The Philippines impressed both on and off the mat at the 11th Asia-Oceania Sambo Championships, with young athletes delivering breakthrough performances while organizers earned praise from international federations and more than 15 visiting delegations.
![Kazakhstan's Karakat Rakhybay raises her hands in victory after beating Filipina grappler women's youth -47-kilogram division of the 11th Asia-Oceania Championships at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium last Wednesday evening. [PSC photo]](https://sportsbytes.com.ph/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Untitled-design202-400x200.png)
Seventeen-year-old Sophia Nicole Novino captured a silver medal in her international sambo debut after reaching the women’s youth -47kg final at the 11th Asia-Oceania Sambo Championships in Manila.
AJ McKee and unbeaten Salamat Isbulaev successfully made weight ahead of their highly anticipated PFL San Diego main event, with every fighter on the card clearing the scales before fight night.
Saudi MMA star Hattan Alsaif will headline PFL MENA’s return to Riyadh as the promotion unveils a card featuring top regional prospects and tournament bouts.
Bulgarian standout Kaloyan Kolev faces Slovenian knockout specialist Nemanja Kovač in the BRAVE CF 107 main event at Burgas Arena.
![Sophia Nicole Divino pins E. Samatova of Kyrgyzstan during their Youth women’s -47kg preliminary bout at the 11th Asia-Oceania Sambo Championships at Ninoy Aquino Stadium. [PSC photo]](https://sportsbytes.com.ph/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Untitled-design187-400x200.png)
Teenage Filipina Sophia Nicole Novino continued her rapid rise by reaching the Youth women’s -47kg final at the Asia-Oceania Sambo Championships in Manila.
Undefeated Bulgarian prospect Nikolay Atanasov takes on Bahraini veteran Magomed Idrisov in a high-stakes flyweight clash at BRAVE CF 107 in Burgas on August 1.
World No. 1 Sydney Sy returns to action at the 11th Asia-Oceania Sambo Championships in Manila, as the Philippines eyes a strong medal run with home support and a full international field.
Denice “The Menace” Zamboanga has vacated the ONE Women’s Atomweight MMA World Championship after giving birth, stepping away from competition to embrace motherhood while signaling a future return to the sport.
Mohamed Said Maalem stunned Erko Jun at BRAVE CF 106 to become the new light heavyweight champion, proving age is no barrier to greatness.