Ireland, Mexico, Kazakhstan and Bahrain reached the semi-finals of the MMA Super Cup ©IMMAF

Ireland, Mexico, Kazakhstan and hosts Bahrain reached the semi-finals of the MMA Super Cup on the opening day of the first edition of the tournament at the Khalifa Sports City.

Eight nations started the knockout amateur MMA tournament, organised by the Brave Combat Federation in association with the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF), but following the first day of fights only four remain.

The first of the day’s quarter-finals proved to be the tightest affair, with Ireland edging past Team Oceania, a late replacement for the Russian Mixed Martial Arts Union.

The first team to win five fights would reach the last four, and this contest went the distance with the sides deadlocked at 4-4.

The decisive bout saw Larry Adnan of Oceania up against Ireland’s Gustavo Lopes Borges, with Borges producing a kneebar finish at the end of the first round to secure overall victory for the Irish.

Ireland’s earlier winners were Kerry Ann Vernon by walkover, Eabha Cruise, Jordan Bradshaw and Jordan Furey.

The second quarter-final saw Mexico defeat the Arab Champions 5-4, with Mexico starting the contest with two walkover victories.

Andrea Gabriela Guzman Salazar by technical knockout, followed by Jorge Antonio Lopez Perez and Anthony Ramirez Amado by unanimous decision secured the Mexican triumph.

Quarter-final three saw a clean sweep for Kazakhstan, as they defeated the Balkan Champions 5-0 to earn their last four place.

After a walkover win in the first fight, Antonina Kotlyarevskaya, Zhanibek Tynyshtyk and Anatoliy Zolotykh put Kazakhstan on the brink of victory with wins by unanimous decision.

The nation’s whitewash victory in the clash was completed by Neimat Assadov, who won by submission.

Hosts Bahrain were the winners of quarter-final four, defeating Tajikistan 7-2.

Among Bahrain’s winners was IMMAF’s top-ranked pound-for-pound athlete Ramazan Gitinov, who beat Jovidon Mahmudov by submission through an anaconda choke in the second round.

Gitinov’s victory put Bahrain one fight away from a semi-final berth, with their passage to the next stage secured in the following match-up, as Sultan Omarov beat Khalid Tolibzoda by a unanimous decision in round three.

The semi-finals are due to take place tomorrow, with Ireland up against Mexico and Kazakhstan facing Bahrain.