In their very first participation, the Vietnamese MMA team made a strong impression by exceeding their targets. The medals won not only represent a significant achievement but also demonstrate thorough preparation and the long-term development potential of this relatively new sport in Vietnam.
Achieving results that exceeded expectations in their first venture into the international arena.
Despite MMA being only classified as an exhibition sport at the 33rd SEA Games, Vietnamese fighters competed with high determination, viewing each match as an opportunity to prove their ability and standing. As a result, the Vietnamese MMA team won a total of 2 gold medals, 1 silver medal, and 2 bronze medals, a very encouraging achievement when compared to countries with earlier-developed MMA in the region.
In their first appearance at the SEA Games, Vietnamese MMA achieved great success.
It's noteworthy that many Vietnamese fighters don't come from a purely MMA background, but rather transitioned from foundational martial arts such as Wushu, traditional Vietnamese martial arts, Taekwondo, or Judo. However, they quickly adapted to the mixed martial arts (MMA) competition, demonstrating significant progress in grappling techniques, striking, and combat tactics. This success shows that Vietnam's approach of "using foundational martial arts as a basis for developing modern MMA" is appropriate.
The 33rd SEA Games is not only significant in terms of achievements, but also marks an institutional turning point for MMA in the region. The inclusion of MMA in the SEA Games for the first time demonstrates that this martial art is gradually being recognized as a sport with its own organization, rules, and potential for sustainable development, rather than being solely associated with professional commercial tournaments.
In this context, Vietnam's membership as one of the founding members of the Southeast Asian MMA Association further highlights the role and voice of Vietnamese sports. This is an important foundation for countries in the region to unify competition rules, tournament systems, referee and coach training, as well as to guide the development of MMA according to international standards.
As a founding member, Vietnam not only participates but also has the opportunity to contribute to shaping the "common rules" of Southeast Asian MMA. This has long-term strategic significance, especially as MMA is on track to become an official competitive sport in future SEA Games.
Vietnam's role and prospects for the 34th SEA Games.
The success at the 33rd SEA Games shows that Vietnamese MMA is not just participating for the sake of appearances, but has begun to make a clear professional mark. More importantly, Vietnam's role in the founding of the Southeast Asian MMA Association provides a stronger foundation for the systematic development of MMA in the country, avoiding fragmentation and spontaneous development.
With the SEA Games 33 and the investment from the sports sector, MMA has a solid foundation to continue competing on equal footing with rivals in the region.
With Malaysia expected to host the 34th SEA Games, the possibility of MMA being elevated to an official competitive sport is entirely plausible. If this becomes a reality, the achievements and experience gained at the 33rd SEA Games will be invaluable assets for Vietnamese MMA to continue competing on equal footing with regional rivals.
However, to fully capitalize on this opportunity, Vietnamese MMA needs a clearer development strategy: from building a youth training system and standardizing coaches and referees, to applying sports biomedicine and training science to reduce injuries and extend the fighting lifespan of fighters.
Therefore, the success of Vietnamese MMA at the 33rd SEA Games should not be judged solely by the number of medals. More importantly, it is proof of Vietnam's ability to integrate with new regional and global trends in sports. MMA, with its high level of competition, strict rules, and comprehensive demands on physical fitness, technique, and psychology, is a difficult test for any sport to pass.
The fact that Vietnamese fighters competed confidently, fairly, and achieved positive results in their first SEA Games appearance shows the clear potential for MMA development. With proper investment, MMA could absolutely become one of the new leading sports, adding to the diverse landscape of high-performance sports in Vietnam in the near future.
Source: https://bvhttdl.gov.vn/thanh-cong-buoc-ngoat-cua-mma-viet-nam-tai-sea-games-33-20251213173603808.htm
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