By Cédric Dumas
It was a busy weekend for IMMAF alumni around the globe, with several former medalists taking centre stage across major MMA cards. Here’s a recap of the standout performances by our federation’s former athletes.
At UFC 316, 2018 IMMAF World silver medalist Andreas Gustafsson (12-2) finally got his shot in the spotlight of the world’s biggest promotion. After a string of cancelled bouts, Gustafsson was matched against veteran Khaos Williams (15-4), a tough test for the former amateur standout who entered as the underdog. But Gustafsson remained composed, neutralising his opponent’s knockout power with relentless wrestling and constant pressure. The strategy paid off, as Gustafsson claimed a unanimous decision victory in his UFC debut.
Over in Spain, WOW 20: La Noche de Los Campeones delivered a historic all-IMMAF main event. Hecher Sosa (13-1), a former Africa champion and two-time IMMAF World bronze medalist, faced fellow alumnus Yaman Mjahed (3-1), a 2022 European Junior bronze medalist. It was a clash between two of Spain’s top talents, and Sosa made a major statement with a first-round knockout to capture WOW’s bantamweight title. His striking proved too much for the less-experienced Mjahed, and the win may have just punched Sosa’s ticket to the international scene.
Another former IMMAF standout, Movsar Ibragimov (6-0), competed at AEC 14 in Belgium. The former European champion became a double champ in his promotion with a smooth guillotine finish. He was joined on the card by fellow IMMAF alum Alvi Dasuyev (5-0), who added another knockout to his résumé, his fifth finish in as many pro fights, and claimed the AEC welterweight title in the process.
At Brave CF 96 in Slovenia, heavyweight powerhouse Miha Frlic (5-0-1) delivered a dominant performance in front of a home crowd. Frlic overwhelmed his opponent from start to finish, prompting a referee stoppage early in the third round. He remains undefeated with a 100% finish rate and looks like one of the most promising heavyweights on the European scene. The card also featured IMMAF veterans Kristjan Toniste (4-1), who earned a decision win, and Jan Berus (6-1), who unfortunately suffered a KO loss.
Ze Machado (3-0), 2023 IMMAF World Champion and Portugal’s first gold medalist, made a strong promotional debut at Lions FC 11 in Switzerland. The featherweight wasted no time, scoring a first-round TKO via ground and pound. Machado’s IMMAF résumé stretches back to 2018, and his deep amateur experience is clearly translating into professional success.
Several other IMMAF alumni were also in action this weekend:
– Kyle Mayocchi (4-0) scored a brutal KO at Shuriken Fight Series 21
– Ramston Rodrigues (2-1) won via second-round KO at BTC 29: Prometheus
– Tom Holemann (3-0) earned a submission victory at GMC 43
– Summer Onley (3-0) secured another finish with ground and pound at FCC 42
For our separate feature on Coenie Lamprecht’s breakout performance at EFC 124, you can find it here.
It’s weekends like these that prove just how vital the IMMAF amateur platform is in shaping the future of global MMA.
