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Public Voting Opened for 2026 IMMAF Athlete Awards
The 2026 IMMAF Awards take place on the evening of Thursday, November 5, during the 2026 IMMAF World Championships in Tbilisi, Georgia.
The IMMAF Athlete Awards celebrate standout performers from the past year of competition, honouring excellence across Senior, Junior, and Newcomer categories. Up to five nominees are selected according to championship accolades achieved at the specified level from the past year’s World Championships and subsequent continental championships.
Winners are decided by a weighted vote, combining the public vote, IMMAF board of directors vote and IMMAF Athletes Commission vote. In addition, the RDX Performance of the Year award highlights five of the most impressive displays by athletes in a single bout and will be decided by an all-public vote.
The voting link can be found at the bottom of the page.
SENIOR MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Isrofil Komilzoda (Tajikistan)
2025 Flyweight World Champion
Yerulan Kabdulov (Kazakhstan)
2025 Strawweight World Champion
Retained World Title
2025 Asian Bronze Medallist
Gimbat Magomedov (Bahrain)
2025 Super-Welterweight World Champion
Retained world title
2025 Asian Champion
Became a 3x Asian Champion
Gadzhi Gadzhiev (Bahrain)
2025 Super-Middleweight World Champion
Became a 3x Senior World Champion
2025 Asian Champion
Became a 3x Asian Champion
Mehmet Borhan (France)
2025 Lightweight World Champion
2026 European Champion
SENIOR FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Isla Fono (Finland)
2025 Lightweight World Champion at age 20
Senior-level Debut
Sylvie Samaha (Lebanon)
2025 Strawweight World Champion with 3 stoppage wins
2025 Asian Silver Medallist
Małgorzata Popowicz (Poland)
2025 Flyweight World Champion
2026 European Champion
Katrina Fisher (England)
2025 Bantamweight World Champion
2026 European Champion
Millie-Rae Vardy (England)
2025 Super-Lightweight World Champion
JUNIOR MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR (UNDER 21S)
Ibrohim Rahimzoda (Tajikistan)
2025 Lightweight World Champion
Retained World Title
Arsen Suleimanov (Bahrain)
2025 Light-heavyweight World Champion
2025 Asian Champion
Fabian Glele (France)
2025 Super-Welterweight World Champion
2026 European Middleweight Champion
Milfa Kuenda Nicolau (Angola)
2025 Super-Middleweight World Champion
2026 Africa Champion
Ivan Poremchuk (Ukraine)
2025 Heavyweight World Champion
Became a 2x World Champion
2026 European Champion
JUNIOR FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR (UNDER 21S)
Julia Głaz (Poland)
2025 Atomweight World Champion
2026 Strawweight European Bronze Medallist
Liubov Khmilevska (Ukraine)
Debut year after transition from youth level
2025 Atomweight World Championships Silver Medallist
2026 European Gold Medallist
Mariia Klein (Ukraine)
2025 Flyweight World Champion with 4 first-round submissions
Became a 2x World Champion
2026 European Champion with 3 first-round submissions
Became a 2x European Champion
Extended adult amateur record to 16-0
Maria Kitoko (Angola)
2025 Super-Lightweight World Champion
Retained World Title
Altanchimeg Baigalmaa (Mongolia)
2025 Featherweight World Champion
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR
Fabian Glele (France)
2025 Junior Super-Welterweight World Champion
2026 Junior Middleweight European Champion
Arsen Suleimanov (Bahrain)
2025 Junior Light-heavyweight World Champion
2025 Junior Asian Champion
Charmaine Rabbolini (South Africa)
2025 Senior Featherweight World Champion
Adriano Camillo (Spain)
2025 Junior Middleweight World Silver Medallist
2026 Junior European Bronze Medallist
Standout KO artist
Nozimjon Uzoqov (Tajikistan)
2025 Junior Super-Heavyweight World Champion
RDX PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR
Daniel Wadieh (Ghana)
Headkick KO – 2026 Africa Championships Semi-Final
Beka Shainidze (Georgia)
Buggy Choke Submission – 2025 World Championships Round of 16
Helder Manuel (Angola)
TKO – 2026 Africa Championships Final
Eric Marku (Ireland)
Uppercut KO – 2026 European Championships Quarter-Final
Canjo Rajkovic (Montenegro)
Suloev Stretch Submission – 2026 European Championships Quarter-Final
Cast your votes HERE.
For media enquiries to IMMAF contact press@immaf.org.
About IMMAF:
About IMMAF: Founded in 2012, the purpose of IMMAF is to further the development, recognition, and regulation of the sport of MMA (mixed martial arts), enabling amateur competition through the organisation of national MMA federations around the world. With 132 national federation members and four confederations, IMMAF has advanced programmes for the education and certification of MMA coaches, referees, and other technical officials. IMMAF delivers high-level championship events across the globe, providing athletes from 12-17 (Youth), 18-21 (Junior), and 21+ (Senior) crucial opportunities to learn and grow in a safe and fully regulated competitive environment. IMMAF is the only legitimate international governing body for MMA, approved by WADA, working to gain sport recognition.
For further information, please visit https://immaf.org
