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• Jamaica’s Tyrece Thompson claims super heavyweight title at 2024 IMMAF Pan American Championships

  Jamaica's Tyrece Thompson secured a landmark victory on Saturday night, winning the Super Heavyweight Division at the 2024 International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF) Pan American Championships held in Monterrey, Mexico. The week-long event, running from August 30 to September 7, showcased some of the top amateur mixed martial arts talents from across the Americas.

  Thompson delivered an impressive performance in the final, defeating Guyana’s John Campayne to clinch Jamaica's first ever gold medal. Campayne, who put up a strong fight, took home the silver medal. Meanwhile, the bronze medals were shared by Guyana’s Lyndon Fung and the USA’s Anthony Alcala.

  Thompson’s triumph is a major achievement for Jamaica and its growing presence in the MMA world, as the country continues to produce elite athletes in various combat sports disciplines. His victory at the IMMAF Pan American Championships is expected to further boost the development of MMA in Jamaica.

  In other divisions, the Flyweight category saw Rocklyne Cornwall of Trinidad and Tobago sharing the bronze medal with Mexico’s Jorge Cobos Marin. Peru’s Jose Ayquipa won gold, while David Portilla of Colombia claimed silver. Guyana's Ezekiel Persaud earned a silver medal in the Strawweight Division, which was won by Jonatha Abad Hernandez Gonzales of Colombia.

  The IMMAF Pan American Championships served as a platform to highlight emerging talent from the region, with athletes from countries like Jamaica, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, Mexico, and the USA putting on impressive performances. As the sport of MMA continues to grow across the Caribbean and Latin America, this event showcased the depth of talent and the bright future for these athletes.

  With his victory, Thompson now joins the ranks of top amateur MMA fighters in the region, and his success at the Pan American Championships marks another milestone in his promising career.

   

• Matthew Colqhoun claims fourth Pan American Combat Sambo title in Brazil

  Jamaican combat sports athlete Matthew Colqhoun made a triumphant return to the international stage, capturing his fourth Pan American Combat Sambo title at the Pan American Sambo and Combat Sambo Championships held in Brazil from August 23-25. Competing in the 88 kg men’s Combat Sambo category, Colqhoun overcame fierce competition to secure the gold medal, reaffirming his status as one of the top athletes in the sport.

  Colqhoun, who had taken a break from combat sports to focus on other aspects of his life, expressed his joy and renewed passion for competition after his victory. In a heartfelt post on Instagram, he shared the emotions that led him back to the sport and the fulfilment of representing Jamaica on such a significant stage.

  "I have been away from combat sport for a little while, I felt I really needed a break to focus on other things and aspects in my life," Colqhoun wrote. "Recently I got the opportunity to represent Jamaica in the Pan American Sambo and Combat Sambo Championships which was held in Brazil over the past weekend. The atmosphere, energy, and experience of this event really lit a fire inside of me, reminding me of the excitement and adrenaline that competitive sport gives you."

  Entering the competition with no expectations beyond enjoying the moment and doing his best, Colqhoun’s journey culminated in a gold medal match where he emerged victorious. His win not only marked a personal achievement but also a proud moment for Jamaica, as he added another gold to his collection.

  

  "I went there with no expectations other than to enjoy the moment and to do my best. By the end of the competition, I worked myself into the finals, which I won gold for my country," he continued. "The Most High is just so amazing. Thanks go out to @sambo_fias for organizing this event, and thanks to @jamaicasambojscsf for selecting me to represent my country, and to @jamaicaolympic for their support. This is my 4th Gold Medal in the Pan American Games."

  Colqhoun's victory places him atop the podium once again, with Erwin Brad Calderon Vaca from Ecuador taking the silver medal, and Juan Pablo Doti from Uruguay and Jose Molina from Honduras sharing the bronze.

  The Jamaican's return to combat sports has reinvigorated his passion for competition, and his success in Brazil serves as a reminder of his exceptional talent and dedication to his craft. With four Pan American titles under his belt, Colqhoun continues to be a formidable force in the world of Combat Sambo, proudly flying the Jamaican flag on the international stage.\

   

   
• Dr. Emir Crowne to defend Ebony Drysdale-Daley against Jamaica Judo Association's allegations

  Noted sports attorney Dr. Emir Crowne, along with Matthew Gayle, Jason Jones, and Sayeed Bernard, have stepped up to represent Jamaican judo athlete Ebony Drysdale-Daley amidst a heated dispute with the Jamaica Judo Association (JJA). The association, led by Dwayne Barnett, has recently accused the British-born judoka of having two whereabouts failures and being on the brink of a ban, a move that Dr Crowne has vehemently criticized.

  Dr. Crowne, an international sports lawyer with a history of defending athletes in high-profile cases, blasted the JJA for what he describes as a "smear campaign" against Drysdale-Daley. He expressed outrage over the JJA's decision to publicly disclose confidential information about Drysdale-Daley's whereabouts failures in a press release, calling it "absolutely atrocious" and "wildly irresponsible."

  “The Jamaican Judo Association’s action to disclose such confidential information is absolutely atrocious. Athletes enjoy the protection of confidentiality until there is actually some sort of anti-doping rule violation asserted against them,” Crowne explained. He pointed out that an anti-doping rule violation only occurs after three whereabouts failures within a 12-month period, making the JJA's disclosure premature and unethical.

  The JJA's press release came as a response to a video posted by Drysdale-Daley, in which she accused the association of bias in selecting athletes for the Paris Olympic Games. Drysdale-Daley, who made history as Jamaica's first judoka at the Olympic Games in Tokyo 2021, alleged that her attempts to qualify for the upcoming Olympics were being deliberately hindered by the JJA in favour of her male counterpart, Ashley McKenzie.

  “I feel the federation has shown no impartiality. There is a real question of ethics and integrity. The Jamaican Judo Association is blocking me from attending and competing in my last qualifying event, an event that I have self-funded and paid for,” Drysdale-Daley said in her video.

  The JJA, in its defence, cited Drysdale-Daley’s failure to meet deadlines and her previous conduct at the Commonwealth Games 2022, which they described as "unbecoming of an athlete."

  In response, Dr. Crowne called for the Jamaican Olympic Association (JOA), the International Judo Federation (IJF), and the Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission (JADCO) to investigate the JJA's conduct. “I encourage JADCO, I encourage WADA, I encourage the JOA, I encourage the international federation to take a hard look at this press release and see if it was appropriate to disclose what is otherwise completely confidential,” Crowne asserted.

  Dr. Crowne, known for his representation of athletes like Jamaica’s Ryker Hylton and Briana Williams, argued that the JJA's actions have damaged its own reputation more than Drysdale-Daley's. “In attempting to paint the athlete in a negative light, the Jamaican Judo Association has now painted themselves in a negative light through this breach of confidence, and it should not go unpunished,” he declared.

  The disciplinary process for Drysdale-Daley, who has already received a notice of suspension from the JJA, remains in flux. With Dr Crowne and his team offering their legal expertise, the battle between Drysdale-Daley and the JJA is poised to intensify, drawing significant attention from the sports community as the saga unfolds.