Athletes are competing across two disciplines at the Gazprom Sports Center in Cholpon-Ata, MMA and striking MMA.

The men’s 52.2 to 56.7 kilograms striking MMA event was among the divisions to begin on the opening day.

Kazakhstan’s Sairan Sagyndykov was a 2-0 winner against Palestine’s Hamzeh Sidawi in his opening bout.

His reward will be a semi-final against compatriot Yermakhan Oryntayev, who overcame Kyrgyzstan’s Iskhak Duishonaliev.

The second semi-final will be an all-Indian contest between Dinesh Naorem and Vishnu Warrier.

The 65.8kg event will also see another all-Kazakh bout with Abil Galiyev awaiting Mansur Mimbulatov, who beat Indonesia’s Rahman Azra Aulia 3-0 today.

Pakistan’s Liaquat Ali and Kyrgyzstan’s Rustam Ibragimov complete the semi-final line-up after winning their opening bouts.

Around 400 athletes are competing across the event, which features nine categories for men and seven for women in both disciplines.

Running alongside the Asian MMA Championships, which are due to conclude on Saturday (August 28), is GAMMA Revolution Fest.

GAMMA Revolution Fest is a five-day festival set to feature blogging, information technology and business forums, a film festival and an amateur chess marathon featuring more than 1,000 participants.

The festival of activities is open to participants in the GAMMA Asian MMA Championships.