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‘Redemption Is What Drives Me Now’ – Hamza Kooheji Eager To Turn Heartbreak Into Glory
Nov 01, 2025
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For more than a decade, Hamza Kooheji has carried the torch for Bahraini mixed martial arts — an emblem of perseverance, pride, and passion.
Now, after years of leading the nation’s charge on the global stage, “The Pride of Bahrain” stands on the cusp of the one triumph that has eluded him — a World Championship victory in front of his countrymen.
On Friday, November 7, all eyes will be on Khalifa Sports City in Isa Town, Bahrain, as Kooheji steps back into the spotlight to challenge BRAVE CF Bantamweight World Champion Borislav Nikolic in the historic main event of BRAVE 100.
The stakes couldn’t be higher. This isn’t just another fight — it’s the culmination of a dream that began in the gyms of Muharraq and has since grown into a movement that put Bahrain on the international MMA map.
Kooheji, who has been with BRAVE Combat Federation since its inception in 2016, has become synonymous with the promotion’s evolution and Bahrain’s fighting spirit.
With 11 BRAVE CF appearances and nine victories, the No. 2-ranked bantamweight contender has inspired an entire generation of Arab fighters to believe that their dreams can start — and be realized — on home soil.
Yet, despite his long list of accolades, one missing piece has driven him ever since — championship gold.
“Winning the World Title wouldn’t just be a personal achievement,” Kooheji shared. “It would represent every Bahraini who has supported me, every young fighter who dares to dream big, and every person who believes that hard work and faith can take you anywhere.”
The journey has been anything but easy. Kooheji first tasted a World Title opportunity at BRAVE CF 57 in March 2022 when he came agonizingly close to claiming the vacant bantamweight crown.
That night, in the same Khalifa Sports City arena, he fell short via a razor-thin split decision against Canada’s Brad Katona.
The loss was heartbreaking, but instead of breaking him, it refined him.
Since that night, the 32-year-old has rebuilt himself piece by piece — sharpening his skills, strengthening his mind, and renewing his purpose.
His steady climb back to contention is a testament to his resilience and unrelenting desire to bring honor to Bahrain.
“That first title fight taught me everything I needed to know about who I am as a fighter,” Kooheji said.
“Redemption is what drives me now. To get another shot at the title — to finish the story the right way —means everything. This is my time to complete the journey.”
The narrative has a poetic symmetry: the same venue, the same stage, but a different man.
More than three years after the bitter taste of defeat, Kooheji returns to the arena that witnessed his heartbreak — this time determined to rewrite the ending.
“I’ve carried that night with me every day since,” he admitted. “Now, I have the chance to erase that memory and replace it with something beautiful.”
“To win the World Title in Bahrain, in front of my people, would be the perfect ending to this chapter of my life.”
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