Action aplenty on day one
Manama : It was a mixed day for Bahrain as Bahraini amateur fighter Ali Yaqoub fell to a defeat to USA’s Sean Stebbins in the opening match of 2017 IMMAF World Championships only for Bahraini Abdulmanap Magomedov to restore the host nation’s positivity in a later match.
Magomedov won against Manuchekhr Davlyatbekov of Tajikistan via technical knockout at 2.26 minutes of round two. Both fighters, weighing less than 62 kilograms were in the Bantamweight class. This came after Yaqoub lost via unanimous decision in the opening match of the competition to Stebbins in the flyweight category. Despite his best efforts he was beaten because of decisive take downs from Stebbins at key moments. HH Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al-Khalifa, First Deputy President of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sport, Honorary Chairman of the Bahrain Mixed Martial Arts Federation (BMMAF) stayed at the Bahrain corner offering moral support and advise to the Bahraini fighters.
Other notable results are, Zhakypbekov of Kazakhstan defeated Ivaylov of Bulgaria Via Unanimous Decision, Kennedy of Ireland defeated Saidov of Tajikistan Via Split Decision, Shiva of India Defeated Yacoubian of Lebanon Via Unanimous Decision. Miles of UK Defeated Kyriakides of Cyprus Via Unanimous decision, Veras of Brazil defeated Butler of Ireland. Amine of France defeated Asparuhov of Bulgaria via Unanimous Decision and Lynch of Ireland Defeated Shkodrov of Bulgaria.
A total of 248 competitors are participating in the competition making this IMMAF’s largest event to date. IMMAF is part of Brave International Combat week.
His Majesty the King’s Representative for Charity and Youth Affairs, Chairman of the Bahrain Olympic Committee, Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al-Khalifa, praised the efforts of His Highness Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al-Khalifa in developing the sport of MMA in Bahrain. He said that Bahrain has won the confidence of the international and continental federations to host the tournaments in various games, thanks to the ability of its youth to organise such events in a successful manner.
Speaking about the launch of Brave International Combat Week, Shaikh Khalid said, “We appreciate the support and patronage of His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al-Khalifa, which reflects His Highness’s keenness to develop Bahraini sport in general, and the sport of mixed martial arts in particular, and in making Bahrain a centre for this sport. In addition to His Highness’s clear support for the fighters of the national team in their journey in preparing for the championship.”
Bahrain recorded another victory later in the day when Nayef Fikey defeated Alessandro Franquillo Italy via unanimous decision.
However, in another match Benjamin Bennett of USA Defeated Bahrain’s Abbas Khan via unanimous decision.
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