MMA – REIGNING world and Asian champion Gimbat Magomedov headlined five Team Bahrain fighters who barged into the semi-finals of their respective weight divisions yesterday in the 2024 IMMAF Asian Championships, currently taking place in Lahore, Pakistan.
Magomedov was one of four seniors to make it through. The others included Shamil Alikhanov, Ahmed Mubarak, and Abdulrahman Janahi; while Ali Marhoon advanced in his junior category.
The mixed martial arts (MMA) competition is being organised and run by the International MMA Federation (IMMAF) and Asian MMA Federation (AMMAF). Bahrain MMA Federation (BMMAF) and AMMAF president Mohamed Qamber is in Lahore for the event.
Magomedov made it through to the men’s welterweight 77.1kg semi-finals following a win by unanimous decision yesterday against Khyzer Rehman of Pakistan. Earlier, Magomedov had a bye in the eighth-finals to set up his quarter-final bout with Rehman. Magomedov will now face off with Iraq’s Seyamand Rida in the last four. That bout is scheduled for today.
Alikhanov followed suit after making it through to the semis of the men’s bantamweight 61.2kg category. He defeated Iran’s Hamed Eynabadi by technical knockout in their quarter-final clash, and he will next lock horns with Buzurgmehri Saifulloda of Tajikistan.
Mubarak advanced in the men’s featherweight 65.8kg category following a win over Salauat Kabi of Kazakhstan by unanimous decision. He next faces off with another Kazakh in Samgat Shabdan in their semi-final clash today.
Janahi was through to the men’s middleweight 83.9kg final four following a win by unanimous decision against Ali Akbar Dastjani Farahani of Iran. Janahi next battles Zulqarnain Khan of Pakistan for an opportunity to fight for the gold medal in their class.
Team Bahrain’s Sultan Gapizov was also through to the semi-finals of the men’s heavyweight 120.2kg division, but he was not in action yesterday. He had a bye in the round of eight and will take on Mohammed Dawood Khan of India in his first foray into the cage.
Amongst the kingdom’s youngsters, Marhoon marched through to the semis of the junior men’s welterweight 77.1kg class with a win by submission on an armbar against Yerkebulan Myngbossyn of Kazakhstan. Mahroon next faces Taimur Chishty of Pakistan in the last four.
Abdulla Ismaeel was also through to the junior men’s flyweight 56.7kg semis. He had a bye from round one yesterday, and will today face Abdul Manan of Pakistan.
Team Bahrain’s Hamad Marhoon bowed out from the junior men’s bantamweight 61.2kg division after a loss by submission on a triangle choke against Naim Bou Rached of Lebanon.
The kingdom’s delegation also features coaches Renat Iusubov, Ebrahim Aun, and Mohammad Sameer.
The 2024 IMMAF Asian Championships is taking place as part of BRAVE International Combat Week, which also featured a BRAVE Combat Federation show.
Aside from the kingdom’s national team, fighters competing in Lahore have come from Afghanistan, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Chinese Taipei, Tajikistan, the UAE, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, and hosts Pakistan, among other Asian nations.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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