IMMAF President Kerrith Brown attends the Opening Ceremony of the IMMAF European and Junior European Open in Kazan ©IMMAF

An Opening Ceremony celebrating host city Kazan took centre stage on the first day of the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF) European and Junior European Open.

The Opening Ceremony featured a celebration of the Russian city’s elite sporting legacy, local culture and international mixed martial arts competition.

Day one also featured two bouts in the men’s under-77.1 kilograms category, the only division to stretch into rounds of 32.

The first bout saw something of an upset as Jovidon Mahmudov of Tajikistan beat Russia’s Samur Magamedkhanov of Russia by technical knockout in the second round.

Jovidon Mahmudov beat Samur Magamedkhanov by technical knockout in one of two bouts contested on the opening day of the IMMAF European Open ©IMMAF
Jovidon Mahmudov beat Samur Magamedkhanov by technical knockout in one of two bouts contested on the opening day of the IMMAF European Open ©IMMAF

The day’s second bout saw Meirkhan Shapolatov of Kazakhstan overcome Patryk Semeniuk of Poland by split decision, in a bout that saw a good display of aesthetic striking from both fighters.

Reflecting on the first day’s action IMMAF President Kerrith Brown said: "The first day of the IMMAF Euros opened with two compelling matches.

"Well done to the athletes and teams for their performances. The matches are a great teaser for what is what is come this week."

A much busier second day of action tomorrow sees 42 bouts scheduled across two cages, with bouts in the men’s junior, women’s and men’s events.

In total 172 senior and 86 junior competitors have entered the tournament, Europe’s first IMMAF event since 2019.