By Cédric Dumas
It was another action-packed weekend across the globe for IMMAF alumni, with standout performances from veterans of the amateur circuit now making waves in the professional ranks.
In Kazakhstan, Naiza FC 73 featured multiple IMMAF veterans showcasing their evolution. The main event saw the conclusion of a storied rivalry between two of the most talented strawweights to come out of the IMMAF system. Bagdat Zhubanysh (7-1), a three-time IMMAF world champion, avenged the only loss of his career, amateur or professional, by defeating Sagyn Kazbek (6-1) via third-round TKO. Zhubanysh claimed the first fight between the two at the 2018 IMMAF World Championships, before Kazbek evened the score in 2023. With this emphatic win, Zhubanysh takes the trilogy and reasserts himself as maybe the best fighter in the world at that weight class.
Fellow strawweight and 2023 IMMAF junior world champion Bezhan Khojaliev (3-0) continued his strong start to pro competition with a second-round TKO, while Ansar Kasymzhanov (5-1) delivered a highlight-reel KO in the opening round of his fight, on the same card.
Over in Australia, Hex Fight Series 35 featured multiple IMMAF alumni, including Kasib Murdoch (5-0), who captured the Hex bantamweight title with a dominant TKO over Liam Gusti. The 2022 IMMAF world champion extended his overall win streak to 16 straight, including his amateur record. His rise has drawn comparisons to a Kiwi version of none other than Alexander Volkanovski. Earlier in the card, Jake Piper (1-1), also a 2022 IMMAF World Championships competitor, scored his first professional win with a highlight-reel KO of Patrick Hill (3-1). Despite losing his debut, Piper showed considerable promise at 145lbs. Also representing the IMMAF ranks was Keoni Terorotua (2-1) of French Polynesia, who notched a clean first-round knockout on the undercard.
Cage Warriors 189 in Italy proved to be another hotspot for IMMAF alumni on Saturday. In one of the most memorable finishes of the week, Gary Rooney (3-1) of Ireland secured a slick first-round armbar in front of a stunned Italian crowd. The card also featured an all-IMMAF alumni clash, where Luca Borando (6-1) stopped Jan Masek (2-2) with a brutal body-shot KO in the second round. Paddy McCorry (6-1) continued his strong run with a unanimous decision win, positioning himself as a potential title challenger in the promotion. Fellow alum Antonino Amodeo (4-1) also picked up a solid decision victory.
Back in Kazakhstan, Zhanibek Tynyshtyk (6-0), the 2018 IMMAF European champion, delivered one of the fastest finishes of the weekend, scoring a KO in under a minute at Alash Pride 108, held in the IMMAF-rich territory of Central Asia.
Meanwhile, Superior Challenge 28 in Sweden offered a major spotlight for IMMAF veterans in a strawweight title bout. Aleksandra Toncheva (7-5-1) edged out fellow alum Nina Back (3-2) in a competitive clash to claim the promotion’s strawweight crown.
At RFA 23, Mário Brezovský (1-0), fresh off a silver medal at the 2024 IMMAF European Championships, made a strong professional debut with a ground-and-pound TKO.
Promising bantamweight prospect Nikoloz Kurtanidze (1-0), another participant from the recent European Championships, earned a unanimous decision win at GFC 31, showing composure well beyond his experience level.
Rounding out the week was Marta Pankiv (1-0), a 2022 IMMAF European silver medalist originally from Ukraine, who now coaches at a Canadian gym. Pankiv made her professional debut at Unified 62, earning a clear-cut unanimous decision and adding another chapter to her globetrotting martial arts journey.
Once again, IMMAF alumni showcased the depth and reach of the federation’s developmental pipeline, with fighters emerging victorious across four continents — from regional titles to rivalry-ending performances. Their success continues to affirm the value of a strong amateur foundation on the path to elite competition.
