Paul Abraham
The 2026 IMMAF World Championships have kicked off in Tbilisi, Georgia. From November 1 to 7, 881 athletes are competing for world titles. After team registration on Sunday, the round of 32 took place on Monday, November 2 and athletes are already standing out for their excellence.
The Competition Schedule :
The Round of 32 took place on Monday, November 2.
The Round of 16 will take place on Tuesday, November 3.
The quarter-finals will follow on Wednesday, with the semi-finals scheduled for Thursday.
The junior finals are set for Friday, November 6, starting at 2 p.m.
The senior finals will take place on Saturday, November 7, at the same time.
Impressive Finishes On Day 1 :
The opening day delivered seemingly endless emphatic performances.
In the senior division, Italy’s Samuele Caira made a strong statement. Facing Germany’s Erik Schmadtke in the super-welterweight division, he secured a KO victory in just 30 seconds.
In the junior super-lightweight division, Spain’s Nabih Laouimri Akhazzan faced Italy’s Diego Mura with the outcome serving yet another first round stoppage.
England’s Coban Melia secured a submission victory. Facing Austria’s James Heryck in the senior lightweight division, he finished the fight with a buggy choke in the first round.
Bilal Boulama Makes A Strong Start :
Bilel Boulama was among IMMAF’s “Ones to Watch” for the Round of 32.
The 2026 IMMAF African champion made a successful start to his campaign with a submission victory in the Round of 32.
The fighter is also known for his appearance in the Netflix MMA series L’Arène, where he was one of 38 contestants.
What’s next ?
The competition continues tomorrow with the Round of 16 and more talented athletes in action.
