MMA – THREE of Bahrain’s top mixed martial arts (MMA) fighters stayed on course for a medal yesterday at the 2026 International MMA Federation (IMMAF) World Championships, currently being held in Tbilisi, Georgia.
Reigning world champion Arsen Suleimanov, Asian champion Isaev Abdula, and promising youngster Mahamat Youssouf all advanced in their respective competition categories at Tbilisi Arena.
They are all scheduled to be back in action in the cage today for their quarter-final clashes.
Suleimanov opened his campaign yesterday in the senior men’s light heavyweight 93kg class with a win by forfeiture against Saudi Arabia’s Fahad Alqahtani in their round of 16.
The 21-year-old will now be taking on Amirkhon Kudratillaev from Uzbekistan in the elite eight.
Kudratillaev had a bye in the first stage and will thus see his maiden action against his highly ranked Bahraini opponent.
Suleimanov is one of the kingdom’s leading medal hopefuls in this year’s worlds.
He secured his world title last year, also in Tbilisi, in the junior men’s light heavyweight 93kg division. He is one of the sport’s rising stars, and is shortlisted for a pair of prestigious 2026 IMMAF Athlete Awards, including Junior Male Athlete of the Year and Newcomer of the Year.
Meanwhile, Abdula powered through to the last eight of the senior men’s heavyweight 97kg division yesterday.
The 25-year-old won in his maiden assignment of the world championships in the last 16 against Alehandro D’agostino from Italy, whom he beat by submission with a rear-naked choke.
Abdula will next lock horns with Lionel Konda of Angola, whose match yesterday against Rives Hargis from the US was cancelled due to a no-show.
Abdula is presently the continental champion in the senior men’s light heavyweight 93kg class and is hoping to add a world gold to his career winnings at the Georgian capital.
Youssouf secured his second successive victory yesterday to march through to the junior men’s featherweight 65.8kg quarters.
The 18-year-old was a unanimous decision winner against Dominik Ilkov of Czechia and will be looking to maintain his positive run so far when he faces Dominik Sitko from Poland today. Sitko advanced after defeating Sebastiao Levi from Angola with an armbar submission.
Suleimanov, Abdula, and Youssouf are part of a five-fighter Bahrain national team flying the kingdom’s flag in Tbilisi. The others are Magomed Sheikhov and Aseel Almutawa.
Thirty-year-old Sheikhov bowed out of contention yesterday after losing in the round of 16 of the senior men’s flyweight 56.7kg division against Kamronkhuja Abdullaev from Uzbekistan by technical knockout.
Eighteen-year-old Almutawa, on the other hand, went down fighting in his round-of-32 bout against Szymon Solowief from Poland in the junior men’s flyweight 56.7kg division on Monday.
Bahrain are one of 32 national teams competing in the 2026 IMMAF World Championships.
The kingdom’s delegation also includes renowned coaches Renat Iusubov, Ebrahim Aun, and Husain Abdulla.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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