Hopes high for Ayyad

Manama : Hope will be tied to National team and KHK MMA amateur team fighter, Hussain Ayyad to achieve a positive result in the match against Irish fighter David Fogarty in the Round of Eight for the 56kg category of the Amateur European Open Championships organised by the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF) in the Bulargian capital Sofia, which continues until 2 April.

The matches continued yesterday with 33 fights held in various weight categories with the participation of the National team and KHK MMA trio fighters: Hamad Mattar, Maher Hamed and Nayef Fikey.

Hamad Mattar faced Swedish fighter Hoger Salih in the 66kg category, the match lasted for three rounds and ended in favour of the latter fighter by a decision from the judges panel, but Mattar managed to give a decent performance in his first IMMAF championship participation.

Maher Hamed faced Finnish fighter Eemil Kurhela in the 66kg category, the match lasted for 25 seconds and Kurhela emerged victorious after Maher Hamed surrendered due to lack of experience in his first participation in this championship. Nayef Fikey facing Russian fighter Ziiad Sadaily in the 70kg category.

Fikey delivered a good performance and managed to finish in a draw but the judges panel decided to grant the victory to the Russian fighter.