Rakan Alyammahi won gold for the UAE at the IMMAF Youth World Championships on Wednesday, taking the national team’s medal tally to 17 in Abu Dhabi.
The Emirati athlete beat Ireland’s Roman Verhoeven in the Youth B Men’s 44kg final at Mubadala Arena. His UAE MMA teammate Mustafa Almaqboul took bronze in the same division.
The two medals moved the hosts on to six gold, five silver and six bronze after three days of competition.
More than 1,100 athletes from 55 countries are taking part in this year’s championships, with the Youth B category for fighters aged 14 and 15 running across Wednesday and Thursday.
Alyammahi is competing at the event alongside his brother Khaleifah, who is entered in the Youth C Men’s 48kg division.
The pair train together at the same gym under the same coach, with Rakan saying the family connection has helped during his four years in the sport.
“We used to fight at home anyway, so our parents encouraged us to take up MMA and put that energy into the sport,” he said.
“We train together at the same gym with the same coach, and having my brother with me is a big support.”
Rakan said he had previously won a gold and silver medal at the IMMAF Youth World Championships before adding another title in Abu Dhabi.
“I have been competing for four years and have won one gold and one silver at the IMMAF Youth World Championships,” he said. “This year, I won a gold again.”
The championships have returned to Abu Dhabi for a fifth edition, with the event bringing national teams, coaches, referees and medical staff from around the world to Mubadala Arena.
Mohammed Hussein Al Marzooqi, board member of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts Federation, said hosting the tournament also gives local organisers the chance to build experience.
“Each of the five editions hosted in Abu Dhabi has allowed us to learn from international experience, test ourselves against the highest standards and also share the UAE’s experience with others,” he said.
Youth B competition continues on Thursday before the Youth A category, for athletes aged 16 and 17, begins on Friday.
