The countdown is on to third annual International Mixed Martial Arts Federation Amateur MMA Awards, which takes place online Friday December 11, at 3pm (GMT).

New Zealand's own Michelle Montague is nominated for best female athlete and best performance of the 2019 World Championships//2020 Oceania Open.

"The prestigious black-tie event will celebrate the achievements across amateur mixed martial arts of IMMAF athletes, coaches, officials and National Federations during the period spanning November 2019 to October 2020," says a spokesperson for the organisation.

"Voting for members closed on December 4, with winners to be revealed during the ceremony for the following awards: Best Female Athlete, Best Male Athlete, Best Junior Athlete and Best Performance."

See the complete list of nominees and highlight reels, plus full awards list below.

BEST FEMALE ATHLETE

Watch: Best Female Athlete Nominees | 2020 IMMAF Amateur MMA Awards - YouTube

•   •  Michelle Montague (New Zealand)

•   •  Bezhan Mahmudi (Sweden)

•   •  Bianca Antman (Sweden)

•   •  Sabrina Laurentina De Sousa (Bahrain)

•   •  Guangmei Han (China)

•   •  Anastasiya Svetkivska (Ukraine)

BEST MALE ATHLETE

Watch: Best Male Athlete Nominees | 2020 IMMAF Amateur MMA Awards - YouTube

•   •  Murtaza Talha Ali (Bahrain)

•   •  Ramazan Gitinov (Bahrain)

•   •  Bagdat Zhubanysh (Kazakhstan)

•   •  Ata Atdayev (Ukraine)

•   •  Gadzhimurad Bagautdinov (Russia)

BEST JUNIOR ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

Watch: Best Junior Athlete | 2020 IMMAF Amateur MMA Awards - YouTube

•   •  Muhammad Mokaev (England)

•   •  Gani Adilserikov (Kazakhstan)

•   •  Anna Gaul (Germany)

•   •  Murad Guseinov (Bahrain 

BEST PERFORMANCE (OF THE 2019 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS/ 2020 OCEANIA OPEN)

Watch: Best Performance Nominees | 2020 IMMAF Amateur MMA Awards - YouTube

•   •  Yernaz Mussabek (Kazakhstan)

•   •  Stephanie Paige Evans (Wales)

•   •  Sora Rakhmonova (Kazakhstan)

•   •  Michelle Montague (New Zealand)

•   •  Ramazan Gitinov (Bahrain)

OTHER AWARDS

In addition to the awards determined by member votes, other awards given on the night decided by panel decision or data, are:

•   •  Most Proactive National Federation

•   •  Host Federation of the Year

•   •  Social Impact Award

•   •  Best on Social Media Award 2020

•   •  Best IMMAF Educator Award (Most Active National Federation in implementing the IMMAF grading scheme in 2020)

•   •  IMMAF App Award (for Best National Federation in use of the IMMAF App in 2020)

•   •  Best National Federation for MMA Coaching (Most active National Federation in implementing IMMAF Coach Certification Program)

•   •  IMMAF Anti-doping Award (for achievement of the highest number of WADA ADeL certifications)

About IMMAF

Founded in 2012, the purpose of IMMAF is to further the development, recognition and regulation of the sport of MMA (mixed martial arts), enabling amateur competition though the organisation of national MMA federations around the world.

With a seven-year track record of organising international amateur Championships and developing the sport globally, IMMAF's membership today includes 120 National Federations worldwide with National Olympic Committee recognition in more than 45 countries.

IMMAF has advanced programmes for education and certification of MMA coaches, referees and other technical officials, as well as Youth Development.

Supported by the UFC®, IMMAF is the only legitimate international governing body for MMA, working to gain sport recognition and see MMA into the Olympic Games. immaf.org