Kazakhstan won the most golds at the 2022 Asian-Pacific Championships ©GAMMA

The Global Association of Mixed Martial Arts (GAMMA) has revealed that its first international competition of the year will take place in Auckland in New Zealand, which will stage the 2023 Oceania Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) Championships.

More than 200 competitors are expected to participate from Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, New Zealand, Samoa, Tonga and Tuvalu, with other countries still to be confirmed.

This will be the first event organised by GAMMA in Oceania.

In November 2022, the inaugural Asian-Pacific Championships were held in Thailand, where Kazakhstan starred by winning seven golds, eight silvers and two bronzes.

The Oceania Championships will include MMA and striking MMA, as well as a Lumpinee event.

Alexander Engelhardt says providing competitive opportunities for athletes is their main goal ©GAMMA
Alexander Engelhardt says providing competitive opportunities for athletes is their main goal ©GAMMA

Alexander Engelhardt, the GAMMA President, expressed delight over the event coming to Oceania.

"We are very pleased that our member in New Zealand and GAMMA Oceania have been working so well together and are able to host this event," said Engelhardt.

"Providing competitive opportunities for athletes remains our priority and we are looking forward to seeing more athletes from the region attend our World Championships after experiencing the Oceania Championships."

The Oceania Championships will take place from June 9 to 11 at the Due Drop Events Centre.