Syrian and Lebanese Youth Fighters Boycott Israeli MMA Competitors at World Championship

The World MMA Championship for children and youth opened on August 17 in Abu Dhabi, featuring competitors aged 10 to 17 from over 130 countries. On the first day, dedicated to the 10-12 age group, fighters from Syria and Lebanon refused to face Israeli opponents in the ring. Eleven-year-old Harel Levi was scheduled to fight a Syrian competitor who declined to compete, granting Levi a technical victory and advancement to the semifinals, securing at least a bronze medal. Similarly, a Lebanese opponent refused to fight 12-year-old Ben Bitan, who also received a technical win. Additionally, Israeli competitor Karin Schwartz earned a bronze medal on the opening day.

The Israeli team arrived with about 40 athletes. Ido Freinta, president of the Israeli MMA Association, expressed regret over the refusal of athletes from countries that do not recognize Israel to compete, stating it harms the experience for all athletes. He affirmed the Israeli team's commitment to proudly represent their country and invited any willing competitors to face them in the center of the ring. Eric Kaplan, president and CEO of the "Eilat" Federation for Non-Olympic Sports, condemned the boycott, emphasizing the need for international sports bodies to enforce consequences for such refusals. He praised the Israeli youth fighters for their dignity and wished the team success in the ongoing championship, which runs through August 23.