Guyana secured four bronze medals at the recent Pan American Mixed Martial Arts Championship which was staged in Bogota, Colombia.
The four medalists are Ijaz Cave, Christopher James, Anevia Frank and Shenese Bobb. Cave was defeated by El Salvador’s Rodrigo Calderon in the semi-finals of the middleweight division. Prior to his defeat, Cave won his first fight defeating Juan Guzman of Colombia via technical knockout.
On the other hand, Christopher James was defeated by Uruguay’s Geronimo Beron in the heavyweight division semi-final round. Also, Frank went down to Brazilian Josiane Oliveira in the semi-final section of the women’s bantamweight section whilst Bobb lost in the semi-finals of the women’s lightweight division.
Captain Corwin D’Anjou lost to Trinidad and Tobago’s Joshua James in the welterweight quarterfinal section via submission. This was Guyana’s second appearance at the championships following their debut in 2022 in Mexico. Guyana also competed at the 2022 IMMAF World Championship in the United Arab Emirates.
Cave, during brief remarks said, “Well personally it was a good experience having being drafted to compete against a Colombian in the quarter-finals and being able to win that fight by TKO in the very first round would have given me a lot of confidence going forward in the Pan American Championship and being able to fight someone in the semifinals from El Salvador who is ranked in the top 10 in my weight class and going the distance and leaving the judges to make a decision was a major improvement in my fighting and it tells a lot about the training I’ve been putting in and where I can improve in, but falling short of my true desire which is to capture that gold medal at the Pan American championship. It doesn’t end there it’s just about learning from your mistakes and gaining experience every time you get into that cage and keep pushing yourself and training harder.”
James said, “It was a good fight. However, I didn’t implement as much striking as I had wanted because I gave too much respect to my opponent in terms of power and ability. That coupled with the elevation led to me gassing out and losing the exchange in round 2.”
Meanwhile, Guyana Mixed Martial Arts Federation (GMMAF) President Gavin Singh in an official statement, said, “Guyana has every reason to swell with pride over the remarkable performance of its athletes at the recent IMMAF Pan American Championships in Bogota, Colombia. Winning four bronze medals is a testament to these athletes’ incredible talent and unwavering dedication to the challenging sport of mixed martial arts (MMA). First and foremost, let’s highlight the incredible efforts and commitment put forth by Ijaz Cave, Christopher James, Shenese Bobb, and Anevia Frank. Their journey to the podium was marked by countless hours of rigorous training, sacrifice, and a relentless pursuit of excellence. These athletes have showcased their own skills and become symbols of inspiration for aspiring fighters across Guyana.”
According to Singh, “Corwin D’Anjou’s role as the team captain cannot be overstated. His leadership was instrumental in guiding the team to success inside and outside the cage. His expressed pride in the team’s effort reflects his dedication and recognition of the collective spirit that drove them to victory. By emphasizing the need for continuous improvement and aiming for gold medals in the future, D’Anjou is setting a high standard for the team. His determination and commitment to working hard and elevating their skills is the driving force behind their potential for even greater success.”
Singh heaped praises on the coaching staff and the technical team for their unwavering support and respective contributions, which were pivotal in realizing this significant accomplishment, noting that the future of the local MMA landscape is very bright and that he is positive about its continued evolution.
“The four bronze medals won by Guyanese athletes at the IMMAF Pan American Championships are not just individual achievements but a collective triumph for Guyana. These athletes have brought recognition to their country and inspired the growth of MMA within Guyana. Their dedication, the guidance of their coaches, and their commitment to improvement bode well for the future of Guyanese MMA, and with continued hard work and dedication, they may very well achieve their goal of winning gold medals in future competitions, solidifying Guyana’s presence on the international MMA stage”, he further said.
