![Princess Aumagel Cortez smiles as she drapes the Philippine flag over her shoulders after clinching the 59kg women's class combat sambo gold in the 11th Asia-Oceania Sambo Championships at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium last Saturday evening. [PSC photo]](https://sportsbytes.com.ph/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/PSC_0560-1-400x200.jpg)
The Philippines announced itself as an emerging sambo powerhouse after winning three gold medals at the 11th Asia-Oceania Sambo Championships in Manila. Led by Aislinn Agnes Yap, Jomary Torres and Aumagel Princess Cortez, the host nation delivered its best-ever campaign against some of the region’s strongest competitors.
BRAVE Combat Federation has added a pivotal heavyweight clash to BRAVE CF 107 as Ukrainian finisher Danylo Voievodkin meets former title challenger Grégory ‘Robson’ Robinet in Burgas, Bulgaria. Both fighters enter the contest determined to revive their championship ambitions.
![AJ McKee reminded everyone why he's among the world's elite, while Liz Carmouche moved another step closer to championship gold at PFL San Diego. [PFL photo]](https://sportsbytes.com.ph/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Untitled-design207-400x200.png)
PFL San Diego delivered major shake-ups across four divisions as AJ McKee ended Salamat Isbulaev’s unbeaten run, Liz Carmouche earned a title shot, and Alexander Shabliy and Rob Wilkinson secured dominant victories.
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.