UAE's Ilyass Habibali on track for second gold at Muaythai World Championships

Ilyass Habibali remained on course for a second IFMA Muaythai World Championship gold after his quarter-final victory over Enis Yunusoglu of Turkey at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre on Tuesday.

The Emirati came back after trailing in the first round to win by split decision and reach the semi-final stage in the light-heavyweight 81kg division.

Yunusoglu used his height and reach to take the opening round 10-9 but Habibali rallied to score with left-right combinations and powerful punches to take the next two and the match 28-27.

“I thought the first fight was tough but this was perhaps the toughest as I had to claw back after trailing in the first round,” Habibali told The National.

“Enis had the advantage with his longer reach. I had to punch my way in to get closer. I managed to score with my left-right combinations, and managed to land a few heavy blows in the second and third rounds. I knew I had the match, but it was close.”

Habibali began the final round by landing a couple of crunching early blows to Yunusoglu’s head before dominating that round.

“I was facing Enis for the first time and it’s always hard when you fight someone for the first time,” he said.

“The important thing is I’m still in the competition and still on track from the goal that I had set at the beginning of this championships, that’s to win gold for the UAE.”

Habibali had a brilliant start to his career, winning gold in the 2018 World Championships in Mexico. However, he was not able to replicate that performance in the 2019 and 2021 editions, both in Bangkok.

He meets Iraqi Mustafa Al Takreeti, who edged out Ramin Alizadeh of Iran 29-28, in the semi-finals on Thursday.

Joining Habibali in the medal round was Bilal Ibrahim, who got the