MMA – BAHRAIN’S rising mixed martial artists powered to a victory away yesterday from securing historic gold medals in the third Asian Youth Games in the kingdom.
Sultanakhmed Sultanakhmedov, Ibragim Khalidov, Eldar Eldarov, and Abdulakim Babaev all made it through to their respective title fights in their boys’ mixed martial arts (MMA) events, being held in Exhibition World Bahrain (EWB).
The Bahraini quartet are now assured of a place on their podiums with at least silver medals.
Sultanakhmedov won his boys’ 65kg traditional MMA semi-final against Gibran Alfarizi by unanimous decision. That set up an exciting clash with Sanzhar Kartay from Kazakhstan in their division’s final. Kartay was also a winner by unanimous decision against Hisham Ibrahim Alajam from Saudi Arabia.
Khalidov marched through to the boys’ 70kg modern MMA final following a punishing victory against Daryn Mustafin from Kazakhstan. Khalidov triumphed by neck submission, earning him a place in the gold medal fight against Albaraa Ibrahim Alajam, who beat Uzbekistan’s Abdulboriy Abdugofurov, also with a neck submission.
Meanwhile, Eldarov and Babaev earned their places in their categories’ finals with victories yesterday by disqualification.
Eldarov won against Aliasghar Moradi from Iran to book his title fight in the boys’ 60kg modern MMA final against Mukhammadrasul Kadirdinov from Kyrgyzstan, who also won by disqualification against Muhammad Saidzoda from Tajikistan.
Babaev claimed his victory against Kazakh Amir Serik, and will battle Saudi’s Haif Hassan Alqahtani for the boys’ 65kg modern MMA gold. Alqahtani won by split decision against Uzbek Kamronbek Kodirov.
Bahrain’s MMA head coach Eldar Khan expressed his delight with yesterday’s results from the kingdom’s young MMA stars, and credits their current high level to their advanced training programme ahead of the Asian Youth Games.
“As always, we are here only for gold,” Khan told the GDN yesterday.
“Our team had great preparation – the boys trained with professional fighters who will fight in the BRAVE 100 event next month, and that’s why they are fighting with great confidence.”
Khan is guiding Bahrain’s MMA fighters alongside renowned coaches Sharap Gitinov and Renat Iusubov.
All finals in the traditional and modern MMA competitions of the third Asian youth Games will be held at EWB today on the sport’s concluding day of action. All are welcome to attend. Entrance is free.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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