Historic Triumph at Youth World Championship
Rachim Isaev, a 16-year-old fighter from Vienna, has made history for Austrian MMA at the recent IMMAF Youth World Championship. Competing in the Super Lightweight division, Isaev claimed gold – the first time Austria has achieved this feat.
About IMMAF and MMA
The International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF), established in 2012, is the premier global organization for amateur MMA. Its mission is to promote the sport at the amateur level, regulate competitions, and maintain international standards. MMA is a dynamic sport that blends wrestling and striking, incorporating techniques from Muay Thai, Judo, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and boxing. The sport gained worldwide attention through the UFC and now boasts roughly 450 million fans, making it one of the fastest-growing sports globally.
Super Lightweight Gold for Austria
MMA is increasingly popular in Vienna, and Isaev’s recent victory is set to inspire even more young athletes. At the Youth World Championship in Al-Ain, Abu Dhabi (UAE), Isaev fought through four challenging matches to earn Austria’s historic gold in the Super Lightweight category. In the final, he overcame Mirzabekov Mirbek from Kyrgyzstan.
Isaev posted on Instagram: “After five years of dedication, I’ve finally achieved this at my first IMMAF World Championship. It’s unbelievable! I felt strong in the first two fights, but by the third and fourth, I was losing energy. I refused to give up because I wanted the gold. And now, I have it!”
Global Youth Competition
The Youth World Championship ran from July 21 to 27 in Abu Dhabi. More than 1,000 young fighters from approximately 60 countries competed across age divisions U11, U13, U15, and U17.
