Armenia Brings Home Three Medals from 2026 IMMAF Youth World Championships

Four young athletes from families forcibly displaced from Artsakh represented Armenia in Abu Dhabi with support from Lorik Humanitarian Fund.

Armenia returned from the 2026 IMMAF Youth World Championships with three medals, one gold and two bronze, after a strong showing by its 32 young athletes.

The championships brought together more than 1,100 fighters representing 55 countries. Armenia finished ahead of a number of larger and established sporting nations in the official medal table, including the United States, Kazakhstan, Georgia, South Africa and neighboring Azerbaijan.

The highlight for Armenia was Rafik Aleksanyan, who became a Youth World Champion after an incredible six fight run in the Youth A 65.8 kg featherweight division.

Gold Medal winner Rafik Aleksanyan

Aleksanyan won his first four fights by submission, then won both his semifinal and final by unanimous decision to bring home a World Championship gold for Armenia.

Armenia's other two medals came from Edik Martirosyan and Sos Martirosyan, who each earned bronze.

Bronze Medal - Edik Martirosyan

Bronze Medal - Sos Martirosyan

For a 32 athlete Armenian team competing against young fighters from around the world, it was a performance to be proud of.

Four Young Athletes from Artsakh Represent Armenia

For Lorik Humanitarian Fund, the championships also had a more personal significance.

Four members of Armenia's team, Karen Arzumanyan, Tigran Gasparyan, Samvel Avetisyan and Erik Hayrapetyan, come from families forcibly displaced from Artsakh.

Each had earned his place on Armenia's national team through competition at home. Lorik Fund covered the costs necessary for the four athletes to travel with the Armenian team and compete in Abu Dhabi.

None of the four returned with a medal, but that doesn't take away from what they accomplished.

They earned the right to represent Armenia, competed at a World Championship, faced some of the best young fighters from other countries and experienced firsthand what it takes to compete at that level.

They came home with experience they can take back into the gym as they continue training and developing.

Creating Opportunities Beyond Abu Dhabi

For young people rebuilding their lives after being forcibly displaced from Artsakh, having the opportunity to continue pursuing the things they have worked for matters.

Sometimes that means helping a student continue an education. Sometimes it means helping a family start a business. In this case, it meant making sure four young athletes who had earned the opportunity to represent Armenia were actually able to go.

Our support for these athletes also doesn't end with Abu Dhabi.

Lorik Fund is now looking to provide new training equipment to one of the gyms helping develop these young fighters, including athletes from Artsakh. We want them to have the equipment and training environment they need to keep improving and, hopefully, return to competitions like this even stronger.

Karen, Tigran, Samvel and Erik earned their places on Armenia's national team as athletes. Lorik's role was simply to make sure finances didn't prevent them from taking that opportunity.

We congratulate Rafik Aleksanyan on becoming a 2026 IMMAF Youth World Champion, Edik Martirosyan and Sos Martirosyan on their bronze medals, and the entire Armenian national team, coaches and Armenian MMA Federation on their performance.

We are especially proud of Karen Arzumanyan, Tigran Gasparyan, Samvel Avetisyan and Erik Hayrapetyan for representing Armenia on the world stage.