Khotam Boynazarov grapples his way to victory to retain UAE Warriors welterweight title
The Peruvian arrived in the UAE capital with two victories since being released by the world's lead MMA promotion following three straight defeats. He had no answer to the Ukrainian's superior grappling, who dominated over five rounds.
Boynazarov was awarded the bout on all the judges' scorecards to successfully defend his welterweight title for the second time to take his perfect career record to 11 wins.
The champion kept the contest firmly confined to his strengths, taking Llontop to the mat and several times in the first three rounds before going through the motions to see out the contest.
'Yeah, I knew I was ahead on points after first three rounds. Thereafter, I didn't have to do anything silly but just stay focussed in completing the contest,' Boynazarov said.
'I knew he was tired after the first three rounds. I was tired too but I preserved my energy in the fourth and had another go at him in the final round to make sure I had the decision in my favour.
'I'm very happy to retain the belt and happy to remain undefeated. Obviously I'll be back to defend the promotion's belt whenever they decide to schedule my next fight.'
The 12-fight card saw five first-round finishes through spectacular strikes and submissions.
Bruno Machado took his perfect record in the promotion to seven and his overall record to 16-9.
The Abu Dhabi-based Brazilian stopped Azerbaijani veteran Agshin Babaev with ground and pound in one minute 36 seconds in the catchweight 158lbs co-main contest.
The other four first round finishes were recorded by Marouane Ballagouit, Ramazan Ragimov, Ullubiy Amirzhanov and Amir Hossein Alipour.
Ballagouit sank an elbow to open a deep cut above Filipino Jayson Margallo's left eye before the referee stopped the contest in four minutes and 45 seconds in the opening fight on the card.
Ramzan Ragimov had both of Dumar Roa's hands locked in a ground and pound submission in two minutes and four seconds in the next.
Amirzhanov was on target with a stunning left kick to the ribs of Ravshan Boymirzaev, sending him crashing to the canvas in one minute and three seconds as the first three fights ended in the first round.
Alipour then beat all of them with the quickest finish of the night. The Iranian landed a stunning right hook at Abdelkrim Zouad's jaw to send the Algerian to fall flat on his back in one minute and one second.
The fight that had the crowd on the edge of their seats was the lightweight contest between Felipe Douglas and Zhasulan Akimzhanov, both ending with deep cuts above their eyes and bloody faces.
Douglas suffered the cut above his right eye in the opening round but the Brazilian clawed back to win a unanimous decision over the Kazakh in a fight that saw every aspect of a real mixed martial arts fight on display.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Al Etihad
7 hours ago
- Al Etihad
Inaugural Abu Dhabi World Grappling Championship gets underway in Al Ain tomorrow
31 July 2025 21:37 AL AIN (WAM)The inaugural Abu Dhabi World Grappling Championship 2025 will officially begin tomorrow, 1st August, at ADNEC Centre Al by International Vision Sports Management (IVSM), the three-day event will run until 3rd August and is expected to bring together hundreds of athletes from more than 20 countries to the Al Ain Region, Abu initiative is held in partnership with the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT) and under the banner of Abu Dhabi Jiu-Jitsu Pro (AJP).The official press conference to announce the completion of preparations was held Thursday at ADNEC Centre Al Ain and was attended Saeed Al Dhaheri, Destination Management Department Director at the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi and Tareq Al Bahri, General Manager of International Vision Sports Management. Several top athletes participating in the event, including Fellipe Andrew (Brazil), Leticia Cardozo (Brazil), Tamerlan Eslemesov (Russia), Liisi Vaht (Estonia), Salem Al Qubaisi (UAE), and Pouya Rahmani (Iran) were also Al Dhaheri, Director of Destination Management at the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, said, 'Hosting the inaugural edition of the Abu Dhabi World Grappling Championship in Al Ain Region is an unprecedented milestone for the Middle East and North Africa region. It reflects the growth of the sports sector in the UAE and strengthens our position as a global hub for elite combat sports events.'This event aligns with the Department's strategic vision to meet rising global demand for combat sports, including grappling, which is one of the world's fastest-growing disciplines. At the Department of Culture and Tourism — Abu Dhabi, we believe in the power of sports to bring people together, stimulate the tourism economy, and deliver exceptional experiences, particularly in Al Ain Region, a city rich in cultural heritage and natural beauty.'Tareq Al Bahri, General Manager of IVSM, said the organising team is fully prepared to deliver a seamless and high-calibre experience for both athletes and fans. He added that the strong international turnout reflects the sport's rapid global growth and Abu Dhabi's rising profile as a destination for combat sports.'The launch of this championship aligns with the vision of our wise leadership to advance sports development in the country. We aim to create a platform that welcomes athletes from around the globe, enabling them to compete at a professional level while positioning the Al Ain Region as a key host city for international combat sports events. We are proud to see Abu Dhabi's name become synonymous with some of the world's premier sports competitions, and we hope this championship opens new doors for grappling athletes everywhere.'Al Bahri also confirmed that next year, one male and one female athlete selected from among the top performers at the Abu Dhabi World Grappling Championship and the three Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Grappling World Tour events will earn a place in the Abu Dhabi Extreme Championship. The names will be revealed following the 2026 edition of the Abu Dhabi World Grappling Championship. The competition will begin with professional and 35+ category matches through to the semi-final stage on the opening day. The youth and amateur divisions will take place on the second day, while the final day will feature third-place playoffs and championship finals for the professional categories. Winners will receive 2,000 AJP ranking points and substantial cash prizes, under AJP Tour regulations.
