World Championships day 1: All four Swedes advances!

2023 IMMAF World Championships. Photo: Chris Önnerby

Today, the 2023 IMMAF World Championships started at the Tirana Olympic Park venue in Tirana, Albania. The competitions will take place between Monday November 20 to Saturday November 25.

Sweden is represented by an interesting National team featuring 10 fighters – three female and seven male – competing in ten weight divisions.

Click “Next” to see the Swedish results for day one (Monday)!

Liam Pitts dominates in his first fight

Liam Pitts. Photo: Chris Sonnerby

National Team debutant Liam Pitts took on Gancho Ivanov from Team Bulgaria in his first fight of the tournament. The young Swede stepped on the gas pedal from the start and was able to secure a takedown early in the first round. He stayed busy on the top during the round, and landed some solid ground-and-pound.

In the second round, Pitts scored another early takedown, and this time he mounted Ivanov and poured on with heavy ground-and-pound until the referee stopped the action.

Pitts will face Buzurgmehri Saifullozoda from Team Tajikistan in the eight-finals.

• Liam Pitts def. Gancho Ivanov via TKO, round 2

Sebastian Palacio Gomez gets it done by TKO

Photo via Instagram. (@sebastianpalaciogomez)

Welterweight Sebastian Palacio Gomez took on Savio Lamellari from Team Greece in his National Team debut. The Swede controlled the first round on the ground.

In the second round, Palacio Gomez took the fight to the ground again, and with less than one minute left he landed some serious ground-and-pound.

The referee stepped in to stop Lamellari from taking more damage, declaring the Swede winner by TKO.

• Sebastian Palacio Gomez def. Savio Lamellari via TKO, round 2

Viktor Mangs submits his opponent

Viktor Mangs. Photo: Stefan Romare

National Team debutant Viktor Mangs took on Mykolas Korsakovas from Team Lithuania in the 16th-finals.

The Lithuanian started at a high pace and was able to take the fight to the ground where he went for a submission attempt. The second and third round also took place one the ground, where Mangs eventually finished his opponent via a tight guillotine choke.

Mangs will face Team Czech Republic’s Jan Masek in the lightweight eight-finals.

• Viktor Mangs def. Mykolas Korsakovas via submission (guillotine), round 3

Sahand Shokohi makes it to the eight-finals

Photo via Instagram (@sahandshokohi)

Bantamweight Sahand Shokohi won his 16th-finals as Team Slovakia’s Samir Smaali failed to make the limit of 61.2 kg (135 lbs).

• Sahand Shokohi def. Samir Smaali via failed weigh in

2023 IMMAF World Championships

Photo: via YouTube and IMMAF

The 2023 IMMAF World Championships takes place in Tirana, Albania, between Monday November 20 to Saturday November 25.

The championships include tournaments for Seniors and Juniors, and holds six weight divisions for female athletes, from atomweight to lightweight, and ten for male athletes, from strawweight to super heavyweight.

Read more: Meet the Swedish MMA National Team competing in the World Championships!

World Championship Special: National Team coaches open up on the squad and medal chances

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