RKENA
 | |
Native name | რკენა georgia (Georgian) |
|---|---|
| ISIN | 🆔 |
| Industry | MMA |
| Founded 📆 | October 21, 2025 |
| Founder 👔 | |
| Headquarters 🏙️ | , Tbilisi , Georgia |
Area served 🗺️ | Georgia, Caucasus Region |
| Members | |
Number of employees | |
| 🌐 Website | [Lua error in Module:WikidataIB at line 665: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). ] |
| 📇 Address | |
| 📞 telephone | |
RKENA is a Georgian professional mixed martial arts (MMA) organization founded in 2025. The organization aims to identify, develop, and prepare mixed martial arts competitors from Georgia and the wider region for competition on the international stage, including promotions such as the UFC, PFL, and ONE Championship.[1][2][3]
RKENA represents a new platform in Georgian mixed martial arts. Its activities are actively supported by Setanta Sports, through which the organization’s events are broadcast internationally.[4]
History
Foundation
RKENA was officially established in 2025 in Georgia. The organization was founded in response to the growing pool of Georgian mixed martial arts talent and the need for a structured development pathway. According to the organization’s managing partner, Giorgi Dodelia, RKENA was created to serve as a bridge between local fighters and the global mixed martial arts industry.
Setanta Sports, which has played a significant role in the regional promotion of mixed martial arts, assumed the role of the organization’s primary supporter.[5]
RKENA 1
First event
RKENA 1, the organization’s inaugural event, was held at the Sports Palace in Tbilisi and became one of the largest mixed martial arts events in modern Georgian sports history.[6][7]
More than 7,000 spectators attended the event in person, while hundreds of thousands of viewers followed the broadcast worldwide via Setanta Sports platforms.
Results and statistics
- 9 bouts were contested
- 7 fights ended by knockout or technical knockout
- 7 of 9 Georgian fighters won their bouts
- Only 2 fights went to the judges’ decision[8]
The event received widespread acclaim from fans and mixed martial arts analysts for its organizational quality and competitive level.
Notable fights
In the main event, former Georgia national rugby union team captain Merab Sharikadze made his mixed martial arts debut, defeating Polish fighter Patryk Kontny via technical knockout.
Notable finishes were also recorded by:
Bonuses
At RKENA 1, the organization awarded several performance-based bonuses:
- Fight of the Night: Jansu Gogiya vs. Yuldashev Jalolidin
- Finish of the Night: Yaroslav Chokobok
- Fighter of the Night: Nikoloz Abramishvili
- Comeback of the Night: Saba Sozashvili[10][11]
Goals and vision
RKENA’s primary objective is to establish a sustainable mixed martial arts ecosystem in Georgia and the surrounding region. The organization plans to host regular fight nights, focus on talent development, cooperate with international promotions, and facilitate opportunities for Georgian fighters on the global stage.
Its long-term goal is to position RKENA as a regional center for the professional development of mixed martial arts culture.[12]
Broadcasting
RKENA events are broadcast on Setanta Sports platforms, including live streams on setantasports.com, ensuring international audience reach.[13]
References
- ↑ "Rkena Fighting Championship".
- ↑ ""RKENA" – a new Georgian MMA organization begins operations with the support of Setanta Sports".
- ↑ "RKENA – a new chapter in Georgian and regional MMA".
- ↑ "RKENA 1 took place – a true spectacle in Tbilisi".
- ↑ "ახალი #MMA ორგანიზhttps://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1753872085316970". External link in
|title=(help); Missing or empty|url=(help) - ↑ "Live broadcast | RKENA 1".
- ↑ "RKENA 1 – everything you need to know about the upcoming event and fighters".
- ↑ "Rkena FC 1: Sharikadze vs. Kontny".
- ↑ "Rkena FC 1: Sharikadze vs. Kontny".
- ↑ "Rkena FC 1: Sharikadze vs. Kontny".
- ↑ "RKENA 1 took place – a true spectacle in Tbilisi".
- ↑ "RKENA – a new chapter in Georgian and regional MMA".
- ↑ ""RKENA" – a new Georgian MMA organization begins operations with the support of Setanta Sports".
Category:Sports organizations based in Georgia Category:Mixed martial arts promotions Category:Organizations established in 2025
This article "RKENA (MMA)" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:RKENA (MMA). Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.
