Team Bahrain crowned MMA Super Cup champions!

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Team Bahrain was last night crowned champions of the first-ever Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) Super Cup.

The home team won the coveted tournament title after sweeping Team Ireland 9-0 in the final at Khalifa Sports City Arena in Isa Town.

Bahrain had already assured themselves of the MMA Super Cup after winning a fifth straight fight against their Irish opponents yesterday but decided to continue the action and complete the nine-bout programme.

Bahrain’s victory confirmed their status as the number one amateur MMA team in the world, and along with their gold medals, they took home a cool $100,000 in prize money.

As silver-medallists, Team Ireland won $75,000.

The MMA Super Cup was the first-ever nation-versus-nation amateur MMA tournament in the world.

It was held as part of BRAVE International Combat Week, which was held under the patronage of Supreme Council for Youth and Sports first deputy chairman, General Sports Authority president and Bahrain Olympic Committee chief His Highness Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa.

Presenting the medals in an awarding ceremony following yesterday’s fights were BRAVE Combat Federation president Mohammed Shahid, Bahrain Mixed Martial Arts Federation president Mohammed Ali Qambar, and International Mixed Martial Arts Federation president Kerrith Brown.

In last night’s title-decider, Bahrain enjoyed a 2-0 lead before fighting even began.

The Irish team had two withdrawals from the final, giving their opponents the early advantage.

Despite this, Bahrain’s fighters didn’t let up.

Sabrina Laurentina de Souza made it 3-0 with a submission victory against Kerry Ann Vernon in the closing seconds of the first round in their bantamweight fight.

Haji Mohamed Ali then followed suit with his submission win over Jordan Bradshaw in their featherweight bout’s second round, putting the hosts one win away from the MMA Super Cup crown.

The title was then sealed by Kurban Idrisov in his lightweight clash, making it 5-0 for Team Bahrain.

The remaining fights were claimed for the newly crowned champions by welterweights Magomed Isaev and Ramazan Gitinov, light heavyweight Gadzhi Gadzhiev and heavyweight Sultan Gapizov.

Meanwhile, Team Kazakhstan came away with the competition’s bronze medals after their own 9-0 sweep of Team Mexico.

Rassul Khatayev claimed a submission victory over Daniel Flores Sartorius in their heavyweight bout to secure the last win for the Kazakhs.

To go with their bronze medals, Team Kazakhstan won $50,000 in prize money