Executive Board

sidoros Kouvelos serves as Secretary General of the Federation of International Mixed Martial Arts (FIMMA) and is the President of the Greek MMA Federation (GMMAF). He is a practicing lawyer and experienced sports administrator based in Athens, Greece.

PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND

Mr. Kouvelos has built a distinguished career combining legal expertise with sports administration. As a lawyer, he specializes in sports law and has advised numerous sports organizations on governance, compliance, and regulatory matters.

His role as President of the Greek MMA Federation has been transformative for the sport in Greece. Under his leadership, the GMMAF has grown significantly, organizing national championships, developing athlete pathways, and representing Greece at international competitions.

INTERNATIONAL SPORTS GOVERNANCE

As Secretary General of FIMMA, Mr. Kouvelos oversees the day-to-day operations of the federation, manages international relations with member federations, and coordinates the organization of world and continental championships. He has been instrumental in developing FIMMA’s governance structures, competition rules, and anti-doping policies.

He has represented FIMMA at meetings with SportAccord, the Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF), and other international sports bodies, working toward the global recognition of MMA as an Olympic sport.

EDUCATION

Mr. Kouvelos holds a law degree from a Greek university and has completed additional studies in sports management and international sports law. He is fluent in Greek, English, and French.

Yassine Arab is a distinguished sports administrator and former elite athlete with
over four decades of experience across governance, competition, and international
sport management. He holds a Law degree and Master’s in Law from the University
of Algiers, complemented by postgraduate diplomas in Accounting & Taxation and
Legal Translation (English–Arabic–French). Fluent in Arabic, Amazigh, English,
Spanish, and French, he has built a career spanning both public service and
international sport.
 
Mr. Arab served as a Government Divisional Tax Inspector from 1990 until his
retirement in 2024, and currently holds the position of Sports Director at the National
Olympic Committee.
 
A lifelong martial artist, he began his karate journey in 1975 and is a 4th Dan Black
Belt certified in Japan. He is also a three-time Algerian national champion in full-
contact/kickboxing (70kg) and a qualified self-defense and bodyguard instructor, with
international certifications including training under Steven Seagal and in Stuttgart,
Germany.
 
Internationally, Mr. Arab plays a key leadership role in combat sports governance. He
is currently Vice President of the Federation of International Mixed Martial Arts
(FIMMA) and an Executive Member of the Global Association of Mixed Martial Arts

(GAMMA). His previous roles include Executive Committee Member of the African
Karate Confederation (2007–2023), President of the North African Karate Region
(2013–2023), and Chairman of the Arab Karate Federation’s Sports Organizing
Committee (2018–2023).
 
He has extensive technical and organizational experience across major multi-sport
events, including the African Games, Mediterranean Games, Arab Games, World
Games, Olympic Games (Paris 2024), and Islamic Solidarity Games. He has served
in various capacities such as Technical Manager, Technical Delegate, and Chairman
of key organizing and technical commissions, contributing to the successful delivery
of major international competitions.
 
Yassine Arab is widely respected for his technical expertise, leadership in sport
development, and commitment to advancing martial arts within the global Olympic
movement.

Former Tagaytay City Mayor Abraham “Bambol” Ng Tolentino was elected
unopposed for three consecutive terms following the completion of his third term as
Congressman of Cavite’s 8th District and as Deputy Speaker of the House of
Representatives. His exemplary and unwavering commitment to public service
earned him immense respect from both his constituents and fellow leaders,
consistently resulting in uncontested victories in every election he pursued. Abraham
is not just an ordinary leader—he holds an impressive academic background with
four distinguished qualifications: a Bachelor of Science in Commerce, Major in
Management from San Beda College; a Master’s Degree in Fiscal Studies from
Lyceum of the Philippines; an Executive Course on Leadership, Chaos, Conflict, and
Courage for the 21st Century from John F. Kennedy School of Government at
Harvard University; and an Executive Course on National Security from the National
Defense College of the Philippines. As City Mayor of Tagaytay—a premier tourist
destination in the Philippines—he spearheaded several landmark initiatives. He
introduced free college education in the city even before the enactment of Republic
Act 10931, also known as the Free Tertiary Education Law. He launched a Compact
Socialized Housing Program, comprising 22 fully established sites owned by the
local government. This program offered affordable housing to teachers, government
employees, uniformed personnel, and other community stakeholders. Additionally,
he implemented free funeral services in Tagaytay long before the passage of
Republic Act 12309, or the Free Funeral Services Act. Prior to becoming mayor, he
served a full term as City Councilor. In the realm of sports, he has made historic
contributions. He currently serves as President of the Philippine Olympic Committee,
a position he has held since 2019. Under his leadership, the Philippines won its first-
ever Olympic gold medal after 97 years in the last Tokyo Olympics followed by
another two golds during the recent Paris Olympics, also won the first gold medal in
the Asian Winter Games held in Hangzhou and emerged as the overall champion in
the 2019 Southeast Asian Games. He has been President of the Integrated Cycling

