Above: 2016 IMMAF World Championships, Men’s flyweight podium from left to right – David Fogarty (Ireland, silver), Brayden Graham (New Zealand, gold), Fahad Abdulrazaq (Bahrain, bronze), Josh Neal (UK, bronze). By IMMAF.org lead writer, Jorden Curran 27-year-old David Fogarty will be putting down the camera and picking up the gloves as he returns to action at the 2017 IMMAF World Championships in November. Throughout the summer the Irish amateur MMA standout accompanied Conor McGregor around the world, shooting for the TheMacLife.com as the UFC champion’s personnel photographer during his training camp and Mayweather vs. McGregor World Tour. This November the 2016 World and European silver medalist returns to competition, representing the Irish Mixed Martial Arts Association (IMMAA) national amateur MMA team. For each international championships the IMMAA team brings together a selection of the nation’s top home grown prospects from registered gyms nationwide. Fogarty is a familiar face in the Men’s flyweight division: the BJJ specialist is a veteran of top flight international amateur events under the IMMAF banner, first earning bronze at the 2015 European Open before progressing to feature among the Flyweight standouts at the 2016 World and 2016/2017 European Open Championships. The SBG Charlestown product is 7-4 as an amateur with 5 submission stoppages to his name. In 2016 he was a double IMMAF silver medalist reaching the final of the Men’s 125lb bracket at the World Championships and European Open Championships, respectively. Fogarty is ranked third in the IMMAF Men’s flyweight world rankings. The Irishman will be looking to bounce back after an early exit from the 2017 European Open in which he was eliminated via a judges’ decision by top Bahrain representative Hussain Ayyad-Abdulla. Fogarty had previously defeated Abdulla at the 2016 Worlds with an opening round rear-naked-choke submission. Taking place at Khalifa Sports City Arena from 12 to 19 November, as part of Brave International Combat Week, the 2017 World Championships are anticipated to be the biggest event in the history of amateur MMA under IMMAF with more participants than ever before representing nations from all continents. 2017 marks the first year of the IMMAF Worlds taking place outside of Las Vegas, USA. 
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