Federation: Bulgarian MMA Federation Number of competitors: 8 Lead by Bulgarian MMA Federation President and former UFC fighter, Stanislav Nedkov, the experienced Bulgarian team bring three previous IMMAF medallists to the 2016 IMMAF World Championships. Both Heavyweight Daniel Galabarov and Strawweight Aleksandra Toncheva proved themselves to be two of Europe’s biggest amateur MMA prospects with their Gold medal winning performances in Walsall, England. The two members of the Bulgarian squad found great success in 2015, when they dominated the competition at the IMMAF European Open Championships and now they will look to add to their IMMAF medal collection when they travel to Las Vegas. Toncheva bested Deborah O’Sullivan and Amy O’Mara en route to the European Open final. There she met Romania’s Raluca Dinescu who, without question, was the biggest test of Toncheva’s amateur MMA career. The Bulgarian showcased her strength and energy inside the clinch to outpoint Dinescu and claim the Gold medal. [caption id="attachment_7379" align="aligncenter" width="1024"]
Toncheva (red shorts) keeps up a relentless pace in the clinch.[/caption] Galabarov’s story is one of ultimate comeback. After failing to win his match at the 2015 IMMAF World Championship, Galabarov had a point to prove at the European Open where he ran through Ireland’s Ryan Spillane and Sweden’s Irman Smajic to take the Gold. [caption id="attachment_7380" align="aligncenter" width="1024"]
Galabarov delivers are right hand against Swedish opposition in the European Open final[/caption] [caption id="attachment_10179" align="aligncenter" width="599"]
2015 World Silver medallist Tencho Karaenev[/caption] Also representing Bulgaria at the #2016IMMAFWorlds, 2015 World Silver and European Bronze medalist Tencho Karaenev who will look to complete his Light-Heavyweight medal collection as he goes in search of his first IMMAF Gold at UFC International Fight Week™. Attend the 2016 IMMAF World Championships at UFC International Fight Week™ in Las Vegas, Nevada (USA): July 5 – 7, Las Vegas Convention Center FREE ENTRY July 8 & 10, UFC Fan Expo® BUY TICKETS: ufc.com/event-ticket-info FOLLOW the results live at mynextmatch.com or on Twitter at @IMMAFed]]>
