Ayad advances to semis

Bahrain’s Hussain Ayad caused a major upset by defeating Sweden’s Serdar Altas in the second round of the 57kg category to advance to the semi-finals and a guaranteed medal via a submission by Rear naked choke in the first round at the International Mixed Martial Arts Championships European Open Amateur Championships at the Performance Hub, University of Wolverhampton, Walsall, UK.

The Khalid Hamad Khalifa Mixed Martial Arts Team (KHK MMA) member had beaten a fighter who was a silver medallist at the World Championships back in Las Vegas in July.

Ayad was congratulated by First Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports and President of the Bahrain Athletics Association, HH Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa on his remarkable performance and the positive impact Mixed Martial Arts is making on Bahrainis. Abdulla Seena in the 61kg category second round was beaten by Alexis Guilleux of France via submission in the first round with an Anaconda Choke and Ali Ebrahim in the 70kg category lost his second round bout against Iceland’s Bjarki Omarsson via a technical knockout in the third round.