‘I feel no pressure, my name Is Hamza’

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Hometown hero Hamza Kooheji assured his local supporters that he doesn’t feel any pressure heading into the first World Championship bout of his professional mixed martial arts (MMA) career tonight.

The 29-year-old Bahraini is booked to vie for the vacant BRAVE CF Bantamweight World Championship against Canadian Brad “Superman” Katona in the main event of BRAVE CF 57, the headlining event of BRAVE International Combat Week in the Kingdom.

Kooheji made an appearance during the BRAVE CF pre-fight Press conference and had the chance to air his thoughts before he shares the cage with Katona.

“My name is Hamza; I was named after one of the greatest warriors in history, and Hamza means lion,” Kooheji declared. “So to tell me about pressure, I don’t feel pressure.

I only feel confident.” Kooheji has accomplished everything there is to accomplish both at the national and regional levels.

But the only accolade missing in his trophy room is a coveted World Championship in the sport of MMA. With the entire Kingdom rallying behind him, Kooheji is expected to give it his all in order to walk out of the Khalifa Sports City Arena with his hand raised in triumph.

Capturing the intricately crafted belt will put Kooheji in the history books as the first Bahraini homegrown MMA fighter to ever win a major World Title.

At the Press conference, held at Oasis Mall in Juffair, Kooheji had the chance to go face-to-face with Katona. “It’s very important for me; it’s the biggest fight of my career,” Kooheji said. “I take everything seriously. From the moment I found out that I would be fighting for the title, I started running and immediately went to train. I am very motivated for this fight.”

Meanwhile, Katona seeks to punctuate his ongoing career resurgence by getting hold of the coveted BRAVECF Bantamweight World Championship. “I honestly feel great,” he expressed. “Like I said, I made a career out of this. It has hardened me as a fighter. I haven’t had the hometown advantage my entire career, so I am used to this.”

Also in attendance were comain event participants, BRAVE CF Middleweight World Champion Mohammad “The Latest” Fakhreddine of Lebanon and Mohamed “L’Ambiance” Said Maalem of Algeria, as well as Kyrgyz powerhouse Abdisalam “Omok” Kubanychbek and Indian superstar Mohammed Farhad. Fakhreddine and Said Maalem will meet again for the vacant BRAVE CF Light Heavyweight World Championship at BRAVE CF 57, while Kubanychbek will take on former champion Cleiton “Predador” Silva for BRAVE CF Interim Lightweight World Championship.

Meanwhile, Farhad is slated to compete on the supporting card, where he will be squaring off against Egypt’s Maysara Mohamed in a three-round bantamweight clash.