WC in MMA: Czech Republic celebrates historic gold. Poland deals with stabbed representatives

Czech mixed martial arts is celebrating a historic success. Despite health problems, Tagir Machmudov won the final at the MMA World Championship in Belgrade and is the first Czech junior world champion. And Kateřina Lisová won silver. While the Czechs have reason to celebrate, the Polish expedition is dealing with problems of a completely different nature. Two representatives were stabbed in the streets of the Serbian capital.

Nineteen-year-old Tagir Makhmudov experienced the first defeat in his amateur career at the world championship last year. This year, however, you’ve made up your mind. He won three victories in three days and won the junior middleweight world title. At the same time, he went to the final injured – with only one healthy leg. “In the semi-final, he fell asleep and his opponent caught a lever on his knee. He had such a good grip that Jard and I both went numb. But Tagir managed it and ended the match in the first round. But something snapped in my knee. That is why he entered the final in the opposite guard,” head coach Josef “Gorila” Král told TN.cz.

Tagir, despite his health limitations, managed the most important match and the Swede He defeated Rafael Kveldstad on points. “We have never had a world champion in MMA. It is a huge success. Moreover, it is amplified by the fact that Tagir won the European champion last year. Making two such pancakes in a row is a huge success for our little country,” praises head coach Josef “Gorila” Král. Second coach Jaroslav Hovězák, who in addition to young talents also prepares Jiří Procházka, added: “I would like to emphasize that this is an amazing sporting performance. If you compare it to professional galas, these guys they play several matches in a few days. They don’t have time off and have to make weight again every day. Sports performance is top notch.”

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Tagir Machmudov ???????? secured a Split Decision win over Rafael Kveldstad ???????? to claim Junior Male Middleweight World gold!

Watch the last bouts of the #2022MMAWorlds Junior Finals LIVE on IMMAF TV ????️ pic.twitter.com/CgG8KrQZP1

— IMMAF (@IMMAFed) February 16, 2023

And how was the historic success of Czech MMA celebrated? No wild party. “Tagir was on anti-doping drugs for a long time and we arrived at the hotel after midnight. We were hungry, so we went to the mecca, took food for Tagir as well, picked him up and went to the hotel. Moreover, he doesn’t drink at all, so such a calm chat,” said the King.

So the question is, where will the career of the talented fighter from Dagestan lead next. It is hard to find a rival on the Czech amateur scene. He completed only two matches in the league in almost two years, yet he achieved success at the international level. Tagir himself wants to join the world’s best leagues such as UFC, Bellator and Rizin. However, coach Král does not want to rush the transition to the pros. “I don’t want to keep him in the amateurs for too long, but we still have a year or two in the amateurs, he will show something in the seniors as well. Then we will see how everything will develop. Above all, he must be healthy and fight,“ explains.

Czech expedition to the WC in MMA. From the left | Source: with the permission of Josef Krále

​Up to this point, Lukáš Piffko took care of the best Czech result among the juniors. In 2018, he became vice-champion, a year later he was bronze. The Czech Republic leaves the junior and senior championship in Belgrade with two rare metals. Kateřina Lisová won silver. In the final, she was not enough for Sabrina De Sousa, who was knocked out by submission.

​For the three Polish representatives, the championship turned into a fight for their lives. After being eliminated from the tournament, they went to the center there, where they were attacked by unknown criminals in front of the Stefan Braun club on Wednesday morning. Two suffered stab wounds. 20-year-old Mikołaj Andrzejczak was wounded in the thigh, 23-year-old Brajan Przysiwek was hit in the chest and was taken to hospital in a serious condition. The Polish MMA Association announced that not one of the injured wrestlers is in danger anymore. The World MMA Championship under the auspices of IMMAF in Belgrade takes place from February 11 to 18.

The KO magazine show regularly deals with combat sports. The last guest was Petra Částková:

TN.cz