Alexandria Athletes Will Compete at ICO World Championships
Eight martial artists from Alexandria will represent the city at the upcoming global tournament in France.
Updated on Sept. 26, 2026 in Mixed Martial Arts
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Eight athletes from McClendon Martial Arts in Alexandria are set to compete at the International Combat Organization world championships from Oct. 14 to Oct. 18. The team will travel to Thonon-les-Bains, France, to participate in the international tournament.
Why it matters
The event provides a platform for amateur fighters to showcase their skills on a global stage. The participants qualified for the championships through their performance in regional tournaments.
The eight athletes range in age from 11-year-old Lilian Newman to 47-year-old Tony Baker. The team secured their spots by qualifying through regional events before preparing for the upcoming international competition.
The players
McClendon Martial Arts
This is the Alexandria-based training facility that produced the eight athletes qualifying for the international competition.
International Combat Organization
This global entity sanctions amateur combat sports events, including Muay Thai and mixed martial arts.
Michael McClendon
He serves as a coach for the American branch of the International Combat Organization.
The details
Athletes from the team compete in various amateur disciplines sanctioned by the ICO, including kickboxing, point fighting, Muay Thai, mixed martial arts, and grappling. Coach Michael McClendon oversees the American branch of the organization to support the training of these local fighters.
Timeline
The world championships occur from Oct. 14 to Oct. 18.
Season Trajectory
The world championships serve as the culmination of the amateur circuit, where regional success determines international standing. These tournaments establish the competitive hierarchy for practitioners across various combat disciplines like kickboxing and grappling.
The performance of these eight athletes will determine the future national training camp status for the team. Competitors are classified by age and skill set, with the specific outcomes impacting their regional ranking for subsequent seasons.
The takeaway
Representing a local gym on a global stage demonstrates the success of the regional qualifying pipeline. Athletes looking to progress in the sport can track their development through these sanctioned ICO competitive events.
Further reading
For more information on the local fighting scene, visit Mixed Martial Arts.
Source note: This article includes information reported by LINK nky.
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