Brave Combat Federation


BRAVE Combat Federation is a mixed martial arts promotion based in Bahrain. The organization was established on 23 September 2016 by Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa. BRAVE Combat Federation features mixed martial artists from more than 80 nations located in five continents. BRAVE Combat Federation events are aired though multiple media partners including El Rey Network, Combate, Myx TV, S+A ESPN 5 and Bahrain Radio and Television Corporation. BRAVE Combat Federation produced six pay-per-view events apart from announcing events in Abu Dhabi and Brazil. In 2023, BRAVE Combat Federation set a new record for an MMA promotion hosting events in most number of nations after organizing events in 35 nations worldwide.
The organization was formally launched in 2016 and has established operations in Dublin, São Paulo and Mumbai prior to launching events and for talent relations. BRAVE Combat Federation, alongside the holding company, KHK MMA and Bahrain Mixed Martial Arts Federation hosted the IMMAF World Championships in November, 2017, a partnership which was renewed for 2018 and 2019
In July 2021, BRAVE Combat Federation was nominated for the first time as Promotion of the Year on the World MMA Awards. The organization also has global strategic partnerships with fellow fight promoters Real Xtreme Fighting, LFC, RXF, WEF, WFC, BFN, Krespost, PRO FC, RSM, Golden Cage, Oktagon, GEC, Beast CF, ATF, NFC, Hexagone MMA, Fight2One, and Victorious Fighting and Entertainment.

History

KHK MMA

KHK MMA is a Bahrain based mixed martial arts organization that promotes the growth of mixed martial arts in the region. KHK Sports is also the holding company of BRAVE Combat Federation. KHK MMA was established by Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa. Bahrain MMA is the official gym for KHK MMA. KHK MMA launched operations of BRAVE Combat federation on July 27, 2016, and officially launched the promotion on 23 September 2016. KHK MMA Fight Team features fighters from multiple promotions including Khabib Nurmagomedov, Frankie Edgar, Jose Torres and James Gallagher. Coaches and UFC Hall of Famers like Renzo Gracie, John Kavanagh, Bob Schirmer, and Pete Williams are also working with KHK MMA.

Launch of BRAVE Combat Federation

BRAVE Combat Federation was officially launched during a press conference held in the Kingdom of Bahrain on July 27, 2016. Less than two months later, Brave 1: The Beginning took place in Isa Town, Bahrain, on September 23, 2016, a date which coincided with Sheikh Khalid's birthday. BRAVE rounded up the first few months of its operations with BRAVE 2: Dynasty, also taking place in Bahrain

Milestones

2017 Brazil

After establishing in the MENA region, with two shows in Bahrain, BRAVE CF took the step to further develop the brand in other regions, as well as strengthening Bahraini sports' position in the international scene. Brazil was chosen to be the first country to host a BRAVE event outside its homeland, with future Lightweight champions Lucas "Mineiro" Martins and Luan Santiago, as well as former Welterweight titleholder Carlston Harris among the fighters who made their promotional debuts at BRAVE 3: Battle in Brazil. The fight card was also the first appearance of former UFC champion and KHK MMA fighter Frankie Edgar as a color commentator

First World champion

Continuing its trend of international fight nights, BRAVE Combat Federation made its debut in Abu Dhabi and crowned its first-ever world champion. French-Algerian submission specialist Elias Boudegzdame defeated Masio Fullen in the main event of BRAVE 4: Unstoppable and became the promotion's maiden Featherweight world champion.
The show also witnessed the promotional debut of Middle East superstar Mohammad Fakhreddine, who was scheduled to headline BRAVE 1: The Beginning before he suffered an injury. "The Latest" faced off against Brazil's Vinicius Cruz and won by TKO in the second round.

Trips to India, Kazakhstan, and Mexico

After Brazil and the United Arab Emirates, BRAVE continued to travel around the world, as India, Kazakhstan, and Mexico were all treated to events between April and July.
BRAVE 5: Go For Glory took place in Mumbai, India, on April 22, and had an anticlimactic main event, as Carl Booth and Tahar Hadbi fought to a No Contest, due to a timekeeping error.
Brave 6: Kazakhstan happened a week later, in Almaty, where future Super Lightweight world champion Eldar Eldarov bested Brazilian Henrique Rasputin by TKO. It was also home to the first-ever BRAVE female fight, as Flyweight Mariya Agapova beat Yulia Litvinceva by TKO in the first round.
Finally, BRAVE 7 took place in Mexico, and future world title challenger Alejandro "Pato" Martinez came out victorious in a grudge match against Fabian Quintanar.

