The International Mixed Martial Arts Federation has announced two upcoming events. The 2020 IMMAF World and Junior World Championships and the 2020 IMMAF Asian and Junior Asian Open Championships will both take place in Nur Sultan, Kazakhstan.
The announcement was made on February 27, 2020 at a press conference organized by the host federation, the Kazakhstan National Public Union of Mixed Martial Arts Federation. IMMAF president Kerrith Brown, IMMAF CEO Densign White and Kazakhstan MMA federation general director Valikhan Ten attended the event.
“We are very proud to host these prestigious events in Kazakhstan,” Ten stated. “We will do our best to deliver the events to the highest level.”
According to Brown, there was tense bid process between Bahrain, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates and Kazakhstan to host the Championships. He thanked IMMAF honorary president Vadim Finkelchtein, Kazakhstan National Public Union of MMA Federation president and JSC NC KazMunayGas management board chairman Aidarbayev Alik Serikovich and the National Sport Committee of Kazakhstan for their support in facilitating the hosting of the IMMAF World and Asian Championships by Kazakhstan.
“We are certain that Kazakhstan will perform to a high level and will be able to deliver the event to a gold standard,” Brown said. “From our side, we will give every support.”
The 2020 IMMAF Asian and Junior Asian Open Championships is scheduled for June 23-27, 2020. The tournament draw will be on June 22, 2020.
The 2020 IMMAF World and Junior World Championships will take place during the week commencing October 25, 2020. The Asian Open plays out at the Palace of Combat and Martial Arts–Zhekpe Zhek with the venue for the Worlds to be confirmed.
The Kazakhstan National Public Union of MMA Federation is recognized by the National Sport Committee of Kazakhstan. The National Team ranks third in the Senior World Amateur MMA Rankings and second in the Juniors.
The team picked up 18 medals including four golds at the 2019 IMMAF World Championships in Bahrain and 22 medals including seven golds at the 2019 Asian Open in Thailand. Stand out athletes included strawweight Bagdat Zhubanysh and female atomweight Ayan Tursyn, who place third and 16th in the World Amateur Pound 4 Pound rankings, respectively.
Zhubanysh’s fellow Kazakhstani 2019 World Gold medallists are Bagdat Talshyn Zhumatayeva, Fariz Abdalov and Gani Adilserik. Tursyn’s fellow Kazakhstani 2019 Asian Gold medallists are Talshyn Zhumatayeva, Bagdat Zhubanysh, Olzhas Moldagaliyev, Anatoliy Zolotykh, Aidyn Tolepbayev and Madi Dosmukhametov.
CONAN Daily 