Program guide
20:00
MMA Series Names. V.Walker
21:40
MMA Series Names. Z.Gadzhibabayev
00:00
MMA Series Classic
01:45
MMA Series Main Card
04:05
MMA Series Phygital. O.Popov, V.Sukalenko, D.Zhukov
07:35
The Territory of MMA-TV.COM. 158
Phygital fighting takes center stage at the Games of the Future 2026 on Saturday, Aug. 8, in Astana, Kazakhstan. MMA-TV.COM will carry live coverage of the competition.
The broadcast begins at 7 a.m. ET (4 a.m. PT), with the action getting underway at 4 p.m. local time in Astana.
The field features Oleg Popov, Vladislav Sukalenko, Andrey Vasilenko and several other notable fighters. Athletes representing teams and promotions familiar to MMA fans will compete at the event, including veterans of MMA Series and RCC.
One of the most recognizable names in the lineup is Oleg Popov, winner of the 2025 PFL heavyweight tournament. The Russian heavyweight will make his first appearance in a competition that combines esports and live combat.
Sukalenko, meanwhile, is already well established in the format. He enters the tournament as a two-time Games of the Future champion.
How phygital fighting works
The competition is divided into digital and physical stages.
Athletes first face off on console in Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves. The digital matchups are contested in a best-of-five format, with the first player to earn three victories taking the series. Each virtual fight win is worth two points.
The opponents then continue their matchup inside the octagon. The MMA portion consists of three four-minute rounds.
A stoppage victory earns a team seven points, while a unanimous decision is worth six. A split decision or majority decision earns three points.
The overall winner is determined by the combined points earned across the digital and physical stages.
Each team features four athletes competing in separate weight classes. Eight teams are scheduled to take part in the tournament.
Team rosters
Archangel Michael
Khalim Nazruloev
Maksim Fuks
Temirkhan Temirkhanov
Cagewinner Phygital Fighting
Mohammad Basem
Mahmoud Abdin
Rayan Atmani
FUTURE NOMADS
Rassul Khatayev
Bogdan Pshebelskiy
Nurzhigit Baimen
KUZNYA
Denis Zhukov
Oleg Popov
Vladislav Sukalenko
NEFOR TEAM
Artem Gudkov
Andrey Vasilenko
David Samuel
RCC
Ivan Arkhipov
Alexander Vasiliev
Mukhamed-Afandi Asipov
SOLDIERS OF FORTUNE
Ivan Leonov
Yuri Chernyshev
Evgeny Tabarovsky
SWORD
Geraldo de Freitas
Ricardo Chavez
Khama Worthy
Where to watch phygital fighting on Aug. 8
Live coverage of the Games of the Future 2026 phygital fighting competition will be available on MMA-TV.COM.
The Games of the Future 2026 are taking place in Kazakhstan’s capital from July 29 through Aug. 9. The international tournament features eight disciplines combining traditional sports with digital competition.
