#AmateurMMA

Kingi Stops Kazakhstan Juggernaut in Amateur MMA

Thursday, June 11, 2026 - 11:28 By United World Wrestling Press

Share this article

DA NANG, Vietnam (June 9) -- Billy KINGI (NZL) was the only fighter that was able to stop the Kazakhstan juggernaut at the Amateur MMA Asian Championships in Da Nang, Vietnam.

The Asian Championships was held at the U15 and U17 level in Pankration and at the U20 and Senior level in Amateur MMA from June 7 to 9 in Da Nang.

In Men's Amateur MMA, Kazakhstan won eight out of nine gold medals while Kingi captured the remaining one via a technical knockout against Yerbol BAINAZAROV (KAZ) at 100kg.

After the first three-minute round, Kingi was down as all three judges scored the round in Bainazarov's favor. However, Kingi went for two double-leg takedowns in the second round. He secured the knockout when Bainazarov stopped defending as Kingi continued to land his punches.

That was the only results that did no go Kazakhstan's way for the gold medal in an otherwise solid campaign in Da Nang.

Mansur SEPTEGEN (KAZ) got the gold rush going by winning the 57kg final against Yedenkachew TELAHUNE (NZL). Septegen was awarded the first round unanimously by all three judges and kept the momentum in the second round as well, and submitted Telahune barely seconds into the round.

Oleg PEKHOTIN (KAZ) was the next champion for Kazakhstan after he defeated Denzel ALIPIO (PHI) in the 62kg final. Pekhotin used a variation of triangle choke to get the submission from Alipio in under a minute of the final.

At 66kg, Dinmukhammed TURGANBEKOV (KAZ) won his qualification and semifinals via knockout and technical knockout respectively. In the final against Mukhammadamin SHAMOLOV (TJK), Turganbekov got the first round via split decision as two judges gave the round to him and one to Shamolov.

Thirty seconds into the second period, Shamolov used a knee kick to the face of Turganbekov which left he Kazakhstan wrestler bleeding the ending the match in favor of Turganbekov as default.

The fourth straight gold medal was won by Marat ASHIMTAYEV (KAZ) at 71kg final, dashing the hopes of local favorite Bach TRAN QUAN (VIE). Ashimtayev dominated the first round and then slammed Tran Quan at the start of the second before the Vietnamese fighter submitted.

Aslan GELOGAYEV (KAZ) and Mekhrdod GUREZZODA (TJK) were off to an electric start in the 77kg final as both traded punches and takedowns. However, Gelogayev managed to return on top and Gurezzoda had no defense to the Kazakhstan fighter's barrage of punches. The technical knockout was called 90 seconds into the final.

At 84kg, Eljan GASSANOV (KAZ) and Aditya BUKKI (IND) were the only fighters entered and it took the former just one minute to confirm his technical knockout over the Indian. After a takedown, he locked Bukki's one arm and landed solid punches to the face to win the gold medal.

The 93kg final was even quick as Abylay SHAKIRBEKOV (KAZ) scored a stunning head knockout over Sudhir PUNDEKAR (IND). Shakirbekov was 20 seconds into the final when he hit one straight to Pundekar's face who fell instantly, confirming Shakirbekov's win.

While he did not get a head knockout, Agaly KHASSANOV (KAZ) finished the 130kg final against Atul GHULE (IND) in 18 seconds with a swinging kick to win via technical knockout and claim Kazakhstan's eighth gold medal

In the women's AMMA,  Lily HOUBEN (NZL) submitted Aruzhan BERKINBAYEVA (KAZ) in the 90kg final to claim the gold medal. Houben got Berkinbayeva in a triangle hold early in the bout but switched to arm bar which Berkinbayeva defended for almost two minutes but finally tapped out with nine seconds remaining in the first round.

The result was similar to Houben's victory over Berkinbayeva in the 90kg final earlier in U20 Amateur MMA.

At 65kg, Zhansaya YERMAGAMBETOVA (KAZ) went on the aggressive right off the whistle in the final against compatriot Kamila FAZYLOVA (KAZ) and ultimately won via a technical knockout to clinch the gold medal.

