Rakan Alyammahi led the UAE’s impressive performance on the third day of the IMMAF Youth World Championships at Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala Arena, capturing gold in the Youth B Men’s 44kg division. Alyammahi secured the top spot on the podium after a decisive victory over Ireland’s Roman Verhoeven in the final. His teammate, Mustafa Almaqboul, added to the host nation’s success by earning a bronze medal in the same weight class.
These latest achievements bring the UAE Mixed Martial Arts National Team’s total medal haul to 17, consisting of six gold, five silver, and six bronze medals. The ongoing tournament, which features over 1,100 athletes representing 55 nations, began its Youth B category—for competitors aged 14 to 15—on Wednesday. This stage of the competition is scheduled to run for two days, challenging participants to adapt to diverse opponents and perform under intense pressure.
Mohammed Hussein Al Marzooqi, a board member of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts Federation, highlighted the strategic importance of hosting the event. He noted that the championship serves as a vital platform for Abu Dhabi to refine its organizational capabilities and strengthen its status as a global hub for combat sports. By bringing together international coaches, referees, and medical professionals, the city aims to foster a collaborative environment that benefits the entire global MMA community.
The growth of the sport is also resonating with international representatives. Raed Jameel Abbas, President of the Iraqi Mixed Martial Arts Federation, emphasized that the tournament serves as a character-building experience for young athletes. Beyond the physical competition, he noted that the event teaches essential life skills such as discipline, self-control, and respect for opponents, which helps families feel more confident in the safety and structure of the sport.
For the Alyammahi family, the tournament is a shared journey. Rakan and his brother, Khaleifah, who is competing in the Youth C Men’s 48kg division, have been training together for years. Rakan credited his parents for encouraging them to channel their competitive energy into MMA, noting that having his brother by his side provides significant support. Having previously won gold and silver at these championships, Rakan expressed satisfaction in securing another gold medal this year.
The event has drawn support from families worldwide, including Anup Kalita, whose son Kunal is competing in the Youth B 62kg division. Reflecting on his own missed opportunities to pursue combat sports, Kalita expressed his commitment to supporting his children’s ambitions. He stated, “I will support them in every way I can. I hope my son can continue in the sport, compete professionally one day and win many medals.”
For competitors like Arin Hakobyan of the Armenian National Team, the pressure of the tournament is the culmination of months of rigorous preparation. He noted that the intensity of the competition makes every training session feel critical, as the outcome often rests on just a few minutes of action inside the cage. He added that while the result is important, the experience of testing himself against the world’s best in his age group remains invaluable.
The Youth B competition is set to conclude on Thursday, with the tournament transitioning to the Youth A category—for athletes aged 16 to 17—on Friday. The report also notes that “It brings together national teams, coaches, referees, medical teams and organisers from around the world, giving everyone the opportunity to share knowledge and learn from each other. The report also notes that coaches and referees, as well as improving safety and organisation, this includes developing athletes. The report also notes that “At this age, it is not only about competition. The report also notes that so our parents encouraged us to take up MMA and put that energy into the sport, rakan said: “We used to fight at home anyway. The report also notes that now I am in a position to give my children the opportunities I didn’t have.
