Pictured above: Bulgaria’s 2017 European Open welterweight champion, Nikolay Nikolov. By IMMAF.org lead writer, Jorden Curran The 2017 IMMAF Worlds Championships has received an aesthetic development to athlete’s competition gear for this week’s event. While competing at Khalifa Sports City Arena in Manama, Bahrain, all returning champions from the 2016 World Championships and 2017 continental Opens (European, Asian and African) have been presented with gold colored competition gear in acknowledge of their position as reigning champions of IMMAF’s international circuit. For the 2016 World Championships in Las Vegas, USA, all athletes were kitted out with red and blue rashguards, shinguards, gloves and shorts – a first for amateur MMA that brings the sport in line with recognizable aesthetics of amateur and Olympic combat sport, thus triggering a visual impact that makes IMMAF competition the most recognizable form of amateur MMA in the world. IMMAF’s red and blue athlete’s equipment – provided by Green Hill – also adds to competitor safety through the fine-tuned development of shin guards and 6oz amateur style gloves. Taking place at Khalifa Sports City Arena from 12 to 19 November, as part of Brave International Combat Week, the 2017 IMMAF World Championships is the biggest event in the history of amateur MMA under IMMAF with more participants than ever before (over 250) representing nations from all continents. 2017 marks the first year of the IMMAF Worlds taking place outside of Las Vegas, USA, and will be broadcast live via the Bahrain TV app – click HERE for more information. The 17 reigning champions who received the prestigious gold fight gear include: Azerbaijan Sanan Safarli – 2017 European Open champion Bahrain Abdulmanap Magomedov – 2017 African and Asian Open champion Hamza Zrira – 2017 African Open champion Bulgaria Delyan Georgiev – 2017 European Open champion Nikolay Nikolov – 2017 European Open champion Congo Eliezer Kubanza – 2017 African Open champion Italy Dario Bellandi – 2017 European Open champion Hungry Alexandra Kovacs – 2017 European Open champion Kazakhstan Yernaz Mussabek – 2017 Asian Open champion Zhan Kenzhebayev – 2017 Asian Open champion Olzhas Moldagaliyev – 2017 Asian Open champion South Africa Frikkie Bendeman – 2017 African Open champion Nkosi Ndebele – 017 African Open champion Sweden Anton Turkalj – 2017 European Open champion Heytham Rabhi – 2017 Asian Open champion Tobia Harila – 2017 Asian Open champion Irman Smajic – 2016 IMMAF World champion, 2017 European Open champion, 2017 Asian Open champion]]>
Gold kit introduced for reigning champions at 2017 IMMAF World Championships
