International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF) president Kerrith Brown formed part of a long list of distinguished members of the mixed martial arts and larger sporting community who congratulated Supreme Council for Youth and Sports (SCYS) first deputy chairman, General Sports Authority (GSA) chairman and Bahrain Olympic Committee (BOC) president Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa on the sixth anniversary of BRAVE Combat Federation (BCF), as well as birthday wishes to the combat sports visionary.
“As president of the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation, I, Kerrith Brown, would like to wish Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa a very happy birthday on the 6th anniversary of BRAVE CF. He has had an extraordinary impact on the global development of this sport in the Middle East and in Asia,” said Brown who highlighted the fact that Shaikh Khalid’s birthday falls on the same day as BCF’s 6th anniversary after the promotion’s first event – The Beginning – took place six years ago (September 23, 2016).
The day also coincided with the official launch of the BRAVE CF TV app.
Earlier this year, during BRAVE CF International Combat Week, the promotion – in partnership with the IMMAF – made history by hosting the first-ever MMA Super Cup, a competition that saw eight nations enter amateur mixed martial arts teams that would grant the winning federation $100,000, runners-up receiving $75,000 and third place $50,000 – again highlighting BRAVE CF’s commitment to boosting economies and enabling MMA nations to continue building their brands and spreading the sport.
IMMAF, too, recently celebrated its 10th anniversary after its inception in 2012 in Sweden.
Presidents of various federations from across the globe also sent messages of congratulations to Shaikh Khalid and BRAVE CF. Among them were Slovenian MMA Federation chief Zlatko Mahic, Colombian MMA Federation president Jaime Baron and MMA Mauritius president Avinash Ramtohul.
Current and former BRAVE fighters also took time out of their busy schedules to wish Shaikh Khalid and congratulate him on BRAVE CF’s ongoing success.
Former BRAVE CF star and globally-known athlete Muhammad Mokaev sent blessings to the BOC president – whose vision also created the KHK MMA team, with whom Mokaev is affiliated with.
South Africa’s Chad Hanekom, a middleweight contender, also sent a message of love and well wishes to Shaikh Khalid.
Former BRAVE CF star and current UFC athlete, France’s Benoit Saint-Denis said he was grateful for the opportunity Shaikh Khalid gave him and for what he learned at BRAVE CF.
MMA superstar Conor McGregor’s head coach, Ireland’s John Kavanagh, took a moment from his time in Portugal to send Shaikh Khalid a special birthday message and congratulations on the six years of BRAVE CF.