21-year-old Spartak Mikayelyan wrote his name into the history of Armenian sport by becoming the first senior world MMA champion under the IMMAF-2025. Previously he had already won the world youth title, and now he confirmed his status as one of the most promising fighters in the country.
At the 2025 IMMAF World Championship, which took place in Tbilisi and concluded on October 2, Mikayelyan secured five consecutive wins. In the final he convincingly defeated Nigerian contender Benjamin Edozi, ending the fight with a chokehold already in the first round.
Following his triumph, Spartak gave an interview to Sportaran.com, where he spoke about his path into sports, preparation for the tournament, and his plans for a professional career.
— Tell us a bit about yourself. Where were you born and raised?
I was born and raised in Yerevan. When I was 18 — in 2022 — I moved to the USA, to the state of Colorado, to study and continue training. Currently I’m studying at the University of Colorado in Boulder, majoring in Computer Science. I train at gyms like High Altitude, Logos, ONX and others — with very strong and high-class fighters.
— When did you begin doing sports, and which one exactly?
My first sport was boxing. I started it at the age of five, but not for long. Then I tried different disciplines and I’ve always stayed active in sports. At 12 I began training at the Petrosyan Dojo club, attended BJJ Legacy, and also did freestyle wrestling at the “Ashxatanqi zal” gym.
— How did you get into the Armenian national MMA team?
Since I was 12 I competed in Armenian MMA championships. For the past two years I have been living in Colorado, so I couldn’t participate in national tournaments. Nevertheless, the Federation allowed me to represent Armenia in international competitions, and I’m very proud of that.
— Who was your toughest opponent at the world championship?
All fighters were strong, but perhaps I will point out the opponent from Ireland (Jordan Skally). Our styles are similar, the fight was very even — he even won the first round, but in the end I managed to take the victory.
— Did you expect the final to be this short?
I knew my opponent well. Edozi holds the number one ranking in amateur MMA in England, though at the tournament he represented Nigeria. We prepared for a tough bout. Together with coaches under the guidance of Harut Poghosyan we designed a precise game-plan, which we managed to execute successfully.
— Was it hard to fight five matches in a row over five days?
Yes, that was perhaps the hardest part of the tournament. Every day you must prepare for a new opponent and maintain concentration. Equally important is to be in perfect physical and psychological shape. Also, we weighed in every morning, so I had to constantly monitor weight.
— After the victory did any offers arrive from professional promotions, like Brave, which cooperates with IMMAF?
From Brave — no, but there are other offers, for example from APFC.
— When do you plan to debut as a professional?
My coach and manager Harut Poghosyan and I decided that this was my last amateur tournament. The next fight will already take place under professional MMA rules.
— What are your strongest sides in MMA?
I believe they are grappling and endurance. During fights I adapt quickly to the opponent’s style.
— You also became European champion in grappling. Do you plan to compete again in that sport?
Yes, I won the U21 Grappling Gi World Championship in Warsaw. I’m very grateful to the Armenian Grappling Federation for the opportunity to represent the country both there and at the tournament in Ufa. Currently I’m focused on MMA, but I do not rule out returning to grappling.
— And the last question: were there any issues with the army? Were you able to get a deferment?
No, there are no issues. My university is among the top-50 in global ranking, so I have an official deferment from service.
Spartak Mikayelyan has already entered the history of Armenian MMA, but, according to him, it’s only the beginning of the journey. Ahead — moving into the professional arena, new goals, and possibly the path to the world’s major stages.