Console, cage and eight teams: How phygital fighting will play out at the 2026 Games of the Future

Phygital fighting will take center stage on Aug. 8 in Astana as part of the 2026 Games of the Future, bringing together two very different battlegrounds: virtual fighting and real MMA competition.

The action will begin in the digital arena. Athletes will face off one-on-one in a console fighting game under a best-of-five format, with the first competitor to win three rounds taking the matchup. Each digital victory will be worth two points, giving fighters an early edge before the physical stage begins.

From there, the competition moves into the octagon. The real-life bouts will be contested under MMA rules, with three four-minute rounds. A finish will be worth seven points, a unanimous decision six points, a split or majority decision three points, and a draw one point.

Eight teams will battle for the title:

• Archangel Michael
• Cagewinner Phygital Fighting
• FUTURE NOMADS
• KUZNYA
• NEFOR TEAM
• RCC
• SOLDIERS OF FORTUNE
• SWORD

Each team will feature three athletes competing across their respective weight classes. The full fighter lineups are expected to be announced in the near future.

The tournament winner will be the team that scores the most points across all digital and physical matchups. If teams finish level on points, the winner will be determined by additional tiebreaking criteria set out in the official regulations.

KUZNYA enters the event with a championship pedigree. The team won the phygital fighting tournaments at the 2024 Games of the Future in Kazan and the 2025 Games of the Future in Abu Dhabi, with MMA Series fighters Vladislav Sukalenko and Eduard Martirosyan delivering standout performances.

Photo: Games of the Future 2026 website