20 Dagestani MMA fighters to take part in world cup

Makhachkala, May 8, 2015. About 20 fighters - the winners of Dagestani championships in mixed martial arts (MMA) - will participate in the world cup scheduled to run June 15-19 June in Anapa, Krasnodar region, vice-president of Dagestan Grappling Federation Abdulkarim Aigunov told RIA Dagestan.

"Over 200 athletes took part in the MMA qualifiers for the world cup which took place April 25-26. We decided to move the competition from Makhachkala to Novokuli village, Novolak region, to popularize the sport in other parts of the republic. I am very proud that we were able to organize the event dated to the 70th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War at the highest level. It was attended by republican authorities and Olympic champions who highly appraised the local sports complex," Aigunov commented.

Here, athletes contested medals in three age groups: 14-15 years, 15-17 years, and +18 years. As the result, the Makhachkala MMA Academy took the first place in the championship, the second place was occupied by representatives of Novolac village, and Makhachkala’s "Yastreb" sports club placed third.