The 5th IMMAF Youth World Championship has concluded in Abu Dhabi. The event gathered the world’s elite athletes to compete in the event, hosted in the emirate, for the third consecutive year, promoting Abu Dhabi as a global hub for the sport. 

The championship, held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, concluded with Ukraine finishing on top, and Tajikistan and Uzbekistan received second and third places, respectively.

Zamzam Al Hammadi, from the UAE, received a gold in the Youth A 52.2 kg division. Thani Almehairi in the Youth A 65.8 kg, and Saeed Alnuaimi Youth A 56.7 kg won bronze medals, taking the team’s overall medal tally to 12, including four gold, one silver and seven bronze.

The final day of the competition was attended by His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, Advisor to the UAE President; Sheikh Shakhbout bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, Kerrith Brown, President of the IMMAF, His Excellency Mohammed bin Dalmouj Al Dhaheri, Board Member of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts Federation and Chairman of the Mixed Martial Arts Committee; Wissam Abi Nader, IMMAF Vice President; Densign White, IMMAF CEO and several representatives of the participating countries’ delegations and embassies in the UAE.

His Excellency Mohammed bin Dalmouj Al Dhaheri, Board Member of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts Federation and Chairman of the Mixed Martial Arts Committee, said: "The widespread praise we have received from various quarters confirms our success in making a significant impact on this sport by hosting world-class championships in Abu Dhabi. With the conclusion of this championship, Abu Dhabi adds another chapter to its illustrious record of hosting major international sporting events."

"We are particularly delighted with our national team’s achievement of 12 medals, especially the success of the Al Hammadi sisters in winning gold medals for two consecutive years, remarkable accomplishments we are very proud of. These achievements are the result of the tremendous efforts made by all involved parties in shaping a bright future for the next generation of Emirati mixed martial arts talent. 

Kerrith Brown, President of IMMAF, said: "The IMMAF Youth World Championships 2024 have been an amazing event. Seeing the next generation of athletes exhibiting such technical skills is fantastic. The participation of 800 athletes from 47 countries competing at the highest level for a youth event shows that grassroots development is coming to fruition. The UAE Jiu-Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts Federation has done an incredible job of putting on a spectacular event. It’s been amazing."

Tolly Plested, coach of the UAE MMA team, said: "We’re proud of our national team. They showed impressive skill and flexibility during some tough matches against the world’s top MMA athletes and rose to the challenge with outstanding performances. We’re happy with the results, especially the four gold medals they won. The athletes put in a lot of effort and gave it their all. We’ll keep working on improving their level through more intensive training to achieve even better results in the future."

Zamzam Al Hammadi, who won gold, said: "Words can’t explain how happy I am today. I have been working towards this moment since the day I won gold last year. Honestly, it was tougher than I thought, especially the finals. I was aiming for a submission win. I want to dedicate this win to our visionary leadership."