Forget samba and souks, the next dancefloor for Bahrain and Brazil is the Octagon

TDT | Manama                                                    

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Reported by Mahir Haneef

MMA legend Rodrigo ‘Minotauro’ Nogueira, fresh off witnessing Brave CF 80 at Khalifa Sports City, believes a knowledge-sharing tango between these fight capitals can unleash unprecedented MMA dominance.

“Two big events happened in the same weekend,” Minotauro, a two-time heavyweight champion and global MMA pioneer, told The Daily Tribune.

“Brazil has the pros, Bahrain has the blueprint for amateur growth. We can learn from each other.” Bahrain’s meteoric rise in MMA, despite its young scene, impressed the Brazilian legend. He sees His Highness Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa’s leadership in amateur MMA as a game-changer.

“He’s one of the most important people in this sport globally,” Minotauro declared. The Brazilian delegation headed by the MMA star wasn’t just here to cheer, though. They were on a mission. Their goal? To unlock the secrets of Bahrain’s amateur magic.

“In Brazil, martial arts are in schools,” Minotauro explained. “We want to see this in Bahrain too. Schools, amateurs, pros – that’s the MMA ecosystem we need to build.” Imagine a world where young Bahraini fighters sharpen their skills alongside Brazilian pro-level coaches. That’s the future Minotauro envisions.

“There’s a good team here, excellent coaches. We can exchange knowledge, train athletes together, and bring sports education to schools,” he elaborated.

Cooperation

The groundwork is already laid. An MoU on sports cooperation between the two countries, signed in 2021, awaits activation. As His Excellency Adriano Silva Pucci, Ambassador of Brazil to the Kingdom of Bahrain, puts it, “The UFC ambassador’s visit is about turning plans into action, for the benefit of both nations.”

So, buckle up, fight fans. This Bahrain-Brazil collaboration might just unleash the next generation of MMA titans. With Minotauro as the matchmaker, things are about to get seriously exciting.