Bahrain MMA superstar Kooheji wins against top-ranked Colombian fighter Mora

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain’s Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) superstar Hamza Kooheji last night scored a fantastic triumph against Eduardo Mora from Colombia in the main event of BRAVE Combat Federation 65, held at the Khalifa Sports City Arena in Isa Town.

Kooheji defeated Mora, nicknamed “El Burro”, via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30- 27) after three exciting rounds in their featherweight bout.

BRAVE CF 65 was the third and final event of a hugely exciting Kombat Kingdom trilogy, which included a number of title fights in BRAVE CF 63 and 64, all held in Bahrain over the past weeks.

Among those in attendance last night were global MMA superstar Muhammad Mokaev and internet sensation Hasbulla Magomedov.

In Kooheji’s victory, the Bahraini MMA star endured some early kicks from his opponent, but then took over once the action hit the ground.

The KHK Team Bahrain fighter then showed some incredible wrestling in round two, continuing to dominate as the fight headed for the decisive third and final round.

There, Kooheji enjoyed another huge round, despite giving up control in the dying seconds of the bout. Nonetheless, he had shown enough for the judges to rule in his favour.

“So much respect for Mora,” said Kooheji after his triumph.

“In the beginning, he gave me a good spinning back-kick in my body, it gassed me out a little bit, but I did what I needed to do to win.”

In last night’s co-main event, Jose “Shorty” Torres from the US defeated Jordanian MMA star Izzedine Al Derbani in their bantamweight bout.

Torres won the contest via unanimous decision after three gruelling rounds, with the scores 30-27, 30-27, 29-28.

“I’m happy after 18 months, knee surgery and coming back,” said Torres, who had moved up to the heavier 135-pound division after previously competing amongst the flyweights.

“I think I still need to get my footing correct in bantamweight,” said Torres of his future bouts in the weight category.

Also last night, Ahmed “The Shadow” Labban from Lebanon defeated KHK MMA fighter Carl “Bomber” Booth in their super welterweight fight.

Labban won via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) to make a successful debut in the weight class.

Winners

Meanwhile, KHK Team Bahrain fighters Magomed Gadzhiyasulov and Shamil Gaziev were both winners in their bouts.

Gadzhiyasulov defeated Mohamed Said Maalem from Algeria via unanimous decision in a gruelling three-round light heavyweight bout.

Both men had their moments in the fight, but Gadzhiyasulov won with the judges scoring 30-27, 30-27, 29-28. In a thrilling heavyweight contest, Gaziev defeated Pavel Dailidko of Lithuania via a knockout.

The KHK Team Bahrain fighter knocked Dailidko out with a huge punch and follow-ups from mount 46 seconds into the second round.

The result maintained his undefeated record, In a catchweight 59kg fight, Issa Salem from Iraq defeated Bahrain’s Hussain Ayyad via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29- 28).