The 2024 GAMMA European Championships in Slovakia kicked off on Friday with the opening ceremony and the preliminary rounds of the senior competition. Hosted by the Slovak MMA Association (SOMMA) at the Bellevue Hotel in Vysoké Tatry, the continental nations MMA and Striking MMA tournament is organised by the Global Association of Mixed Martial Arts. 

On a day of upsets, two returning medallists made it through to the next round as 2023 MMA silver medallist in MMA, Daniele Scagliusi (Italy) dominated with a first-round submission. Meanwhile, 2021 European Striking MMA silver medallist Denis Malikov of Azerbaijan secured a second-round submission in his MMA bout against Ukraine's Maksym Pihura. 

Other returning Striking MMA medallists were less successful in their MMA bouts: 2021 European gold medallist Bedrii Nazari (Ukraine), 2022 European gold medallist Nika Bregvadze (Georgia), 2021 European silver medallist, Bilol Abdurasulov (Latvia) and 2022 European bronze medallist, Ivan Kozhechenkov (Latvia). Among other notable talent, GAMMA Ireland national champion Indra Davis won a rematch against Czech Tereza Augustynkova.

Athletes to watch on day two of the senior competition are: Polish heavyweight Iwo Baraniewski, a two-time GAMMA MMA gold medallist (2022 European and 2021) World Champion); Polish 2022 European MMA bronze medallist Pawel Grzeszczak; and Slovakia's Richard Dobrotka, who won gold at the 2022 European Championships in Striking MMA. 

Returning in Striking MMA are: Slovakia's Adam Neupauer, who will be looking to improve on the bronze he won at the 2021 World Championships, and World MMA bronze medallist David Velisek of the Czechia.

All days of the senior fights will be streamed live for free on the GAMMA Facebook and YouTube channels from 17-19 May. Check out here the results and fights from the preliminary rounds and the schedule. For information on the draw, daily schedule and results, please visit sportdata.org.