# MMA Grand Prix

MMA Grand Prix, often abbreviated MMA GP, is a professional mixed martial arts promotion based in Vitry-sur-Seine, Val-de-Marne, France.

## History

MMA Grand Prix was created in 2020, upon the legalization of MMA's internationally accepted rules (which include ground strikes) by the French government. Their first card was held on 8 October of that year, in presence of French Minister of Sports Roxana Maracineanu. It was the first organization to present MMA in France under its complete ruleset. It is sanctioned by the French Mixed Martial Arts Federation, a subsidiary of the French Boxing Federation, which has been accredited by the Ministry of Sports to regulate the activity.
Co-founder Éric Konako Faubert is a London-based promoter for Muay Thai Grand Prix, an international thai boxing promotion, with whom MMA Grand Prix shares common branding.
The promotion's first card held outside of the Paris region, The Last of the Kings in Le Havre, featured a comeback fight from veteran kickboxer turned mixed martial artist Jérome Le Banner. It served as a tribute to Le Banner's training partner and Le Havre mayor Édouard Philippe who, during his term as prime minister, was responsible for the legalization of French MMA. It was Le Banner's first MMA fight outside of Japan.

## Champions
### Current MMA Grand Prix champions

| Men's division | Upper weight limit | Champion | Since | Title Defenses |
| Light Heavyweight | 205 lb (93.0 kg) | Mohamed Said Maalem | Sep 16, 2023 | 0 |
| Lightweight | 154 lb (69.9 kg) | Keweney Lopes | Jan 27, 2024 | 0 |
| Featherweight | 145 lb (65.8 kg) | Vacant | N/A | N/A |
| Bantamweight | 135 lb (61.2 kg) | Alfan Rocher-Labes | Sep 16, 2023 | 0 |
| Flyweight | 125 lb (56.7 kg) | Michael Aljarouj | Mar 4, 2023 | 1 |

### Light Heavyweight Championship

       Weight limit: 205 lb (93.0 kg)
| No. | Name | Event | Date | Defenses |
| 1 | Mohamed Said Maalem def. Yann Kouadja | MMA GP: Kouadja vs Maalem Le Grand-Saconnex, France | Sep 16, 2023 | |

### Lightweight Championship

       Weight limit: 154 lb (69.9 kg)
| No. | Name | Event | Date | Defenses |
| 1 | Keweney Lopes def. Mathias Poiron | JSC 1 Nimas, France | Jan 27, 2024 | |

### Featherweight Championship

       Weight limit: 145 lb (65.8 kg)
| No. | Name | Event | Date | Defenses |
| 1 | Alioune Nahaye def. Ariston França | MMA Grand Prix 4 Paris, France | Oct 14, 2021 | |
| Nahaye vacated. |||||

### Bantamweight Championship

       Weight limit: 135 lb (61.2 kg)
| No. | Name | Event | Date | Defenses |
| 1 | Alfan Rocher-Labes def. Deiby Tachon | MMA GP: Kouadja vs Maalem Le Grand-Saconnex, France | Sep 16, 2023 | |

### Flyweight Championship

       Weight limit: 125 lb (56.7 kg)
| No. | Name | Event | Date | Defenses |
| 1 | Michael Aljarouj def. Ezzoubair Bouarsa | MMA GP: Doumbe vs Klimas Paris, France | Mar 4, 2023 | 1. def. Liridon Ramani at JSC 1 on Jan 27, 2024 |

## Notable fighters

* Cédric Doumbé
* Karim Ghajji
* Jérome Le Banner
* Mickaël Lebout
* fr:Laetitia Blot

## Media

Select MMA GP shows, including the company's inaugural card, have aired on the UFC Fight Pass. In May 2022, the promotion inked its first television deal with Sport en France. However, French media authority CSA still bans MMA broadcasts before 10:30 pm, forcing some fights to be shown on tape delay. MMA GP made its premium TV debut with a 17 December 2022 card from Bordeaux, which was broadcast on RMC Sport 2.