The national amateur team of Lebanon will soon travel to the UK for the IMMAF European Open Championships of Amateur MMA, which takes place in less than 9 days time, from November 19 to 22 at the University of Wolverhampton’s Walsall Campus Sports Centre. Lebanon made history with IMMAF in 2014 as the first Arab nation to compete in an IMMAF Championships event, at the first World Amateur Championships in Las Vegas. Furthermore, Lebanon championed the first and only Arab female competitor under IMMAF to date, with Rachel Abou Abdallah (pictured below) who claimed the silver medal in the Women’s 115lb strawweight division. Unfortunately, Abou Abdallah has been unable to compete in 2015 due to an ACL injury. “It’s a huge pride for the team, being the first Arab national team to compete in an IMMAF World Championship event,” explained Lebanese IMMAF board member Wissam Abi Nader. “In Lebanon we believe that female sport stars should earn the same attention and respect as the males. Rachel couldn’t make it this year due to a knee surgery.” This year at the 2015 IMMAF World Championships, Lebanon secured a further two podium positions with Joeshwa Mortada (Men’s lightweight) and Imad Al Howayeck (middleweight, pictured) each claiming bronze in their respective category. It will be Al Howayeck who returns to IMMAF competition as a World Championships medallist looking to go even further at the European Open. Abi Nader continued, “Imad is a young athlete with great talent and is evolving in a very fast way. He is becoming more mature and getting more experience, and I believe he will achieve great results in the European Open…why not get the Gold?” The four athletes representing Lebanon at the 2015 IMMAF European Open Championships (subject to IMMAF clearance) are: Andro Tarraf – Men’s Flyweight Roland Yacoubian – Men’s Flyweight Imad Al Howayeck – Light-Heavyweight Charbel Diab – Heavyweight 
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