BRAVE Combat Federation has not only produced seven Arab champions since its inception, but it has also given rise to hundreds of incredible fighters from the region. This year, at the inaugural 2022 awards, the promotion will honour a standout fighter with the BRAVE CF Arab Fighter of the Year award.
Four athletes from the MENA region have made the shortlist, including two Lebanese fighters. Lebanon’s Mohammad Fakhreddine has been nominated for the award after he became the first Arab to secure double (middleweight and light heavyweight) champion status in 2022. Fakhreddine’s compatriot, Ahmed Labban, overcame adversity to end the year on a high. The former super lightweight went up two divisions to defeat England’s Carl Booth via unanimous decision at BRAVE 65 after a loss to Issa Isakov that broke his three-fight win streak in August.
Fan-favourite Bahrain’s Hamza Kooheji had to swallow a bitter pill in March when he lost a split decision bantamweight title fight to Canada’s Brad Katona. It was not only painful to lose out on gold, but the fact that he endured such a nail-biting loss in front of his home crowd was a lot to take.
However, he then laced up his bootstraps, went up a division, and pulled off a convincing unanimous decision win over Colombia star Eduardo Mora at BRAVE 65.
Saudi Arabia’s Abdullah Al-Qahtani is the final nominee for the list after his hard-fought showing inside the cage last year. ‘The Reaper’ always gives 110 per cent to the promotion and the fans and once again placed it all on the line at BRAVE 58 and BRAVE 62, where he recorded one unanimous decision win and one split decision loss, respectively.
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