MMA stars prepare for title showdown

Brave 18’s main event headliners are willing to go to any length to be crowned as the undisputed champion of the lightweight division. Brazilian Lucas Mineiro is set to defend his championship against Palestinian Abdul Kareem Al Selwady today. Speaking to Tribune on the sidelines of the Brave 18 Public Weigh-Ins at the Khalifa Sports City, Al Selwady ‘Pride of Palestine’ expressed that he is set to fully commit to the win.

“I’m going to keep going for as long as I can breathe, I’m willing to go to lengths to get the championship. There’s no giving up and there’s so much on the line. For me it’s either going in and walking out winning or in a wheelchair. I’m going to give everything I have for this fight,” said Al Selwady. With an MMA record of 20 wins and 3 losses, Mineiro is beaming with confidence to go up against Al Selwady’s 9 wins and 1 loss record. “This is going to be a great match and I am going to walk out retaining my championship.

I’m going to give it my 100 per cent and I will retain my title,” said Mineiro. Both fighters have gained themselves an impressive reputation in the MMA world and therefore, are not strangers to the limelight of a main even. “I’ve had my fair share of main events, this won’t be any different, my confidence will be high,” stated Mineiro. Crowd favorite Al Selwady states the resounding cheers will be a world away once he begins his fight.

“I’m used to being in the main event a lot, most of my fights were main events. I’ve always been a crowd favorite; I’m going to let that get to my head,” said Al Selwady. “I’m going to have a positive energy around me because the crowd likes me but that doesn’t change anything about the fight. It doesn’t make me more confident but it’s a good thing on the side because fight is a world on its own,” he added.

The co-main event will feature the bout between Abdul Rakhman Dudaev from Russia and Joe Taimanglo from Guam. Magomedrasul Khasbulaev from Russia will face Robert Emerson from USA in a featherweight bout. Stephen Loman from Philippines will defend his bantamweight championship against Felipe Efrain from Brazil. In the opening fight of the main card, the inaugural flyweight title will be contested between Marcel Adur from Brazil and Velimurad Alkhasov from Russia.