RESULTS

Men's AMMA

57kg
GOLD: Mansur SEPTEGEN (KAZ)
SILVER: Yedenkachew TELAHUNE (NZL)
BRONZE: Huynh Tai LE (VIE)
BRONZE: Nam NGUYEN NHAT (VIE)

62kg
GOLD: Oleg PEKHOTIN (KAZ)
SILVER: Denzel ALIPIO (PHI)
BRONZE: Aayush DIPU (IND)
BRONZE: Thai HA NGOC (VIE)

66kg
GOLD: Dinmukhammed TURGANBEKOV (KAZ)
SILVER: Mukhammadamin SHAMOLOV (TJK)
BRONZE: Khoa HUYNH DANG (VIE)
BRONZE: Rudransh AZAD (IND)

71kg
GOLD: Marat ASHIMTAYEV (KAZ)
SILVER: Bach TRAN QUAN (VIE)
BRONZE: James INGE (HKG)

77kg
GOLD: Aslan GELOGAYEV (KAZ)
SILVER: Mekhrdod GUREZZODA (TJK)
BRONZE: Shebin KOZHIKKODAN (IND)

84kg
GOLD: Eljan GASSANOV (KAZ) df. Aditya BUKKI (IND), via technical knockout

93kg
GOLD: Abylay SHAKIRBEKOV (KAZ) df. Sudhir PUNDEKAR (IND), via head knockout

100kg
GOLD: Billy KINGI (NZL)
SILVER: Yerbol BAINAZAROV (KAZ)
BRONZE: Alibek NURMUKHAMETOV (KAZ)

130kg
GOLD: Agaly KHASSANOV (KAZ) df. Atul GHULE (IND), via technical knockout

Women's AMMA

65kg
GOLD: Zhansaya YERMAGAMBETOVA (KAZ)
SILVER: Kamila FAZYLOVA (KAZ)
BRONZE: Sheetal KHARATMAL (IND)

90kg
GOLD: Lily HOUBEN (NZL) df. Aruzhan BERKINBAYEVA (KAZ), via submission

 

U20 Men's AMMA

57kg
GOLD: Duc Manh LA (VIE)
SILVER: Bankerlang MARTHONG (IND)
BRONZE: Quang PHAN (VIE)

62kg
GOLD: Muhammadkabir NAZARZODA (TJK)
SILVER: Jan TABUNOT (PHI)
BRONZE: Vu Quoc Trieu MAI (VIE)
BRONZE:  Ngoc Hop UNG (VIE)

71kg
GOLD:  Alisher AKBAKHYTOV (KAZ)
SILVER: Le Thai Bao NGUYEN (VIE)
BRONZE: Amir SERIK (KAZ)

77kg
GOLD: Alisher SABIT (KAZ) df. Daniyar FAIZRAKHMANOV (KAZ), via points

84kg
GOLD: Nurgissa ANARBEK (KAZ) df. Gurvansh ARORA (IND), via technical knockout

U20 Women's AMMA

90kg
GOLD: Lily HOUBEN (NZL) df. Aruzhan BERKINBAYEVA (KAZ), via submission

Zhumanarova, Medet Kyzy give Kyrgyzstan double gold at ISG 2025

Thursday, November 20, 2025 - 17:27 By Vinay Siwach

Share this article

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (November 20) -- Kyrgyzstan was the most successful nation on day three of the Islamic Solidarity Games 2025 with three gold medals out of five on offer.

Three weight classes in women's and two in Freestyle were in action in Riyadh at the Games and Kyrgyzstan captured three gold medals with Paris Olympic silver medalist Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) leading the way.

Zhumanazarova powered her way to the 68kg gold medal. Facing Svetlana OKNAZAROVA (UZB) in the final, Zhumanazarova hit a counter four-pointer to extend her lead to 7-0 before hitting a takedown and turn to finish the final 11-0.

"It was an easy tournament for me," Zhumanazarova said. "I have not wrestled well since Paris majorly due to the ankle injury I suffered."

Now that she is back to full fitness and winning, Zhumanazarova aims to compete more often year with Asian Championships, World Championships and Asian Games lined up.

"Next year, I will make sure to compete at all three major tournaments," she said.

Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ)Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) celebrates after beating Damola OJO (NGR) in the 76kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Joining Zhumanazarova on the top of the podium was world silver medalist and Asian champion Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) who came alive in the second period of the 76kg final against Damola OJO (NGR).

Ojo led 1-1 on criteria when she scored a stepout in the second period but Medet Kyzy scored a takedown and then moved to the legs to lock a lace and turn Ojo four times for an 11-1 technical superiority.

Medet Kyzy's gold medal was the second for Kyrgyzstan in women's wrestling, same as Nigeria. Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan finished the competition with one gold each.

