MMA – Bahrain’s mixed martial arts (MMA) superstar Gimbat Magomedov has been ranked as the number one fighter amongst senior men in the sport by the International MMA Federation (IMMAF).
The reigning three-time world champion tops a star-studded list of amateur MMA athletes as the IMMAF introduced its official rankings, which also feature senior women, junior men, and junior women lists.
Magomedov is one of two Bahrainis in the worldwide overall classifications. The other is Arsen Suleimanov – also a reigning world champion – who ranks tied-seventh amongst junior men.
Both Magomedov and Suleimanov were amongst the kingdom’s gold-medallists at last year’s IMMAF World Championships, held in October in Tbilisi, Georgia.
Magomedov captured the world title in the senior men’s super welterweight 79.4kg category – his third straight crown at the highest level of amateur MMA – while Suleimanov won in the junior men’s light heavyweight 93kg class for his maiden world accolade.
Previously, Magomedov first won a senior men’s world title in 2024, and earlier was world champion in the junior men’s welterweight 77.1kg category in 2023.
Right below Magomedov on the senior men’s rankings are Yerulan Kabdulov of Kazakhstan in second, Mehmet Borhan of France third, Bohdan Cherepania of Ukraine in fourth, and Zhaxybek Aimakhanov of Kazakhstan in fifth.
Sixth is Oleksandr Khodakov, while four MMA athletes are tied-seventh, including Isrofil Komilzoda of Tajikistan, Joseph Frodsham of England, Karim Iusupov of Kyrgyzstan, and Zafarjon Asatov of Uzbekistan.
In the junior men’s rankings, Suleimanov shares his classification in seventh with Daniel Bucur of Italy.
Topping the list is Ivan Poremchuck from Ukraine, while Ibrohim Rahimzoda and Saiali Kamolov, both of Tajikistan are tied-second.
Milfa Kuenda Nicolau of Angola is ranked fourth, Fabian Glele of France fifth, and Heorhii Hudz of Refugee Team sixth, while completing the top 10 are Artom Oliinyk from Ukraine and Avramov Andrei from Moldova.
Meanwhile, Magomedov and Suleimanov are joined by Bahrain’s Gadzhi Gadzhiev as three Bahraini fighters who are currently ranked in first place in their respective MMA weight classes.
Gadzhiev is also a three-time world champion and was another gold-medallist last year in Tbilisi in the senior men’s super middleweight 88.4kg division.
In 2024, Gadzhiev clinched the world title in the same category, and in 2023, he won the light heavyweight 93kg world title.
Magomedov tops all fighters in the senior men’s super welterweight division, where he currently boasts 840 points.
Bohdan Voloshyn of Ukraine is second with 440 points, while Mirza Gajievi of Georgia ranks third with 400 points.
Suleimanov leads the junior men’s light heavyweight category with 590 points, well ahead of Iigilik Avazov of Kyrgyzstan on 300 points and Denys Lushpaiev of Ukraine with 290 points.
Gadzhiev is the leading man in the senior men’s super middleweight class with 840 points.
David Idemudia of England ranks second with 380 points, and Oliver Buendia Moya third with 308 points.
Amongst the teams, Bahrain are 13th in the world as well as the top Arab country in the senior national team ranking.
Amongst junior national teams, Bahrain are 22nd, and in the youth rankings are 23rd in the world.
According to the IMMAF, the rankings are updated within the days following each IMMAF world championship event, continental open championships or World Cup events.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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