OMM Newsroom
Azerbaijani MMA fighter Ali Atashov has won a bronze medal at the 2026 IMMAF World Championship in Tbilisi.
Competing in the youth 88.4kg division, Atashov recorded consecutive victories in the early rounds. He defeated Uzbekistan’s Akmal Shakirov in the round of 16 to advance to the semifinals.
Defeated in semifinal
The Azerbaijani athlete faced another Uzbek competitor, Doniyor Kuvandikov, in the semifinal and lost. Under IMMAF rules, both semifinal losers receive bronze medals without an additional bout for third place.
The world championship runs from November 1 to 7. More than 880 athletes from over 60 countries are taking part. Azerbaijan is represented by seven athletes: Alakbar Mahmudov, Gabil Alizade, Saleh Jafarov, Ismat Badalov, Hasan Mahammadgazi, Ali Atashov and Elmir Allahverdiyev. The team is led by MMA Federation President Rovshan Hasanov.
Context
The MMA World Championship opened in Tbilisi on November 1. At the time, more than 820 athletes from over 60 countries were expected to compete.
