BRAVE CF 65 Staredowns: Kooheji ready to “kill”, Izzedine goes berserk

TDT | Manama                

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com  

If the BRAVE CF 65 ceremonial weigh-ins are anything to go by, then the athletes have already lived up to the title of the third and final leg of Kombat Kingdom: Rumble in the Kingdom. The tension was palpable between the competitors on the 11-fight card spread throughout the Khalifa Sports City Arena as 22 gladiators prepare for war in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

In the main event there is absolutely no love lost between Bahrain’s Hamza Kooheji and Colombia’s Eduardo Mora. If looks could kill, then both athletes would be absent from today’s huge intercontinental Featherweight bout as Kooheji and Mora refused to even shake hands when meeting face to face after successfully making weight.

“This is my biggest fight too, I will give my 100 percent. Before my fights, I shake hands with my family as I am about to go to war. Till the day I die, I will enter the cage,” said Kooheji who desperately seeks redemption after losing out on a Bantamweight title in his last bout.

“I am coming here not to just fight, but I am here to kill,” added the Bahraini MMA star. Heading into his biggest fight yet, the pride of Colombian MMA, Eduardo Mora - who refused to be intimidated by his more-experienced opponent, is carrying the entire Latin nation on his shoulders.

“It is an absolute honor to represent Colombia in Bahrain. To represent my friends and family … I promise, tomorrow is going to be an unforgettable night for many,” said the Road to BRAVE CF winner. The co-main event almost brought the curtain down as Jordan’s Izzedine Al-Derbani stole the show, setting the stage on fire with his electric demeanor.

The moment was so exhilarating for the “Palestinian Samurai” that he ripped off his clothes and cracked his shades in an effort to introduce his wild persona to BRAVE NATION. The BRAVE CF debutant then had to be ushered back to the scale to make his weight official before the calmer and reserved Jose “Shorty” Torres squared off with Al-Derbani while BRAVE CF President Mohammed Shahid kept a close watch over the edgy and aggressive Al-Derbani who was all up in “Shorty’s” space ahead of their Bantamweight bout.

“I am the Palestinian Samurai,” exclaimed the Al-Derbani over the microphone. ‘’I will show the world tomorrow who the Palestinian Samurai is’’. Speaking ahead of his fight, “Shorty” opted to keep his fireworks for the cage.’’It’s just another day, another fight and another win for me. Some people need to talk smack to sell a fight, I sell fights with my fists and talent’’, said’’Shorty ``.

All except one athlete made weight as Issa Salem failed to reach the agreed upon Catchweight of 59 kilograms in his fight against Hussain Ayyad, the fight will go on, however, Salem forfeits 20% of his purse to Ayyad. BRAVE CF 65 - taking place today, October 28th will conclude the epic nine-day Kombat Kingdom festival. For more information on BRAVE CF’s Kombat Kingdom series, visit www. bravecf.com.