MMA – BAHRAIN’S mixed martial arts (MMA) star Arsen Suleimanov came away with the silver medal last night in the senior men’s light heavyweight 93kg category at the 2026 International MMA Federation (IMMAF) World Championships, which came to a close in Tbilisi, Georgia.
Suleimanov had to settle for his runner-up finish after losing to Ilias Iakhiev from Russia by submission with a rear naked choke in their final.
The result earned Suleimanov his first world medal in the seniors’ level. Last year, he was crowned world champion after winning the junior men’s light heavyweight 93kg division at last year’s worlds, which was also held at the Georgian capital.
Joining Iakhiev and Suleimanov on the podium was France’s Salimou Danfakha as the bronze-medallist.
Suleimanov’s silver earned Bahrain their lone medal of this year’s world championships. He was one of five MMA fighters flying the kingdom’s flag in the competition. The others were Isaev Abdula, Mahamat Youssouf, Magomed Sheikhov, and Aseel Almutawa, who all bowed out in the earlier stages of their respective weight divisions.
The Bahrainis were one of 32 national teams competing in the event.