By Frank Bonada
In the second instalment of the IMMAF Pathways series, we delve into the inspiring journey of Belgium’s Patrick Habirora—a dynamic welterweight whose amateur success has transitioned seamlessly into a highly promising professional career.
Overcoming Early Setbacks
Despite the dominance Habirora now showcases in the cage, his early IMMAF days were filled with challenges. Debuting at the 2019 IMMAF-WMMAA European Senior & Junior Open Championships, he faced Ireland’s Adam Darby, where he came up short via TKO in the third round.
Undeterred by the setback, Habirora honed his skills on the regional circuit before returning to IMMAF competition in 2022. However, his comeback campaign initially stumbled when he faced future IMMAF Pan American Champion Diego Rangel (Mexico), who caught him in a first-round armbar, forcing another early exit.
Turning the Tide
This loss, however, became a pivotal turning point for ‘The Belgian Bomber.’ Determined to improve, Habirora embarked on a relentless schedule, competing five times in just five months on the regional scene. This surge of activity built momentum, propelling him into the 2022 IMMAF European Championships, where his level of talent and improvement quickly became apparent.
Habirora opened the tournament with a spectacular nine-second knockout against Václav Žemla (Czech Republic). He followed this up with another finish over veteran amateur Arturo Aedillo (Spain), before handing Alan Surmont (Israel) his first-ever defeat.
In the semi-finals, Habirora faced jiu-jitsu specialist Alex Aston (Wales), who at the time held an impressive 13-3 record. Despite Aston’s intent to capitalize on Habirora’s previous struggles with grappling, the Belgian fighter’s striking power proved decisive. He finished Aston in the first round in a statement victory.
By this stage, Habirora appeared unstoppable. However, his ultimate test came in the final against another top Welsh contender, Ioan Harris. Harris, a wrestler with a heavy grappling approach, managed to neutralize Habirora’s striking advantage and secured a submission win via Von Flue choke in the second round.
Lessons Learned
Habirora’s challenges against strong wrestlers resurfaced at the 2022 IMMAF World Championships. Although he started strong with a knockout win over Italy’s Karim Ksouri, and followed it up with a decision victory against Musokhon Ziyadinov (Uzbekistan), he struggled when matched against Kazakhstan’s Doszhan Kenzhebaev, ultimately falling victim to another grappling-heavy strategy.
One Final Push
Heading into the 2023 IMMAF World Championships, Habirora announced his intention to turn professional regardless of the outcome. With a 16-6 amateur record and a growing fanbase, the timing seemed right. Yet, the elusive IMMAF World Championship title was still missing from his resume.
Determined to leave his amateur career on a high, Habirora came into the tournament a point to prove. He started strong, securing the first submission win of his IMMAF career in the opening round against Luca Mele (Italy). Habirora capitalized on Mele’s takedown attempt, locking in a guillotine choke for a quick tap-out victory.
His next bout saw him against Omar Tugarev (Finland), a rising star who has since transitioned to a 4-0 professional record. Habirora showcased his growth and maturity, weathering Tugarev’s aggression to earn a unanimous decision win. He then delivered a stunning knockout against the undefeated Sebastian Palacio Gomez (Sweden), securing his position in the semi-finals.
Against Sirojiddin Sarabecki (Tajikistan), Habirora faced one of his toughest tests. The two went back and forth, showcasing their full arsenal of skills. By the narrowest of margins, Habirora emerged victorious, advancing to the final.
Fighting For Gold
In the final, Habirora faced seasoned IMMAF veteran Jovidon Makhmudov from Tajikistan. Makhmudov, who had been on the verge of winning IMMAF gold multiple times but fell short against all-time great Ramazan Gitinov, now had his best opportunity with Gitinov having gone pro.
Makhmudov’s wrestling-heavy approach initially mirrored the strategies that had troubled Habirora in the past. He controlled the first round and continued to dominate early in the second, pinning Habirora against the cage. However, in a pivotal moment, Habirora reversed the position, gaining top control and transiting to full mount, from where he unleashed a barrage of strikes. Though the round ended before he could finish, it became clear that the momentum had shifted.
By the final round, Makhmudov appeared fatigued, while Habirora remained light on his feet. Utilizing his fast jabs and footwork, Habirora created distance before landing a powerful right hand that sent Makhmudov stumbling. Sensing the opportunity, he unleashed a relentless combination of body and head strikes, forcing Makhmudov to retreat and ultimately sink to the ground, prompting the referee to step in.
In his final amateur bout, Patrick Habirora claimed the pinnacle of IMMAF glory, securing the World Championship gold medal.
The Next Generation
Following his triumph, Habirora transitioned to the professional ranks, joining fellow Team Belgium standouts Movsar Ibragimov and Steven Shihu. Reflecting on his journey, the newly crowned champion expressed his desire to inspire the next wave of Belgian athletes.
He highlighted rising talents like Ines Boulabarj and Nessim Akhdim, who competed in the Junior brackets at the 2023 IMMAF World Championships. Boulabarj, in particular, made history as the first Belgian woman to win an IMMAF World gold medal.
As Habirora embarks on a promising pro career with ARES FC, Boulabarj and Akhdim are preparing for the 2024 IMMAF World Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. With IMMAF’s talent pool growing deeper every year, the next generation of Belgian fighters are primed to follow in Habirora’s footsteps, continuing the legacy of excellence he helped establish.
