Kooheji motivated to be best in the world: Eldarov

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

“The Pride of Bahrain” and Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) superstar Hamza Kooheji has a fiery determination burning inside him that is the driving force in his desire to be the best in the world in the sport’s highly competitive bantamweight division.

This was highlighted by BRAVE Combat Federation’s super lightweight champion and KHK MMA head coach Eldar Eldarov, who has been working with Kooheji over the past seven years.

Eldarov is now preparing Kooheji for the biggest fight of his career to date: the headlining event of BRAVE 57 on March 11 against Canadian-Irish fighter Brad Katona for the vacant BRAVE CF bantamweight world championship title. From the time Kooheji first stepped into the cage a decade ago, it has always been his goal to compete for a world title.

Now that the opportunity has arrived, Eldarov believes that Kooheji is not satisfied with just being there. He wants to win.

“It’s all about what is in Hamza’s mind, what motivates him,” Eldarov told TDT.

“If it was only motivation to win a belt, relax after that and think ‘I did what I wanted to do and now I can retire’—if he will not have fire in his eyes—I will tell him to better stop. “When you don’t have this motivation, it is better to stop fighting.

This is very important for the fighter to always be hungry, to continue the same lifestyle and hard work.

“We have a lot of examples in the sport when fighters reach some level, and they think this is enough and they are relaxing.

This is what I don’t want to happen, but this all depends on Hamza’s mind and I believe it will not stop him.

“It will give him more motivation to grow and to become the best out of all fighters all over the world in his division—to be number one in all organisations in the world, not only here in the Middle East and Asia, but the best in the world.”

Eldarov notes that he and Kooheji are doing all that they can to be fully prepared for the fight against Katona, who he described as a “dangerous” rival.

“The opponent of Hamza is very explosive,” Eldarov said. “He is not a slow guy who is using only power. This guy is explosive and guys like him are dangerous in striking as well. “Brad Katona is not a very technical boxer, but when he punches, it can be a knockout.

I use the same style when I fight and I know how dangerous these punches can be.

“This opponent will be dangerous especially in the first two rounds when he is fresh, but we are ready for this.”

BRAVE CF 57 is set to take place as part of BRAVE International Combat Week at Khalifa Sports City in Isa Town.

Combat Week will also feature the first-ever edition of the MMA Super Cup, which will be the highest-paying team-versus-team competition in amateur MMA.