Khaleej Times
14 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
UAE Jiu Jitsu community mourns loss of revered coach to cancer
The UAE Jiu Jitsu community mourned the untimely death of British athlete Oliver Geddes. The grappler died on Wednesday after a battle with cancer. 'We are devastated,' said Asya Pamukcu, who worked extensively with Oliver at the Abu Dhabi Jiu-Jitsu Pro (AJP) events across the world. 'He was the head of European referees and coordinated all the referees for AJP events in many countries. He was very professional and an amazing human being.' One of UK's most prolific Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) competitors, 41-year-old Oliver received his fourth-degree black belt from decorated martial artist Roger Gracie just two weeks ago. He has had podium finishes at some of the most prestigious BJJ competitions across the world and has been an active competitor, coach and referee. Asya added that Oliver was active in every field of Jiu Jitsu. 'He was a coach, he was a referee, he was organising events, and he was competing in different federations,' she said. 'His impact was felt in every aspect of BJJ and the sport meant everything to him.' AJP posted on their social media account about Oliver, describing him as a 'true martial arts gentleman' and as someone who worked with 'unwavering integrity, fairness, and passion' for the sport. 'His dedication to the sport and the community left a mark far beyond the arena. His presence, his voice, and his spirit will never be forgotten,' the heartfelt note concluded. View this post on Instagram A post shared by AJPTour (@ajptour) Connected to the UAE His partner Nadine Laarvrouw told Khaleej Times how Oliver always felt connected to the UAE. 'Oliver came to the UAE very often and was very pleased to work for an organisation that tried to and were able to put Brazilian Jiu Jitsu on the mat with professional tournaments,' she said. 'He always enjoyed going to Abu Dhabi and working the events there. Back in his younger days, he would compete at the main event and later he would coordinate it.' She added that for the last few years, his main focus was coaching his students at his London gym. 'His commitment to his students and the number of details he was able to give made him so loved by his students,' she said. 'He loved spending time on the mat and contributing to everyone's journey. The overwhelming responses that we have had since he got sick shows how much everyone loves his character and the way he treats people.' Battle with cancer It was in May that Oliver took to social media to announce that he had been diagnosed with cancer and that it was likely to be terminal. 'I have maybe days, maybe weeks to live,' he wrote in his note. 'I'm going to try chemo, but my liver is basically nonfunctional at the moment and chemo with a non-functioning liver could kill me. On Monday, Nadine posted on social media that the chemotherapy had failed and that Oliver had been moved to a hospice. Two days later, she shared the news about his death.
Arabian Business
19 hours ago
- Arabian Business
Spartan Race announces new Trifecta Weekend at Al Ain Zoo
Spartan Middle East will host a Trifecta Weekend at Al Ain Zoo, the obstacle course racing brand announced today. To be held from October 11-12, 2025, the event will feature all three signature race formats across the weekend, allowing competitors to earn the Trifecta medal at one venue. Both open and competitive heats will run for the Sprint, Beast, and Kids races. Spartan Middle East brings obstacle course racing to Al Ain Zoo The race schedule includes the Sprint 5K, featuring a 5km course with 20 obstacles. The Super 10K presents a 10km course with 25 obstacles, whilst the Beast 21K covers 21km with 30 obstacles. Kids races will offer courses of 1km for ages 4-6, 1.5km for ages 7-9, and 3km for ages 9-14. Participants can earn a Spartan Trifecta by completing the Sprint, Super, and Beast within a calendar year. The weekend format allows racers to complete all three races over two days, earning a commemorative Trifecta medal alongside individual race wedges. The course will run through Al Ain Zoo's grounds, positioning obstacles amongst elephants, giraffes, and other wildlife. This marks the first time a Spartan race has taken place within a zoo environment. The Abu Dhabi Sports Council supports the event, continuing a partnership that has promoted obstacle course racing across the emirate. Abu Dhabi hosts the annual Spartan World Championship, which attracts over 6,000 participants and has contributed to the sport's growth in the region. Isla Watt, Director of Spartan Middle East, said in a statement: 'We are incredibly excited to bring a full Trifecta Weekend to a venue as spectacular as Al Ain Zoo. The combination of our challenging races and this stunning natural environment creates a truly memorable event. We encourage participants and their families to make a weekend of it, explore the garden city of Al Ain, and experience a Spartan event like no other.' Registration has opened, with organisers encouraging early sign-ups to secure places. Further information and registration details are available at
