlooked. But for Justin Brown—the founder of GAMMA USA and one of the sport’s most tireless advocates—it’s been nothing short of a personal mission.
What started as a grassroots effort, organizing small regional tournaments across the country, has now exploded into a legitimate international movement backed by one of the most powerful Olympic governing bodies in the world.
Justin Brown’s journey began in the trenches—running early events in Wisconsin, Kansas, Texas, and Tennessee. These weren’t just tournaments—they were blueprints for what would eventually become the national structure for Youth MMA and Pankration in the United States. In 2023, he host the first-ever U18 International Youth MMA Tournament
The United States Federation of Mixed Martial Arts
Justin Brown, the founder of the United States Federation of Mixed Martial Arts (dba GAMMA USA), has played a pivotal role in shaping the landscape of combat sports in the country. As the sole recognized governing body for Pankration (Youth) and now also Amateur MMA (18+) under the United World Wrestling (UWW) platform, GAMMA USA is committed to fostering growth and inclusivity within these sports.
United World Wrestling is a full IOC-recognized world governing body for Olympic Wrestling and associated styles, which reinforces GAMMA USA’s dedication to adhering to international standards. The organization aims to work closely with UWW to ensure that Amateur MMA is fully included in prestigious events such as the Olympic Games and PanAmerican Games. With discussions already underway with the US Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC), GAMMA USA is preparing to apply for recognition when the application window reopens in 2026.
GAMMA USA has revamped Pankration under UWW
In addition to its efforts towards Olympic inclusion, GAMMA USA has revamped Pankration under UWW, aligning it with current youth MMA development programs across America.
In alignment with UWW’s provisions, GAMMA USA aims to foster growth in mixed martial arts within the United States while working towards full inclusion of Amateur MMA in prestigious events like the Olympic Games and Pan American Games. Although our International Federation is already recognized by the IOC, our next critical step involves applying for recognition under the US Olympic Committee. We have initiated discussions with the USOPC to facilitate this process, with an application window set to reopen in 2026.
The sport of Pankration has undergone a comprehensive reorganization under UWW, ensuring that it aligns seamlessly with existing Youth MMA development programs across the country. Excitingly, we are preparing for notable upcoming events: The inaugural UWW Pankration World Championship for athletes under 18 will be held in Greece around October/November, while Novi Sad, Serbia will host both the inaugural UWW Amateur MMA World Championships (for ages 18+) from October 17-19 and Grappling World Championships on October 15-16. For specific details regarding rulesets and event information related to grappling competitions, we encourage interested parties to reach out directly to USA Grappling.
