Ayad wins maiden Bronze medal

Bahrain’s Hussain Ayad was defeated by Britain’s Jack Bond in the semifinal bout of the 57kg category in the third round by a submission via a rear-naked choke as the International Mixed Martial Arts Championships European Open Amateur Championships at the Performance Hub, University of Wolverhampton, Walsall in UK concluded yesterday.

Ayad was guaranteed a historic first bronze medal for reaching the semifinals and the Khalid Hamad Khalifa Mixed Martial Arts Team (KHK MMA) team member was congratulated on his achievement by First Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports and President of the Bahrain Athletics Association, Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa.

Shaikh Khalid was also congratulated by President of the International Federation of Mixed Martial Arts Kerrith Brown on the outstanding achievement by the Bahraini fighter. Shaikh Khalid also extended his congratulations to the Kingdom’s leadership and to His Majesty the King’s Representative for Charity Works and Youth Affairs, Supreme Council for Youth and Sports Chairman and Bahrain Olympic Committee President HH Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa.

Bahrain were coached by Redha Monfaradi and Eldar Eldarov and the championship featured 174 fighters including five from Bahrain in various categories from 22 countries participating.