28 September 2016 — Filipino mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter Stephen Loman beat Frans Mlambo of Ireland in the Bantamweight Division of the first Brave Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) Championship held at the Khalifa Sports City Stadium in Isa Town, Bahrain on September 23. 

The Baguio City fighter won in a unanimous decision.

The Khalifa Sports City Stadium erupted in a roar of cheers when the referee announced Loman’s unanimous victory over Mlambo.  In the other fight, however, Manila-boy Jessie Rafols lost to Ivan Lopez from Mexico via submission.

Philippine Ambassador to the Kingdom of Bahrain Alfonso A. Ver and other Philippine Embassy personnel extended their support to the two Filipino fighters that competed in the first.

Ambassador Ver joined hundreds of other Filipino MMA fans who rooted for the fighters.

The Brave Combat Federation is a new international MMA Federation and the first to be based in the Kingdom of Bahrain. Its founder and prime patron is His Highness Sheikh Khalid Bin Hamad Al Khalifa, son of His Majesty the King of Bahrain King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa. Sheikh Khalid is the First Deputy President of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports of Bahrain and also the founder of the KHK MMA group in the Kingdom.

Ambassador Ver congratulated Sheikh Khalid on the unprecedented success of the first- Brave MMA Championship and assured him of the support of the Filipinos in the Kingdom in future events.

Sheikh Khalid hopes to turn Bahrain into a global MMA destination which will establish another platform for Filipino fighters to compete and shine in MMA. END