Fighting for a Global Dream
From the bustling streets of Tijuana to the international MMA stage, 21-year-old Ariel Ruiz is chasing her biggest goal yet. She plans to compete at the IMMAF World Championships in Tbilisi, Georgia, this September. To get there, she organizes fundraisers, connects with supporters, and works tirelessly to gather the final funds.
From Karate Kid to MMA Contender
Ariel’s martial arts journey began five years ago with karate. Soon after, she moved into kickboxing, and for the past year, she has trained in mixed martial arts. As a child, she watched women fight on the global MMMA stage and felt inspired to follow the same path. Her parents encouraged her every step of the way, even when she chose sports that involve full contact.
Earning Her Spot Among the Best
To qualify for the World Championships, Ariel won four tournaments at national, state, and regional levels. She claimed victories by submission, knockout, and decision. Out of the six fighters from Baja California who earned their spots, only two are women—Ariel from Tijuana and another athlete from Ensenada.
The Fundraising Challenge
Reaching the world stage comes with high costs. Ariel needs just over 68,000 pesos for travel, lodging, and competition expenses. She has already secured 60% of that amount, but she still must raise the remaining 40%. Her gym team sells drinks, hoodies, and other items, while her family runs their own product sales to help.
Ready for the Fight of Her Life
Coach Edgar Medina praises Ariel’s determination and skill. She will compete at 115 pounds in the vale tudo division, facing experienced opponents with multiple tournaments behind them. On September 27, Ariel will proudly represent Mexico. For her, this competition marks the result of years of discipline, sacrifice, and the dream of bringing victory home to Tijuana.
2025 IMMAF World Championships
Location: Tbilisi, Georgia
Dates: September 27 – October 2, 2025
The world’s premier platform for amateur mixed martial arts returns, with Georgia playing host to the largest edition of the IMMAF World Championships to date.
Athletes from across the globe will descend on Tbilisi to compete for international glory, as Georgia joins a prestigious list of previous hosts that includes the United States, Bahrain, Serbia, Uzbekistan, and Albania.
This year also marks the second edition in which IMMAF World Champions will be awarded official title belts in recognition of their victories.
IMMAF President Kerrith Brown stated:
“I am excited to welcome you all to the 2025 IMMAF World Championships, held in the vibrant city of Tbilisi, Georgia, from September 27 to October 2, 2025. This year, we gather in Georgia for the first time ever, a nation rich in culture and history, and we are proud to be hosted by the Georgian Mixed Martial Arts Federation, whose dedication to the sport continues to push amateur MMA to new heights.”
Among those already confirmed for this year are returning champions Alanna Pritchard (England), Mariia Klein and Anna Hyria (both of Ukraine), and Yerulan Kabdulov (Kazakhstan).
Event Schedule
- Friday 26th September – Team Registration
- Saturday 27th September – Round of 32
- Sunday 28th September – Round of 16
- Monday 29th September – Quarter Finals
- Tuesday 30th September – Semi Finals
- Wednesday 1st October – Junior Finals
- Thursday 2nd October – Senior Finals
Smoothcomp registration will close on the 9th of August. For full event details and ongoing updates, please visit IMMAF.org.
All bouts will be streamed live via IMMAF.tv.
