LUANDA: The National Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) team of Angola is now at the forefront of the International Federation of Mixed Martial Arts (IMMAF) rankings, topping the list of 67 countries as revealed in the latest update on Sunday. According to Angola Press News Agency, the Angolan senior national team has achieved first place with 7366 points, surpassing their previous third-place position in the latest ranking update. This achievement comes as the team gears up for the World Championship of Mixed Martial Arts for juniors and seniors, scheduled to occur from November 5th to 10th at the Arena Humor in Uzbekistan. On the senior ranking podium, Angola is followed by Kazakhstan with 7252 points, and Bahrain with 6970 points. In the junior category, Angola holds the third position, trailing Ukraine, which ranks first, and Tajikistan, occupying the second spot. As part of their preparations in Uzbekistan, the Angolan national team has participated in a doping training session to educate fighters on avoiding pr ohibited substances that enhance sports performance. The Angolan team, comprising 27 athletes, has conducted two training sessions in Uzbekistan to acclimate to the local climate, including an outdoor session at Furqat Bogi park. The team includes notable athletes such as Nkunga Vakanda (bantamweight), Ricardo Pireza (lightweight), Milfa Nicolau and Jones Mabungu (super middleweight), and Nilza Muhanha (atomweight) in the women's category, among others. The senior representation features athletes like Mafuana Mbungu (flyweight), Leonardo Pascoal, Adalberto Ntyamba (bantamweight), and others spanning various weight classes, including middleweight and super heavyweight. Esperança Pereira (flyweight), Maria Liberal (lightweight), and Georgina Ludmila (super lightweight) contribute to the women's division. This participation marks Angola's third appearance at the World Championship event, following their attendance in the 2022 and 2023 editions.
