Armenia brings home three medals from 2026 MMA Youth World Championships
Armenia returned from the 2026 IMMAF Youth World Championships in Abu Dhabi with three medals—one gold and two bronze—after a strong showing by its 32-athlete team.
The championships brought together more than 1,100 fighters representing 55 countries. Armenia finished ahead of several larger and established sporting nations in the official medal table, including the United States, Kazakhstan, Georgia, South Africa and neighboring Azerbaijan.
Rafik Aleksanyan was Armenia’s top finisher, after an incredible six-fight run through the Youth A 65.8 kg featherweight division. He won his first four fights by submission, then defeated Tajikistan’s Abubakr Sattorov by unanimous decision in the semifinal. He followed that with another unanimous decision victory over Uzbekistan’s Muhammadaziz Nazarov in the final to take home the gold medal. Armenia’s other two medals came from Edik Martirosyan and Sos Martirosyan, who each earned bronze.
The championships also held special significance for Lorik Humanitarian Fund, which supported four members of Armenia’s team whose families were forcibly displaced from Artsakh: Karen Arzumanyan, Tigran Gasparyan, Samvel Avetisyan and Erik Hayrapetyan.
Each athlete earned his place on Armenia’s national team through competition at home. Lorik Fund covered the costs for the four athletes to travel with the team and compete in Abu Dhabi.
While none of the four returned with a medal, each gained experience competing at a World Championship against some of the top young fighters from around the world.
For young people rebuilding their lives after being forcibly displaced from Artsakh, having the opportunity to continue pursuing the things they have worked for matters. In this case, Lorik Fund’s role was straightforward: helping four young athletes who had earned the opportunity to represent Armenia get to Abu Dhabi and compete.
The support will continue beyond the championships. Lorik Fund is now looking to provide new training equipment to one of the gyms helping develop these young fighters, including athletes from Artsakh.
Karen, Tigran, Samvel and Erik earned their places on Armenia’s national team as athletes. Lorik’s role was to make sure financial limitations did not prevent them from taking that opportunity. They traveled to Abu Dhabi wearing Armenia’s colors and returned with valuable World Championship experience.
We congratulate Rafik Aleksanyan on becoming a 2026 IMMAF Youth World Champion, Edik Martirosyan and Sos Martirosyan on their bronze medals, and the entire Armenian national team, coaches and Armenian MMA Federation on their results in Abu Dhabi.
And we are especially proud of Karen Arzumanyan, Tigran Gasparyan, Samvel Avetisyan and Erik Hayrapetyan for representing Armenia on the world stage. They didn’t come home with medals this time, but they’re young, they’re training, and there is plenty of time for what comes next.
