Bahrain: Bahrain’s number one sporting company globally, BRAVE Combat Federation, is taking the development of combat sports and mixed martial arts to the next level. The organization, founded under the vision of His Highness Shaikh Khaled bin Hamad Al Khalifa, is spearheading the biggest efforts to expand the sport in Europe and has received the support and gratitude of Mr. Zoran Gajić, the Minister of Youth and Sports in Serbia.
Bahrain and Serbia have solidified their sporting relationship as the European country will host the first-ever BRAVE International Combat Week edition in Europe, which will be officially called BRAVE Serbia International Combat Week. In association with the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation, BRAVE CF and the Bahrain MMA Federation will be organizing the biggest combat sports festival in European history.
It is one of the biggest moments for mixed martial arts in the continent, as hundreds of athletes from around the world will descend upon Belgrade to participate in the biggest amateur tournament of all time.
During the BRAVE Serbia International Combat Week press conference launch, held in Belgrade, Serbia, Mr. Gajić threw his support behind the initiative from BRAVE CF, recognizing the value of mixed martial arts to society and thanked Bahrain for the support and the Bahrain MMA Federation for their help in organizing a festival that will serve as a momentous occasion for sports in Serbia, the Balkan region, and Europe as a whole.
‘’First of all, I would like to thank the MMA Federations of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the United Emirates, the presidents of Confederations, and to express with greatest pleasure that we will be the first in Europe to organize this competition (…) I would like to thank the Bahrain MMA Federation for lending their support and experience in organizing the full week of combat sports here and to say that the BRAVE Serbia International Combat Week will lead the sporting relations between Bahrain and Serbia’’, said Mr. Gajić, in statements made during and after the press conference, as he also officially recognized mixed martial arts as a sport in Serbia – a huge moment for MMA around the world.
‘’I would like to point out that I have given support to all combat sports, including MMA. They not only have a role in sports, not only in economy, marketing and everything that modern sports encompass today, but they hold a great role in socialization, resocialization and proper upbringing of younger generations. As a country, we are known for winning a great number of medals in the Olympic Games, World Championships, European Championships in combat sports. I know all of these people really well. Some of them are no longer with us, some of them are Olympic champions, European and world champions, my friends who are getting on in years. They are mature, wonderful people. I truly believe that combat sports, be it box, wrestling, judo, or in this case MMA, have influenced the building of their character. The country and the Ministry of Youth and Sports will support all events that promote the country of Serbia, the health of the nation, and the proper development of our youth.
The BRAVE Serbia International Combat Week takes place in Belgrade, Serbia between February 11 and February 18 – with the IMMAF World Championships happening until February 17, and BRAVE CF 69 taking center stage as the closing event of the biggest week in European combat sports history.
