Servicemen from the Special Operations Forces of Kazakhstan’s Armed Forces won three gold medals and one silver at the national mixed martial arts championship. The event took place in Astana from October 22 to 25.
The championship brought together athletes from regional federations who had qualified through preliminary selection. Competitors in various age groups fought in the Traditional and Modern disciplines.
Elaman Kuatov, Abdurakhman Omirzakov and Ayan Tursun became national champions. Zhuldyzai Ibrayeva won silver. All four are members of the Zhaubasar team.
In January 2026, Sergeant Elaman Kuatov won the Asian mixed martial arts championship in the under-120-kilogram category. At the competition in China, he defeated opponents from Taipei, China and Uzbekistan.
At the Kazakhstan hand-to-hand combat championship in Karaganda in April, Ayan Tursun won gold in the under-53-kilogram category, while Zhuldyzai Ibrayeva took bronze in the under-58-kilogram category. Kuatov also won bronze at that tournament.
The October MMA championship served as a qualifying event to select the national team for upcoming international competitions. All four Zhaubasar servicemen earned the right to represent Kazakhstan at the world mixed martial arts championship.
