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The latest showing of mixed martial arts melodrama in Bahrain proved to be a knock-out event in more ways than one, with plenty of blood and sweat mixed with a fair degree of skilled aggression, powerful perseverance and razzmatazz.
Brave Combat Federation’s second edition ‘Brave 2: Dynasty’ came under the global and local TV spotlight at Khalifa Sports City in Isa Town. An excited crowd displayed plenty of noise and enthusiasm throughout proceedings … particularly when local hero Hamza Kooheji took to the cage.
On the bill were 10 fights played out in almost four hours of straight action and powerful Brit Carl ‘The Bomber’ Booth didn’t disappoint when stepping up as the main international attraction.
Russian opponent Gadzhimusa Gaziev tried a starring game at the start trying to intimidate Booth who obviously took offense and left him wide-eyed and legless after landing a knockout right hand in the second round.
The co-headliner witnessed the Moroccan, Ottman Azaitar, defend his undefeated record with a clinical performance over a battered and bloodied, clinging Argentinian Kevin Koldobsky. After three dominant rounds, Azaitar was declared the winner.
A vocal home crowd dismissed any fears Kooheji may have had that the voices of his fans would be out-cheered by the strong expat Filipino support backing their young star Jeremy Pacatiw. Kooheji appeared to feed on the frenzy his appearance created with a determined display on the front foot which put him ahead on points, and helped him secure a unanimous decision by all the three judges, against his skillful and previously undefeated opponent.
Jarrah Al Silawi and Elias Boudegzdame proved to the world that the Middle Eastern fighters are more than a match for the best of the rest as they submitted their opponents, Erik Carlsson and Walel Watson respectively.
The undercard lit up the arena and warmed up the fans for the main events with some spectacular action. The straw-weights opened up the evening with a fight of the night performance from Pa-ac and Farman.
Mexico’s Quinones made quick work of Ahmed Fares finishing him in the first stanza. The bigger light heavyweights were next in line, with a dominant performance by the impressive American Tyree Fortune against Ben Forsyth.
Gurdarshan Mangat delivered exactly what was expected from him, a beat down of the less talented Filipino, Troy Bantiag. Prior to the main card, the undefeated Brazilian Alex ‘Leko’ Da Silva proved why he is unbeaten and added an 18th win to his clean record and, in a touching aside, in his after-fight interview, remembered the tragic Chapecoense players killed in a plane crash on their way to the Copa Sudamericana final in Medellin, Colombia, as fans waved the flag of his home country.
The event took place under the patronage of His Highness Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa and in the presence of Kerrith Brown, president of the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation, and Denzin White, the organisation’s CEO, and many other VIPs.
Mohamed Shahid, Brave president, believes the quality of the performances showed the visible growth that had taken placed in the weeks between the two shows and ‘all the hard work and persistence’ reflected in its success.
Brave Combat Federation will now conduct its next show ‘BRAVE 3’ in Brazil in February. Visit www.bravefights. com for updates.
