LION Championship and the new wave of martial arts among young Vietnamese

This is no longer a surprise when in many recent MMA events, the stands are constantly full, creating a bustling atmosphere that has long been only seen at football matches.

Steady steps

With its special appeal, MMA is gradually becoming one of the most attractive recreational sports in Vietnam. Not simply a competition, MMA is transforming into a sports industry with significant economic value and cultural influence.

In the development trend of global sports , where competition, speed and tactics are emphasized, MMA has emerged as a new choice for young people. In Vietnam, the development of MMA in recent years is associated with the LION Championship system - a professional tournament, organized periodically by the Vietnam MMA Federation (VMMAF) from 2022.

2025 marks a new step forward when there are 9 LION Championship events held consecutively from April to December, a rare high competition density in domestic martial arts. Each month there is a tournament, each event attracts thousands of spectators and dozens of fighters from clubs across the country, affirming the clear growth of the professional MMA movement.

Along with the professional quality, the commercial value of MMA events is also affirmed. Ticket prices range from 200,000 VND for regular stands, to 500,000 VND for floor seats and up to 800,000 VND for VIP stands and most are sold out before the competition day.

This opens up opportunities to exploit many sources of revenue from admission tickets, brand sponsorship, broadcasting rights to products accompanying the tournament. Not only attracting martial arts fans, MMA has also become a destination for investors and media units looking for a modern sports entertainment model.

LION Championship is not only a playground for talented young fighters but also a testament to the professionalization of mixed martial arts in Vietnam. With a diverse system of competition formats - from MMA Pro (single combat), MMA Striking (standing combat), MMA Duo (2 vs. 2 duels) to MMA Gauntlet (3 vs. 3 rounds), the tournament has created a rich picture of skills, tactics and competitive spirit.

In particular, the Duo format has attracted great attention from viewers thanks to its high level of teamwork and ability to create surprising and attractive scenarios. The performances of Vietnamese boxer pairs in recent matches have shown clear progress in skills, tactical thinking as well as professional preparation in both physical strength and competitive spirit.

Step by step approach to international standards

In terms of training, Vietnamese MMA is showing a clear change. Clubs such as Raptor MMA, Saigon Sports Club, Ha Dong Fighters or 52 MMA not only play a technical training role, but are also centers for training physical fitness, competitive mindset and martial artist ethics.

These “composite warriors” are trained in a curriculum combining many disciplines from Muay Thai, Judo, Sambo, Taekwondo to Kickboxing, forming a new generation of fighters who are physically strong, technically sound, tactically proactive and have an integrated mindset. This is an important foundation for Vietnamese MMA to gradually approach international competition standards.

Not only in the arenas, the MMA wave is spreading in the community, especially among the youth. Many students choose MMA as a form of physical and mental training. MMA training centers, especially in the two big cities of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, have recorded an increase in the number of practitioners.

Sports are no longer a side activity, but have become a part of the modern lifestyle of Vietnamese youth where they practice courage, control emotions and build personality in a highly disciplined environment.

Unlike traditional sports with fixed technical frameworks, MMA is an open space for creativity. Fighters can flexibly combine many schools to create their own fighting style, reflecting their personality and personal identity. This is also the factor that makes MMA an ideal playground for young people to express themselves within the framework of professional sportsmanship.

However, MMA also faces many challenges. The highly competitive nature of the sport means that the risk of injury is always present, meaning that medical care, refereeing and facilities need to be further upgraded.

In addition, for MMA to develop sustainably, deeper involvement from the education system, managers and social organizations is needed. Including MMA in physical training programs, or considering it as an optional subject in sports universities, can be a strategic step if there is a long-term orientation and appropriate legal corridor.

In the context of Vietnamese sports looking for a new direction for sports that are not in the Olympic or SEA Games groups, LION Championship and mixed martial arts show a successful model in terms of both expertise, audience and commerce.

With a regular schedule, a systematic ecosystem, improved competition quality and community support, MMA is positioning itself as a part of the dynamic, modern and integrated contemporary Vietnamese sports landscape.

Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/the-thao/lion-championship-va-lan-song-vo-thuat-moi-cua-nguoi-viet-tre-153467.html