By Press Release

(London. 25 October 2017) 216 male fighters and 42 female fighters, representing 45 countries, are registered so far to compete in the 2017 IMMAF World Championships at BRAVE International Combat Week, as outlined by Bahrain MMA Federation President, Mr. Khalid Al Khayyat at yesterday’s press conference in Manama.

This sets the tournament to be the biggest event yet in the history of amateur MMA, as well as it featuring the highest number of female athletes. In addition, the event will be IMMAF’s first to be televised live (in the Middle East), while Bahrain will be the first Asian or Arab country to host the IMMAF World Championship, and indeed the first country to host the event outside of Las Vegas, USA.

IMMAF heads Kerrith Brown and Densign White joined Mohammed Darwish, Bahrain MMA Federation President Khalid Al Khayyat and Mohammed Shahid, President of Brave Combat Federation at the press conference organised to promote championships. The amateur tournament is to take place from November 12 to 18 at Khalifa Sports City Arena and leads into the professional showcase of ‘Brave 9: The Kingdom of Champions’ on 17 November.

‘Brave 9: The Kingdom of Champions’ is also due to set precedent as the biggest fight card in the history of the Middle East featuring 32 professional athletes. Three of Brave Combat Federation’s championships titles will be contested on the main card.

BMMAF President, Mr. Al-Khayyat, underlined the endless efforts and support of HH Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al-Khalifa to the sport and to the hosting of such a notable event in the Kingdom, adding that the executive committee and the working teams are sparing no efforts to present a successful championship. IMMAF President Kerrith Brown also thanked HH Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al-Khalifa and HH Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al-Khalifa for offering their generous support to local, regional and international MMA.