MMA – BAHRAIN’S mixed martial arts (MMA) stars Diana Pogosian and Mukhammad Nabiev advanced yesterday to their respective gold medal bouts in the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
Pogosian made it through to the women’s modern MMA under-54kg final following a victory by doctor’s stoppage against Bomi Lee from South Korea.
Nabiev, meanwhile, booked his place in the men’s traditional MMA under-77kg title-decider after winning by unanimous decision against Syimyk Zhanybek Uulu from Kyrgyzstan.
The Bahraini pair will both be hitting the mat and going for their historic gold medals today at Nagoya City Inae Sports Centre.
The combat sport of MMA is making its Asiad debut this year in Aichi-Nagoya.
Pogosian will be taking on Kanjutha Phattaraboonsorn of Thailand in her final, which is scheduled for an 8.17am start, while Nabiev will be locking horns with Yerkingali Burkutalin of Kazakhstan in his final, slated for the very next bout at 8.34am. Both times are Bahrain.
Their contests are part of an exciting programme on the concluding day of MMA in this year’s Asian Games, with six gold medals up for the taking.
In attendance during yesterday’s events were Bahrain Olympic Committee (BOC) executive director of operations and Bahrain’s chef de mission Ahmed Abdulghaffar, BOC sports project management director Lounes Madene, BOC secretary general office’s director Shoof Almalood, and BOC Arab and international relations head Maryam Mardana.
Bahrain MMA Federation president and International MMA Federation board member Mohammed Ali Qambar was also on hand along with Bahrain’s renowned MMA national team coach Sharap Gitinov and the kingdom’s other fighters.
Pogosian came away with her win yesterday at the minute-and-20-second mark in the first round. The 24-year-old will be aiming to become the kingdom’s first-ever Asiad gold-medallist in MMA, and is already assured of at least a silver medal.
Phattaraboonsorn set up her showdown with Pogosian after a submission win against Vallensia Fahira Hotmauli from Indonesia in their semi-final yesterday.
With their losses, Lee and Hotmauli are sharing the bronze medals in the women’s modern MMA under-54kg category.
On the distaff, Nabiev will be hoping for a golden double today for Bahrain in MMA, but, like Pogosian, will already be coming away from Japan with at least silver. His clash with Burkutalin was set up after his upcoming opponent beat Carlos Alvarez from the Philippines by technical knockout.
Zhanybek Uulu and Alvarez are therefore joint-bronze-medallists in the men’s traditional MMA under-77kg division.
MMA is one of seven combat sports Bahrain’s delegation are participating in at this year’s Asian Games.
The others are boxing, jiu-jitsu, judo, kurash, taekwondo, and wrestling.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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