THERE COULD BE more good times ahead for Irish fighters at the highest level in mixed martial arts after a very successful showing for Team Ireland at the 2016 IMMAF (International Mixed Martial Arts Federation) Amateur World Championships in Las Vegas.

With a haul of six medals, Ireland topped the table of honours when the tournament concluded on Sunday at the Las Vegas Convention Centre. Featherweight Leah McCourt and light-heavyweight Scott Trelford also brought home gold and bronze respectively for Northern Ireland.

Matthew Sheehan, who fights out of Team Ryano in Finglas, won the gold medal in the light-heavyweight division after seeing off the challenge of Bulgaria’s Tencho Karaenev.

Nathan Kelly was awarded a silver medal following a defeat to the UK’s Shoaib Yousaf in the featherweight final, while Dave Fogarty also took silver after he just came up short in the flyweight decider against Brayden Graham.

Hughie O’Rourke (flyweight), Eoghan Drumgoole (featherweight) and Cian Cowley (welterweight) all made it as far as the semi-finals to win bronze medals.

2016 IMMAF Amateur World Championships medal winners

Ireland – 6 (one gold, two silver, three bronze)
New Zealand – 5 (two gold, three bronze)
USA – 5 (one gold, two silver, two bronze)
Poland – 5 (two silver, three bronze)
Sweden – 4 (three gold, one bronze)
UK – 4 (two gold, two bronze)
Bulgaria – 4 (one gold, two silver, one bronze)
Finland – 3 (one gold, one silver, one bronze)
Northern Ireland – 2 (one gold, one bronze)
South Africa – 2 (one gold, one bronze)
Italy – 2 (two bronze)
Romania – 2 (two bronze)
Lebanon – 1 (one gold)
Norway – 1 (one silver)
Germany – 1 (one silver)
Canada – 1 (one silver)
France – 1 (one silver)
Hungary – 1 (one bronze)
Bahrain – 1 (one bronze)
Austria – 1 (one bronze)

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