MMA – BRAVE Combat Federation witnessed one of the most dominant performances in its history at BRAVE CF 91 when Hamza Kooheji returned to the cage after a two-year hiatus to secure a stoppage victory.
‘The Pride of Bahrain’ had been sidelined due to injury, but when he stepped back into the cage to face Turkish superstar Alperen Karabulut, it seemed as though he had never missed a step.
Kooheji controlled the fight from the start, overwhelming Karabulut before eventually securing a finish. While the win marked his triumphant return, his dominant comeback from a long-term injury also aligns with BRAVE CF’s theme for 2025: ‘The Year of the BRAVE’.
After the fight, Kooheji made it clear that he wants to challenge for the bantamweight title. With such a commanding performance, it will be difficult to deny his demands. Kooheji’s journey – from being sidelined by injury to positioning himself as a title contender – mirrors BRAVE CF’s own path, as the organisation continues to break new ground in the world of mixed martial arts (MMA) through its vision and global expansion.
BRAVE CF athlete manager Rizvan Ali commented on Hamza’s performance. “Hamza Kooheji’s dominant return exemplifies what we mean by ‘The Year of the BRAVE’,” said Ali. “His resilience and determination to overcome a long-term injury and come back stronger than ever is truly inspirational.
“Hamza is not just ‘The Pride of Bahrain’, he’s become a symbol of what BRAVE CF stands for – perseverance, excellence, and the relentless pursuit of greatness.”
In 2024, BRAVE CF set multiple world records and entered new markets with debut events in Mauritius, the Netherlands, China, Bulgaria, and Austria. The year also saw new champions crowned, world-class signings, and the rise of new superstars.
For 2025, BRAVE CF has already announced events in China on April 18, Switzerland on May 17, Slovenia on June 7, and Bulgaria on July 12, continuing the momentum built in 2024.
Maintaining that will also be Kooheji’s goal as he pursues the bantamweight title in 2025.
Having turned 32, he still has his prime years ahead of him and the Bahraini superstar is poised to embrace BRAVE CF’s 2025 theme and prove to the world that it is indeed ‘The Year of the BRAVE’.
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