ABU DHABI: Russia topped the overall standings as the seventh edition of the IMMAF Youth World Championships concluded on Sunday at Mubadala Arena in Abu Dhabi. Ukraine finished second, with Tajikistan taking third.
The UAE National Team also celebrated its best-ever performance at the Youth World Championships, winning 19 medals — six gold, six silver and seven bronze. The haul surpassed the UAE’s previous record of 13 medals, set in 2025.
Organized by the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation and hosted by the UAE Jiu-Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts Federation for the fifth consecutive year, the championship featured seven days of competition and attracted more than 1,100 athletes from 55 countries. They competed across four age categories in the largest edition of the championship to date.
The UAE’s medal haul underlined the progress of the national team’s youth program, which picked up four medals when it first appeared at the championships in 2022.
The final day also saw a special recognition shield presented to IMMAF president Kerrith Brown, as well as to several of the championship’s partners and officials from national federations for their contributions to the success of the event.
Mohammed Bin Dalmouj Al-Dhaheri, UAE Jiu-Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts Federation board member, thanked Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan for his patronage of the event and said he appreciated the UAE’s leadership for the support it gave the country’s athletes and sports industries.
“We are proud of the success of the championship and the way Abu Dhabi welcomed athletes and teams from more than 55 countries,” said Al-Dhaheri. “We are especially proud of what our young UAE athletes have achieved. The increase in the national team’s medal tally in a short period shows that the work we are doing to develop local talent, organize competitions and prepare our athletes is delivering results.
“Our ambition goes beyond one championship. We want the UAE national team to perform consistently at a high level and continue to strengthen its position in international MMA. Hosting the championship for the fifth consecutive year also shows that Abu Dhabi has become an important part of the event and a destination trusted by the international MMA community.”
Tolly Plested, head coach of the UAE National MMA Team, said he was proud of the team’s medal tally.
“This is our most successful world championships so far,” he said. “Our previous best was four gold medals, and this year we won six. It means a lot to the coaching team because it comes after more than three years of working with athletes across different age groups.
“We started building the youth program in 2022. Four years later, our athletes are competing alongside countries with a long history in the sport, including Ukraine, England, Russia and Tajikistan. Reaching this level in a short period is an important step for us, and the performances this week show that our work is producing results.”
Plested said the development of MMA in the UAE was also creating a clearer pathway for Emirati athletes, starting with local competitions and youth programs before progressing to international competition and higher levels of the sport.
He added: “We are already seeing athletes from our youth program move to higher levels. Having major professional competitions in the region gives them something to aim for, and I believe we will see more Emirati athletes reaching that level in the coming years.
“I am proud of the athletes, coaches and management team, and grateful for the support of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts Federation. These results are the outcome of everyone working together. More importantly, they show the progress MMA is making in the UAE and the opportunities ahead for Emirati athletes.”
