By Erik Uebelacker
The United States Youth MMA Team will be competing for another world title at the 2022 IMMAF World Youth MMA Championships in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The U.S. finished 1st and 3rd overall in previous youth MMA world championships and is expected to be a favourite once again out of the 40 nations competing from August 16-21.
“We are extremely grateful and blessed that these kids found the USFL and are able to compete through it,” said Julio Cruz, a coach from California. “Last year, we were able to take two of our kids, Uriel Cruz and Liriah Gill, to IMMAF Youth Worlds 2021 in Bulgaria. That experience at such a young age had a profound impact on them.”
Both Cruz and Gill will compete at this year’s World Youth MMA Championships as well.
Each team member qualified for their spot at the 2022 Youth National Championships on May 14th at Dan Henderson’s Athletic Fitness Centre in Temecula, CA. The 199-bout tournament featured over 180 youth MMA fighters from around the United States.
“The ability to have a child earn a spot to represent the USA in Abu Dhabi is special, not only from an athletic perspective but for life,” said Chance Gamble, a coach from North Carolina.
Reina Belemontes says that her 12-year-old daughter, Jayden Murillo, has been training and waiting for her chance to compete for the United States team.
“She has worked her behind off training since the age of five, and now winning gold at nationals secured her spot,” Belemontes said. “As a coach and mother, I can’t thank the USFL and IMMAF enough for giving our children opportunities like this.”
Approximately 450 youth athletes will compete at the IMMAF World Youth MMA Championships. Team USA features athletes from Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Texas, Nevada & Wisconsin. The full roster is as follows:
YOUTH A BOYS 16-17
115 LBS.
Elias Kaohu-Wachi (HI)
125 LBS
Daniel Arellano (CA)
Gavin Mitchell (CA)
135 LBS.
Sergio Porras (CA)
Xander Ramirez (NV)
145 LBS.
Jacob Matthew Rivera (CA)
Andrew Barber (CA)
155 LBS.
Ronald Anderson (TX)
170 LBS.
Eric Cortez (CA)
YOUTH A GIRLS 16-17
105lbs
Abigail Alvarez (CA)
115 LBS.
Adelina Rialmo (CA)
135 LBS.
Andrea Frisque (CA)
Allison Keenan (CA)
155 LBS.
Citlali Perez (CA)
YOUTH B BOYS 14-15
97 LBS.
Daniel Goodwin (CO)
106 LBS.
Braden Cermak (NC)
Uriel Cruz (CA)
115 LBS.
Omar Rodriguez (CA)
Dalton Riggs (TX)
137 LBS.
Maxwell Stary (WI)
James Weaver (NC)
148 LBS.
Mannix Cermak (NC)
159 LBS.
Delton Kaufman (AZ)
170 LBS.
Joseph Bowers (AZ)
YOUTH B GIRLS 14-15
106 LBS.
Asia Rialmo (CA)
115 LBS.
Lariah Gill (CA)
Shayna Ward (OK)
125 LBS.
Taylor Ellis (OK)
137 LBS.
Joy Sheppard (TX)
YOUTH C BOYS 12-13
75 LBS.
Zadkiel Cruz (CA)
88 LBS.
Brian Snelson (NC)
106 LBS.
David Alejandro Rosales Zuniga (Daniels) (CA)
115 LBS.
Adam Maldonado Jr (CA)
126 LBS.
Kona Lane (CA)
137 LBS.
Izaac Esparza (CA)
YOUTH C GIRLS 12- 13
88 LBS
Layla Ward (OK)
97 LBS.
Jayden Murillo (CA)
Madeline Meza Vazquez (CA)
106 LBS.
Isabella Campos (CA)
115 LBS.
Bridget Costner (NC)
Cora Macleod (CA)
