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TDT | Manama
The Every day Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com
“If Philippines has Manny Pacquiao, Eire has Conor McGregor, and the usA. has Muhammed Ali—Bahrain has Hamza Kooheji,” BRAVE Fight Federation president and KHK Sports activities CEO Mohammed Shahid mentioned yesterday in regards to the Kingdom’s prime skilled Combined Martial Arts (MMA) fighter. Kooheji is ready to make historical past on March 11 when he faces Canadian-Irish Brad Katona for the BRAVE CF Bantamweight World Championship title, headlining BRAVE 57 on the Khalifa Sports activities Metropolis enviornment in Isa City.
Will probably be the first-ever world title match for a Bahraini MMA fighter, and Kooheji is seeking to profit from this golden alternative—one he has been working tirelessly for over the previous decade. “I waited for this for therefore lengthy,” Kooheji mentioned of his title bout yesterday at a press meet held in Juffair Sq.. “I’ve been coaching professionally for 10 years, I’ve taken the whole lot critically—my weight loss plan, I don’t see my pals a lot, I don’t see my household a lot, all the time travelling, all the time coaching. “I all the time wished to struggle for a title and I all the time wished to be world champion.
After 10 years, I get this opportunity, and I’ll make the perfect of it.” Kooheji is popularly referred to as “The Satisfaction of Bahrain”, having completed loads of milestones for the Kingdom in his profession—from being the primary Bahraini skilled MMA fighter to changing into the top-ranked bantamweight within the Center East.
He’s now decided so as to add one other feather to his cap and lift the Bahrain flag excessive as soon as extra in what he describes will likely be a career-defining struggle. “To be world champion, it means the whole lot for my legacy,” mentioned the 29-year-old. “It is very important be world champion. With out it, you don’t have a legacy.” Kooheji has stepped up his coaching for his title struggle and is completely centered on the duty at hand. Such is the depth of his preparations that his coach Eldar Eldarov, who himself is a professional MMA fighter, mentioned that Kooheji has even “moved out of his residence” and “is sleeping within the health club”.
Psychological toughness
Eldarov is pleased with his fighter and credit Kooheji’s psychological toughness for having the ability to obtain what he has so far. “Why he’s right here at this time is due to his robust mentality,” Eldarov mentioned yesterday. “Not each fighter can keep that lengthy on this manner. Plenty of fighters break mentally on this, our onerous sport, however Hamza is the one who began with this objective, and till now he has the identical motivation.” Eldarov highlighted Kooheji’s growth as a fighter from the time he began off as his coach till at this time. “I got here to Bahrain seven years in the past; Hamza then and now are two completely different individuals.
He has grown up as an individual and as a fighter. “All these seven years we’re collectively, our existence are the identical. When I’m coaching, he’s serving to me with my struggle. Now he has his struggle, I’m on daily basis with him. For me, it is extremely essential to assist him attain his dream, his objective.
“On daily basis and night time, he’s simply coaching. Not everybody can do it, stay this way of life. I feel he’s deserving greater than anybody.” Kooheji is unquestionably not taking issues frivolously forward of his bout and has set his sights fully on the world title. “I do know my opponent is sweet, however my coaching and what I’m making ready for is a lot better than his,” Kooheji mentioned. “Coach Eldar has by no means taken any preparations simply, ever because the first struggle he got here.” When requested about the place he sees himself within the subsequent 5 years, Kooheji mentioned: “I ought to give attention to my opponent. I mustn’t suppose forward. No matter occurs on this struggle modifications the whole lot in my profession.
For now, I’m simply considering of 1 objective and never even considering of what I’m going to do on March 12. I’m solely eager about March 11.” Additionally current at yesterday’s Press meet was Bahrain Combined Martial Arts Federation president Mohammed Qambar. Kooheji’s struggle for the vacant Bantamweight world title would be the headliner of BRAVE CF 57, which takes place as a part of BRAVE Worldwide Fight Week.
Additionally set for struggle night time are two extra title fights: Middleweight champion Mohammad Fakhreddine will as soon as once more try to develop into a two-division titleholder in a rematch in opposition to arch-enemy Mohamed Stated Maalem for the Gentle Heavyweight belt, whereas Abdisalam Kubanychbek takes on former champ Amin Ayoub for the interim Light-weight title, with lineal titleholder Ahmed Amir out on account of harm. BRAVE Worldwide Fight Week may even characteristic the first-ever version of the MMA Tremendous Cup, the highest-paying team-versus-team competitors in novice MMA.
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