Esther KOLAWALE (NGR)Esther KOLAWALE (NGR) defeated Ruzanna MAMMADOVA (AZE) with a last-second takedown in the 62kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

U23 world bronze medalist Esther KOLAWALE (NGR) needed a final-second takedown against Ruzanna MAMMADOVA (AZE) to win the 62kg gold medal. She scored a takedown when Mammadova was on the activity clock to lead 3-0 and hoped to run out the clock with that lead.

However, Mammadova got on a single-leg attack in the second period which she converted into a takedown during the Nigerian's activity period. Kolawale tried to open the fingers of Mammadova which made the referees dock on point for caution, making it 4-3 for Mammadova with 16 seconds left. 

Kolawale first scored a stepout with 12 seconds remaining to make it 4-4 but Mammadova had the criteria lead because of the caution against Kolawale. But she then hit a takedown with three seconds on the clock to claim a 6-4 and the win as well.

Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI)Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) scores on Abdulmazhid KUDIEV (TJK) in the 65kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Amouzad dominates to gold

World champion Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) had not trouble in winning the 65kg gold medal after he defeated Abdulmazhid KUDIEV (TJK), 12-2, in the final.

Kudiev gave an early scare when he scored a takedown on Amouzad to go 2-0 up but the Iranian gather himself and scored three stepouts before the break to lead 3-2. Kudiev then tried to hit a double-leg but Amouzad countered with a beautiful chest wrap throw for four points to make it 7-2.

Tajikistan challenged, asking for two points but at no point in the exchange did Kudiev manage to expose or control Amouzad who now led 8-2 for the lost challenge. Two stepouts and a takedown later, Amouzad captured the gold medal with a technical superiority win.

Earlier in the day, Amouzad faced world bronze medalist Umidjon JALOLOV (UZB) in the quarterfinals and came out on top 4-0. The win included three stepout and one point for Jalolov's passivity.

Abdumalik KARACHOV (KGZ)Abdumalik KARACHOV (KGZ) counters Islam BAZARGANOV (AZE) to score four points. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Kyrgyzstan won gold medals not only in Women's Wrestling but also in Freestyle as Abdumalik KARACHOV (KGZ) won at 57kg, beating Islam BAZARGANOV (AZE), 9-3, in the final.

Karachov had a field day in Riyadh as he defeated world and Olympic bronze medalist Gulomjon ABDULLAEV (UZB) in the quarterfinals before a convincing win in the final.

Bazarganov was down 2-1 with 24 seconds left in the final when he hit a strong snap on Karachov who managed to stay on his feet and countered with a duckunder and get four points.

Bazarganov got one point for reversal but Azerbaijan challenged the call, asking for four points but lost it as Karachov never came in danger. The Kyrgyzstan wrestler then scored a match-ending takedown to win 9-3.

 

Photo

RESULTS

Women's Wrestling

62kg
GOLD: Esther KOLAWALE (NGR) df. Ruzanna MAMMADOVA (AZE), 6-4

BRONZE: Selvi ILYASOGLU (TUR) df. Rebecca AMONGI (UGA), 
BRONZE: Nigina SABIROVA (UZB) df. Aylah MAYALI (PLE), 11-0

68kg
GOLD: Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) df. Svetlana OKNAZAROVA (UZB), 11-0

BRONZE: Nigar MIRZAZADA (AZE) df. Halima AKTER (BAN), via forfeit
BRONZE: Irina KAZYULINA (KAZ) df. Ndiffo AIMELDA (CMR), via fall (6-0)

76kg
GOLD: Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) df. Damola OJO (NGR), 11-1

BRONZE: Elmira SYZDYKOVA (KAZ) vs. Elmira YASIN (TUR), via fall (7-0)
BRONZE: Samar HAMZA (EGY) df. Wilita PELAGIE (CMR), 5-1

Freestyle

57kg
GOLD: Abdumalik KARACHOV (KGZ) df. Islam BAZARGANOV (AZE), 9-3

BRONZE: Ali MOMENI (IRI) df. Sayed ZAZAI (AFG), 11-0
BRONZE: Gulomjon ABDULLAEV (UZB) df. Ismael CAMARA (GUI), 10-0

65kg
GOLD: Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) df. Abdulmazhid KUDIEV (TJK), 12-2

BRONZE: Umidjon JALOLOV (UZB) df. Ali RAHIMZADE (AZE), 8-3
BRONZE: Bilol SHARIP UULU (KGZ) df. Alibeg ALIBEGOV (BRN), 10-0