By Hasan Khan
The IMMAF 2025 Junior Finals delivered a spectacle of technical mastery and unshakable will. Each bout was a proving ground where raw talent met refined skill, and champions emerged through moments of tactical brilliance.
Poland’s Julia Glaz retained her Atomweight crown in commanding fashion against Ukraine’s Polina Oleksiienko. Oleksiienko opened with fast jabs, but her aggression left gaps that Glaz exploited with a seamless transition from an armbar into a kneebar, wrenching a submission victory in the opening round.
Light Heavyweights Lukasz Makowski of Poland and Denys Lushpaiev of Ukraine wasted no time engaging in a battle of force and finesse. Lushpaiev sought control through a clinch, only for Makowski to counter with razor-sharp timing. A precise strike sent his opponent reeling before he secured a triangle, shifting swiftly into an armbar, forcing the tap in a rapid 1 minute and 1 second.
North Macedonia’s Daniela Aleksovska captured Strawweight gold with clinical execution, shutting down Ukraine’s Anastasiia Horodivska before she could build momentum. Horodivska pressed forward early, but Aleksovska dictated the grappling exchanges, securing back control, threading into double underhooks, and locking in a triangle choke, a finish that showcased her technical prowess, an incredible 100% success rate for team North Macedonia.
In the Super Lightweight final, Ireland’s Alex Keogh faced Ukraine’s Maksym Karpenko in a battle of adaptability. Keogh mixed sharp body kicks with feints, controlling the range before dragging the fight to the canvas. A rear-naked choke attempt slipped away before the bell, but in the second round, he reversed Karpenko’s grappling advances, securing a body lock before unleashing a torrent of strikes, forcing the referee to step in for a TKO victory.
Super Middleweight gold was decided in a gruelling contest between Ireland’s Fionn O’Rourke and Ukraine’s Olexander Solovei. O’Rourke cycled through a series of holds combined with submission threats, including a crucifix and Kimura before shifting into a dominant position. A relentless output of well-placed jabs and heavy body shots sealed a clear-cut unanimous decision in favour of Ireland.
Ukraine’s generational talent Mariia Klein proved why she remains one of IMMAF’s most dominant Bantamweights in the junior divisions, rematching Slovakia’s Eva Erdelyiova in a bout that was over almost as soon as it began. A textbook takedown, followed by an onslaught of ground strikes, forced the referee’s hand within seconds.
Finland’s Isla Fono imposed her will in the Lightweight division, going toe-to-toe with Serbia’s Milica Glusica in an explosive back-and-forth. Fono’s kickboxing set the rhythm, her combinations landing with pinpoint accuracy before she transitioned to the mat, securing a crucifix and hammering down strikes. In round two, she thwarted a buggy choke attempt, took control with a heavy throw, and overwhelmed Glusica with a cascade of strikes, earning a TKO stoppage and adding another gold to Finland’s tally.
The Junior Finals were a testament to skill, strategy, and heart, but the night’s defining chapter has yet to be written. The Senior Finals loom, with Elias Erber and Sani Brannfors preparing for one last battle before making the leap to the professional ranks.
Watch the action continue LIVE at IMMAF.tv.
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