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BAHRAIN’S mixed martial arts star Hamza Kooheji packed a punch for the kingdom once again after securing notable success at the Brave Combat Federation championship challenge staged in Abu Dhabi.
Determined Kooheji, 25, now has seven wins and just two losses under his belt and is regarded as one of the leading bantamweights in the division.
He handed a second defeat to Crisanto Pitpitunge, a Filipino fighter nicknamed ‘The Slugger’, and resurrected a dream of becoming a title contender.
“I’m proud to represent the Kingdom of Bahrain and honour His Highness Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa with a victory on his birthday,” Kooheji told GulfWeekly. “I will continue to train hard and get back to competing as soon as possible, making Bahrain proud.
“I would like to thank all the team at KHK MMA Bahrain and the staff at Brave Combat Federation for making my dream a reality.”
It was a significant feat for Kooheji coming after a disappointing loss to UFC-signed 26-year-old Khalid Taha at the federation’s Brave 12 event held in Indonesia on May 11.
Kooheji picked himself up, dusted himself down and began training the very next day. “I trained around the world in Extreme Studio Performance and Fortis MMA in the US and KHK MMA Bahrain with the best coaches and trainers around,” he explained.
“I did not take a break and promised to myself that I will make the kingdom proud again. Each day I improved and became a better version of myself with the help of my coaches and the invaluable motivation from Shaikh Khalid. I aim to keep at it and when ready compete for the championship title.”
The Brave Combat Federation, founded two years ago by Shaikh Khalid, has already featured 16 editions and now has some of the sport’s leading fighters including Stephen Loman, Gurdarshan Mangat, Frans Mlambo and Felipe Efrain under its wing.
“We are an example for the world to observe and learn from,” added Kooheji. “Today, the fastest growing mixed martial arts organisation in the world belongs to Bahrain. Our determination and struggle has made this a reality.
“Bahrain is ranked second in IMMAF global rankings and we will aim higher and will achieve more. This is a wakeup call to Bahraini youth to embrace a healthy lifestyle and follow your dreams.”
