European Championship will be held 9-10th May. Five categories for women five for men. Men’s division coming right up..!
The men’s division have in total 87 fighters, divided into the five categories. That gives us a respectable number in each category.
And as you are about to read – notable fighters with world class level spice up the championship, which is set to be a very strong one.
Georgia won 4 out of 5 categories in 2025. And on home soil will be particularly hard to beat. Remember that now they have one more athlete in each category – as the organizer.
Reigning champion, Mindia Mgeladze, along with 3rd place holder Lasha Shantadze is a challenge for anyone in the class. Both in the top 8 in the World Championships, where Mgeladze took 3rd place in the 1st WFKO World Championships
Lasha Shantadze qualified for the World Championships by taking 3rd place in the qualifying tournament. The class held a significant level, and he made a good figure in Japan during the World Championships.
The European Championships on home soil will certainly give us an even stronger athlete than what we saw in 2025. David Dzneladze, who is the third athlete from Georgia, also holds the European Championship title in age groups. A solid trio.
Balaami Ahmadov ( Right ⇑ ) Azerbaijan beat Lasha Shantadze in a very hard semi-final last year EC, and ended 2nd i total – a step up from 2024. Mykhailo Naumchyk / Ukraine, winner of EFKO 2024, 3rd last year EC – who is capable of threatening the top. Competent fighter, very technical style, very good eye for distance – which is also entertaining – we are talking about good techniques – not chest to chest and pushing yourself to the result.
Further on, strong nations like Lithuania and Hungary are in the line up, followed be Turkey and Latvia. We see several young fighters coming into the EC – and it will be really interesting to follow several new faces in action.
In this category it is hard to even begin. It’s packed with top fighters from top nations. Again Georgia have the most merited one. Seven times EC champion Andrei Zinchenko / Georgia, and reign champion will be be the top name.
Data Putkaradze and Dimitri Mskhaladze is the other two fighter from Georgia. Data Putkaradze has all ready been notable i sever occasions, wholehearted high pace fighting has given him many successes already. 3rd last year – aiming higher this year for sure!
One big challenger for the title is Mateusz Dyniewicz / Poland. Finalist the last three years, with noticeable growth. He is incredibly strong, and seems unstoppable. An eye-opener for many was his victory in the Kokoro Cup 2025 – and remember, that’s an Open-weight tournament.
The other athlete from Poland also holds a significant level. Kuba Pałaszewski has several good merits around Europe, and those who witnessed the fight vs Mateusz Dyniewicz in the Polish championship earlier this year, understand that Poland will be something to be reckoned with in this EC.
Azerbaijan will be right up there, fighting for the top spots. With to previous EC champions Emin Ismayilli and Aligismat Hasanov. Aligismat moving up a category this year,