Two new World champions

For BRAVE 8: The Rise of Champions, the promotion went back to Curitiba, Brazil, after its successful debut in March. It was the first time BRAVE put two different titles on the line, with Welterweights Carl Booth and Mohammad Fakhreddine initially scheduled to face off, as well as Light Heavyweights Klidson Abreu and Timo Feucht.
On the eve of weigh-ins, Fakhreddine was forced to pull out of the fight after feeling ill during the weight-cut process. He was substituted by Carlston Harris, who ended up surprising Booth and winning the title by decision.
In the main event, Klidson Abreu bested Timo Feucht and became the first Brazilian champion for BRAVE

Return to Bahrain with International Combat Week

For the year's last event, BRAVE decided to create the first-ever International Combat Week, in partnership with the IMMAF. The agreement stated that the ICW would happen for, at least, the next three years, with a BRAVE show closing out the Amateur World Championships.
BRAVE 9: The Kingdom of Champions also crowned two new titleholders, at Lightweight and Bantamweight.
Ottman Azaitar beat Alejandro "Pato" Martínez in the main event to capture the Lightweight belt, while Stephen Loman knocked out Gurdarshan Mangat to become the first-ever Bantamweight champion.
Elias Boudegzdame was initially scheduled to defend his Featherweight title against Lucas "Mineiro" Martins, but the bout was called off after the challenger fell ill during the weight cut.
MMA legend and BRAVE ambassador Wanderlei Silva attended the event, as well as Frankie Edgar, who served as the color commentator for the broadcast.

2018

First title defense

After not being able to defend his belt at BRAVE 9, Elias "Smile" Boudegzdame was scheduled to take on Jakub Kowalewicz in the main event of BRAVE 10, the first event of 2018, which also served as BRAVE's debut in Jordan.
Boudegzdame made history in the main event of BRAVE 10, as he successfully defended his Featherweight title with a fourth-round submission of Kowalewicz, in a night marked by a clean sweep of Jordanian fighters.

Return to Brazil and Indonesia debut

In March 2018, the promotion returned for its third event in Brazil, this time in Belo Horizonte, for another title doubleheader. Lucas "Mineiro" Martins won the interim Lightweight belt in the main event, beating Luan "Miau" Santiago by TKO in the last seconds of their fight, while Klidson Abreu successfully defended his Light Heavyweight throne by submitting Matt Baker, who stood in for Kennedy Nzechukwu, forced to pull out due to injury.
In May, BRAVE continued to visit new destinations, this time traveling to Jakarta, Indonesia, for BRAVE 12: KHK Legacy.
In the main event, Eldar Eldarov continued his winning streak by outpointing Brian Hooi in the scorecards, going 3-0 for BRAVE CF.

Europe Evolution

BRAVE's maiden trip to Europe took place at The SSE Arena, in Belfast, Northern Ireland, as the promotion organized BRAVE 13: Europe Evolution, on June 9, with 28 fighters from 15 nations in action.
In the main event, Bantamweight champion Stephen Loman beat Frans Mlambo, a training partner of Conor McGregor, in a rematch of their 2016 fight, back at Brave 1.
The UFC superstar was in attendance to watch Mlambo and his teammate Cian Cowley, who had a successful debut, stopping Daniel Olejniczak to score his first professional MMA victory.

African debut

BRAVE Combat Federation became the first global MMA promotion to do a show in Africa, as the organization hosted BRAVE 14, in Tangier, Morocco, on August 18.
The event was hosted under the patronage of King Mohammed VI, the king of Morocco.
In the main event, then-Lightweight champion Ottman Azaitar moved up to Welterweight to face Danijel Kokora and came out victorious via first-round TKO.
A few weeks after his appearance at BRAVE 14, Azaitar was stripped of his Lightweight title for not defending it. The vacated belt would be contested later in the year, at BRAVE 18.
The show was also marked by the debuts of former UFC fighter Jeremy Kennedy, who beat Danyel Pilo in the co-main event, and future Welterweight world champion Abdoul Abdouraguimov, winner via TKO in the first round against Sidney Wheeler.
Furthermore, the Moroccan crowd witnessed BRAVE's fastest-ever KO, as Djamil Chan ended Alejandro "Pato" Martinez's night at 29 seconds of their bout.

New territories and return to Abu Dhabi

After its first trip to Africa, BRAVE returned to South America, this time hosting its first-ever Colombia event. BRAVE 15 took place in Bucaramanga and featured former UFC standout Godofredo Pepey taking on local star Alex "Rolo" Torres in the main event, and other six Brazilian fighters scheduled to take on other Latin American athletes from Mexico, Argentina, Colombia and Peru, with a clean sweep for Brazil, including Pepey submitting Torres and debut victories for Featherweight Gabriel "Fly" Miranda and Welterweight Geraldo "Luan Santana" Neto
Sandwiched between two events in new territories was the return of BRAVE to Abu Dhabi. The fight card for BRAVE 16 was topped by a title doubleheader as Carlston Harris and Elias Boudegzdame looked to defend their crowns in the two main fights.
However, they were both bested by Jarrah Al-Selawe and Bubba Jenkins, respectively, and two new champions were crowned.
As in other countries, BRAVE also became the first global event to host a fight night in Pakistan. BRAVE 17 took place in Lahore and saw the emergence of Abdoul Abdouraguimov as a title contender, with the French-Russian submission specialist dominating veteran Rodrigo Cavalheiro en route to a unanimous decision victory