MMA aims new heights in 2016

2015 was a tremendous year for the sport of MMA in Bahrain; but the best is yet to come. MMA in Bahrain will reach new heights this year, said Mohammed Shahid.

MMA is the fastest growing sport in the world and Bahrain will not lag behind in any way, said Shahid, who has been an instrumental figure for the growth of the sport in the Kingdom. 

He is the founder of Bahrain MMA and was appointed by First Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sport and President of the Bahrain Athletics Association HH Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa to manage the KHK MMA team.

“2016 is going to be a great year for the sport of MMA globally. It is growing at a rapid rate. It is in fact the fastest growing sport in the world. MMA in Bahrain continues to grow and everything will get to a completely different level. Coupling with how fast MMA is growing and how keen Bahrain is at keeping pace and to rise in the sport, we are going to see alot of developments nationally and internationally.” Shahid told DT News. 

Looking back at 2015, Shahid noted: “In 2015, from March to December, it was an explosion in the MMA scene. We had three national tryouts including the biggest national tryouts in the world. Media from all over the world came to attend the press conference on the formation of the KHK MMA team. The team made appearance in various competitions,” he said.

“It is great how far we have reached in just 6-7 months. We are already recognised and respected by the international audience. Perhaps its only in our country that the awareness is lacking.” he noted. 

“I always believed that MMA would rise in Bahrain, although at the beginning i felt like i was the only one to believe it at the time. When I realised I could make a living out of this, I just jumped into it and I never stopped. “ he said.

   “Bahrain never had anything for MMA before so I had to start off alone. There were no fights in Bahrain, in the GCC or anywhere close, so Idecided to travel to Thailand to fight. When i went there and knocked down three Thai guys, my belief grew stronger and that’s when I became convinced that I can really do it. After that Iought in India and became the national champion there. I set up a gym started teaching students, doing my best to inspire them”.

     He added that the quick rise of the sport in the Kingdom was thanks to the initiative of Shaikh Khalid.