Rafael Kveldstad is the new IMMAF world champion!!

Rafael Kveldstad just faced Tagir Machmudov in the junior middleweight finals. Photo: Stefan Romare

Team Sweden’s Rafael Kveldstad just took on Tagir Machmudov from Team Czech Republic in the junior middleweight finals at the 2023 IMMAF World Championships.

The fact that the pair clashed in last year’s World Championship finals, with Machmudov coming out as the winner via a razor-thin split decision, just made the finals even more dramatic.

The first round started with a bit of a feeling out process between the two skilled fighters. Just over a minute into the fight, Kveldstad landed a nice combination before taking the action to the ground. The Swede controlled the fight on the ground for the rest of the round.

In the second round, Kveldstad took the fight to the ground and quickly secured a tight Von Flue Choke that forced Machmudov to tap. And just like that, Sweden has a new IMMAF world champion!

Read more: Jack ”The Joker” Hermansson returns against unranked prospect!

2023 is the year of Rafael Kveldstad

The 21-year-old Swede recently told Frontkick that he intends to go pro in 2024, after crowning 2023 with a gold medal at the World Championship.

“I want to go all the way, become the best version of myself. I want to make it to the top of the UFC, “Kveldstad said.

A few weeks back, the promising young Swede won the vacant Cage Warriors Academy amateur middleweight title as he defeated Mehdi Kora via a third-round TKO.

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

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