Eyes on championship homecoming

TDT | Manama

Email : hussainm@newsofbahrain.com

The stage is set for a defining week in Bahraini mixed martial arts. On Friday, November 7, Khalifa Sports City Arena in Isa Town will host BRAVE Combat Federation 100, a landmark event highlighting the Kingdom’s growing influence in MMA, followed by BRAVE 101 on November 9, at the same venue.

The centennial card will deliver three world title fights, starting with Mohammad Fakhreddine, BRAVE’s first homegrown star and current Middleweight Champion, who faces Alex Lohore for the Super Welterweight crown. The action then moves to the co-main event, which will crown the first-ever Flyweight World Champion as Muhammad “The Punisher” Mokaev returns to take on Ireland’s Gerard Burns. The night then reaches its climax in the main event, where Bahrain’s own Hamza Kooheji challenges Serbia’s Borislav Nikolic for the Bantamweight World Championship.

Together, these bouts capture the essence of BRAVE’s journey, bringing elite competition to Bahraini soil while exhibiting the fighters who built its foundation.

Both Kooheji and Mokaev enter BRAVE CF 100 in top form af- ter convinci n g wins at BRAVE CF 91 in Bahrain last December.  Kooheji stopped Alperen Karabulut by TKO (ground and pound) at 1:23 of Round 2, while Mokaev submitted Joevincent So with a Darce choke at 1:52 of Round 1. Those wins now lead them to the biggest nights of their careers.

A Return Written in Destiny

For Mokaev, BRAVE 100 is both a title opportunity and a symbolic return to Bahrain. Born in Buynaksk, Russia, and fighting out of Manchester, England, the 25-year-old was one of BRAVE’s brightest prospects before moving to the UFC and returns as an undefeated athlete chasing his first world title.

“It feels amazing fighting for my first professional title here”, Mokaev told The Daily Tribune. “In the UFC, I fought tough opponents for experience, not a belt. This time, it feels written in my life to come back to Bahrain, take the belt, and see what’s next.”

His opponent, Gerard Burns, brings confidence and knockout power. In a recent fight, Burns choked out his opponent while screaming “Mokaev! Mokaev!” to signal he was ready for the next challenge. Mokaev, however, remains unfazed. “If anyone can beat me, they’ll have to be perfect. Every fight, I defend my name and that’s my motivation,” he said. Speaking of the upcoming championship, Mokaev added, “Winning my first world title here would mean everything.”

Heart of a Nation

While Mokaev returns to redis - cover his roots, Hamza Kooheji fights to fulfill a lifelong dream at home. The 32-year-old has been at the heart of Bahraini MMA since its earliest days, representing the Kingdom when the sport was still emerging. Since BRAVE’s founding in 2016, he has earned nine victories in 11 appearances and inspired countless young athletes. Now, Kooheji has a chance at the world championship that has long eluded him, offering an opportunity for personal redemption. He came close at BRAVE CF 57 in 2022, losing a split decision, a result that continues to drive him forward.

His opponent, reigning champion Borislav Nikolic, earned the Bantamweight World Championship in one of BRAVE Combat Federation’s most remarkable comebacks at BRAVE CF 96 in Ljubljana, Slovenia. Facing Nicholas Hwende, Nikolic executed a flawless Ninja Choke in Round 4 despite both eyes being swollen shut. For the Serbian, defending the title now in Bahrain is a challenge he embraces.

“Being a champion isn’t about where you fight, it’s about who you are inside that cage,” Nikolic said. “I respect Hamza’s support, but I am not intimidated. I want to earn Bahrainis respect, not break their hearts.”

For Kooheji, the symbolism is impossible to ignore. Returning to Khalifa Sports City, where his first title bid fell short, a win would mean closing a chapter and honoring the support of his fans.

The Final Countdown

In the final days before fight night, the fighters remain calm and focused. Mokaev speaks of destiny; Kooheji speaks of duty. For Bahrain, BRAVECF 100 stands as both a tribute to the past and a preview of what is to come. The lights at Khalifa Sports City will shine bright on November 7, but the real weight rests on two men stepping into the cage, each fighting for gold and the place that made them.