MMA – BAHRAIN’S mixed martial arts (MMA) superstars Gimbat Magomedov and Gadzhi Gadzhiev were both crowned three-time world champions last night.
The two fighters secured unprecedented world title ‘three-peats’ after striking gold at the 2025 IMMAF World Championships in Tbilisi, Georgia.
Magomedov captured the title in the senior men’s super welterweight 79.4kg category, while Gadzhiev won his crown in the senior men’s super middleweight 88.4kg division.
Their medals brought the kingdom’s tally at the Georgian capital to three golds, adding to the first won by Arsen Suleimanov on Wednesday night in the junior men’s light heavyweight 93kg weight class.
“Our team was not big at this world championships, but still we won three gold medals,” Bahrain’s MMA national team head coach Eldar Eldarov told the GDN last night from the Georgian capital.
“I think it is a good result – we are in the top five on the medals table, and Gimbat and Gadzhi defended their world titles from last year. We are really proud of them.”
Bahrain MMA Federation president Mohammed Qamber was on hand in Tbilisi, joining Magomedov and Gadzhiev in celebrating their successes yesterday.
Their sensational performances headlined the final day of action at this year’s worlds, which were organised and run by the International MMA Federation (IMMAF) and held as part of BRAVE International Combat Week, under BRAVE Combat Federation.
Magomedov secured his super welterweight world title belt following a split-decision victory against Mirza Gajievi from Georgia in their division final. Two of the three judges scored the match 30-27 in Magomedov’s favour, while the other gave the contest to Gajievi 29-28.
Sharing the bronze medals in their weight class were Dias Osser from Kazakhstan and Bohdan Voloshyn from Ukraine. Magomedov’s gold was his second in a row in the same weight class. Prior to claiming his maiden senior men’s world title last year, the 22-year-old won gold in the junior men’s welterweight 77.1kg category in 2023.
Meanwhile, Gadzhiev triumphed in his super middleweight decider against Doszhan Yesbol from Kazakhstan by unanimous decision. Two judges scored the bout 29-28 in his favour, while the third gave Gadzhiev a 30-27 score.
Taking bronze and joining Gadzhiev and Yesbol on the podium were Abdullo Abdulloev from Tajikistan and David Idemudia from England.
Gadzhiev had also clinched the super middleweight crown last year, and in 2023 won the light heavyweight 93kg world title. With their results last night, Bahrain wrapped up a successful campaign in Tbilisi, where they competed with seven fighters.
Aside from Magomedov and Gadzhiev, also stepping into the cage in their respective senior men’s categories were Magomed Sheikhov and Isaev Abdulla. Amongst Bahrain’s junior men, Suleimanov was joined by Tamim Seroor and Abdulla Ismaeel.
At last year’s worlds in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, the kingdom’s national team ranked first amongst Arab nations with four medals, including two gold, one silver, and one bronze.
Gadzhiev and Magomedov were the gold-medallists, Sheikhov won silver, and Sultan Gapizov took bronze in the senior men’s super heavyweight +97kg category.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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