Sport in Azerbaijan Greco-Roman wrestling, particularly freestyle, are popular in Azerbaijan. With a history of great wrestlers, such as Namig Abdullayev, Farid Mansurov, Rovshan Bayramov, and Mariya Stadnik, Azerbaijan is considered among the elite nations in this sport. Azerbaijan Wrestling Federation was established in 1959 as part of the USSR Wrestling Federation. After Azerbaijan Wrestling Federation was established in 1993, and officially admitted to the International Federation of Associated Wrestling Styles at FILA Headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland in the same year. During 1993-1997, Etibar Sardar oglu Mammadov was the President, Abbas Aydin oglu Abbasov the Vice President and Khanmirza Khanbala oglu Malikaliyev the
Sport Jiu Jitsu International Federation technical department. The first vice technician was Fadda and the second, Orlando Barradas - both Jiu-Jitsu Professors. Joao Alberto Barreto, outstanding student of the Gracie’s, was appointed director of the education department, which had as deputy director Robson Gracie – all now known as great masters of the art. The Jiu-Jitsu Federation of Guanabara (Jiu-Jitsu Federation of Guanabara History) was chaired by Hélio Gracie and had sport bases, regulations, etc. The foundation of the Federation was the first step to make Jiu-Jitsu a sport and not a street fighting art. The art of jiu-jitsu began to have structure and organization.