Federation of the Philippines (PhilCycling) since 2008, Senior Adviser to the Asian
Cycling Confederation, and Honorary Lifetime President of the Southeast Asian
Games Federation (SEAGFED). He is also the Founding President of Samahang
Kickboxing ng Pilipinas (SKP), a member of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), and
serves on its Executive Board as Chairman of the Legal and Constitutional
Committee. Additionally, he was Secretary General of the World Chess Federation
(FIDE) from 2014 to 2020 and held the same role in the National Chess Federation
of the Philippines from 2006 to 2022. In the non-government sector, he served as
Past Grand Master of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted
Masons of the Philippines from 2017 to 2018.

Inna Leniu is a Samoan mixed martial arts athlete, leader, and advocate dedicated to
the growth and unity of MMA across the Pacific region and beyond. Bringing a high-
performance mindset to mixed martial arts, her approach is grounded in discipline,
resilience, and a strong commitment to continuous growth — values that have
defined both her competitive career and her leadership journey.
 
As an MMA athlete, Leniu built a reputation for determination, professionalism, and
competitive excellence, representing Samoa in international competition and
contributing to Pacific Island participation on the global MMA stage, including
involvement in Oceania events and the GAMMA World Championships. Her fight
career reflects not only technical skill and perseverance but also a deep commitment
to representing her culture and community with pride.
 
Beyond competition, she is recognised as a leader who elevates those around her.
Leniu is the founder of Team Samoa, a collective established to unite athletes under
shared values of respect, accountability, and excellence. The initiative promotes a
culture where performance is matched by strong character and integrity, creating a
supportive environment for athlete development and mentorship.
She has played a key role in coordinating Pacific Island representation within global
MMA, helping connect athletes across diverse cultural backgrounds and
strengthening collaboration throughout the region. Through this work, she has
contributed to building pathways, creating opportunities, and fostering unity within
the sport.
 
Committed to advancing MMA across the Pacific and internationally, Leniu positions
the sport as a platform for empowerment, cultural connection, and elite performance.
She continues to build and maintain strong networks across MMA communities
throughout the Pacific Islands and Indonesia, supporting sustainable growth and
greater international engagement for athletes from emerging sporting nations.

Lucio Carlo Gianni holds a Master’s degree in Sports Management, Markets and
Law from ISDE Law & Business School. He is a former international MMA athlete
and coach who has transitioned into sports governance and institutional
development within the global combat sports community.
Gianni collaborates with the Federation of International Mixed Martial Arts,
contributing to strategic initiatives and international relations aimed at strengthening
the global structure and recognition of mixed martial arts. Recognized as a regional
leader in the Americas, he has played an active role in the development and
institutional consolidation of MMA across the continent.
In 2024, he organized the first Pan American MMA Championship in Rosario,
Argentina, bringing together national federations and athletes from across the region
and marking a significant milestone for the sport in the Americas.
Throughout his career, Gianni has worked with national federations, continental
organizations, and international sports stakeholders to promote governance
standards, institutional cooperation, and sustainable growth in combat sports.
Originally from Argentina and active internationally, he works across Europe and the
Americas supporting the development of mixed martial arts and fostering
collaboration between institutions, athletes, and sports leaders.