The second day of the 2023 IMMAF World Championships elevated the tournament to brand new heights, building on an already spectacular opening stanza.
Returning champions continued to build on their past successes, while emerging talents left an indelible mark on the landscape of amateur MMA.
Team Kazakhstan continued to assert its dominance, securing numerous decisive victories throughout the day. Among the standout performances was that of Dias Osser, the 2022 IMMAF Asia Champion, who forced a first-round submission via standing guillotine.
Kazakhstan’s major rivals of Day 1, Team Ukraine, maintained their momentum with a series impressive performance. Oleksandr Huliaiev landed a slick ankle lock, whilst Marta Pankiv TKO’d Team Portugal’s Patricia Livramento in the second round.
After a somewhat lacklustre Day 1, Team England turned things around in impressive fashion. Five wins out of six bouts, coupled with a highlight-reel finish by Charlie Lynch Smith, saw them flip the script on its head.
Although not replicating their undefeated streak from Day 1, Team Belgium still showcased their prowess. Stiven Shehu, an Albanian-born athlete representing Belgium, engaged in a thrilling back-and-forth battle against Zar Mawia. Shehu emerged victorious with a second-round knockout, marking his second such triumph in the tournament.
Shehu’s teammates Movsar Ibragimov and Patrick Habirora were also both impressive in victory, claiming unanimous decision wins. Ibragimov’s triumph sets the stage for a highly anticipated clash with Tajikistan’s Otabek Rajabov in the quarter-finals.
Once again, Rajabov and his teammates showed out in impressive fashion. Team Tajikistan would pick up the most wins of the day, marking themselves as yet another major threat to the key players of the tournament so far.
The stage is set for a clash of world champions in the upcoming quarter-finals of the 2023 World Championships. Witness the next generation of stars face off at the pinnacle of amateur MMA, promising intense and captivating matchups. Tune in to witness the evolution of these athletes as they strive for glory live on IMMAF.TV.
