Athletes took part in mental sessions at the retreat, as well as physical training ©Facebook/FAMM

The Mexican Mixed Martial Arts Federation (FAMM) has held a gathering of all its athletes and coaches in preparation for the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF) World Championships.

The two-day retreat, which took place at the Dorados Resort and Congress Centre in Oaxtepec, 90 minutes outside Mexico City, featured both mental and physical training sessions.

On day one, all participants completed coronavirus testing required by the country’s Ministry of Health, before taking part in a mental training session led by a sports psychologist.

Physical training sessions also took place for athletes, while FAMM;s coaches, officials and administrators were able to hold in-person meetings - something they had been unable to do for much of the last two years because of coronavirus pandemic.

"We have been working extremely hard to make this gathering a success and we are very happy with the results," said FAMM President Ubaldo Marroquin.

Mexico's athletes and coaches gathered together in preparation for the IMMAF World Championships, scheduled to take place in Kazakhstan in November and December ©IMMAF
Mexico's athletes and coaches gathered together in preparation for the IMMAF World Championships, scheduled to take place in Kazakhstan in November and December ©IMMAF

"The best amateur athletes in Mexico, both women and men and across all the divisions, have joined us here as part of preparations for the upcoming World Championships.

"It was very important for us to be able to meet and interact with each other, to have a number of practical training sessions and also to have an opportunity to thank the executive director of Mexico’s National Commission for Sport and Physical Culture Ana Guevara for her ongoing engagement with FAMM.

"It has been amazing to see the positive energy and commitment to mixed martial arts by all the delegates here.

"I can assure you that this gathering is just the first of many and that we are really looking forward to sending a highly motivated and competitive Mexican team to the IMMAF World Championships at the end of November."

Nora Ochoa, an athlete training at the retreat, added: "After going through some very challenging times in the last 18 months because of COVID, it has been great to have this opportunity to meet fellow athletes and to see with my own eyes the commitment that FAMM has to the development of amateur mixed martial arts in Mexico."

The IMMAF Senior and Junior World Championships are scheduled to take place from November 27 to December 4 at the Barys Arena in Nur-Sultan in Kazakhstan.