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TENSIONS FLARE AND HISTORY BECKONS AT BRAVE CF 100 PRESS CONFERENCE

Fireworks erupt between Muhammad Mokaev and Gerard Burns as fight week heats up in Bahrain

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BRAVE Combat Federation
November 05, 2025

The atmosphere inside the Avenues Mall in Manama, Bahrain was electric on Wednesday, November 5, as BRAVE Combat Federation hosted the official BRAVE CF 100 press conference following the open workouts. Eight of the eighteen fighters set to compete at Friday’s milestone event faced off in front of the media and fans, and things got heated fast.

Hosted by BRAVE CF Official Sam Brett, the press conference featured BRAVE CF Bantamweight World Champion Borislav Nikolić, Hamza Kooheji, Muhammad Mokaev, Gerard Burns, Alex Lohoré, Mohamed Alsameea, Mim Grubb, and Rami Hamed. Each fighter brought a serving of confidence, pride, and intensity as they prepare to make history in the Kingdom of Bahrain in less than 48 hours.

The highlight of the night was undoubtedly the mental and verbal warfare between Muhammad ‘The Punisher’ Mokaev and Ireland’s Gerard ‘The Animal’ Burns, who will clash for the vacant BRAVE CF Flyweight World Championship. The two couldn’t resist exchanging barbs each time they touched the mic, and had no shortage of venomous words for each other any other time.

Burns fired the first shot, delivering a blunt message to Mokaev: “You’ve been in MMA matches. I’m going to bring you a fight.” Once he got the chance to get on the mic, Mokaev confidently stated, “He’s ranked somewhere in Ireland, but I was ranked number five in the world. They’re all dreaming to fight me.”

As the press conference continued on, Burns took another opportunity to unleash more venom upon his adversary, stating, “He’s been sacked by the UFC despite being undefeated. It’s unheard of.” Unfazed, Mokaev fired the final word: “I’ve been sacked to beat bums like you.”

While those two stole the show, the fireworks didn’t end there. Moments after the press conference began, BRAVE CF two-division champion and newly-minted Hall of Fame inductee Mohammad Fakhreddine called in live from his induction to send a chilling message to his upcoming opponent, Alex ‘Da Killa King’ Lohoré.

“Alex, make no mistake, my brother,” Fakhreddine said. “I know I’m at the Hall of Fame induction, but don’t let that take anything away from my preparation. Friday night, my brother, I’m coming to really fight it out. Let’s go!”

Hamza Kooheji, Bahrain’s own hero, vowed to make history in front of his home crowd. Mokaev hinted that, should he capture the flyweight crown, his sights may soon turn to another BRAVE CF champion - Borislav Nikolić. The two exchanged light-hearted words on stage, teasing a potential super showdown, with Nikolić’s preference of the location being Belgrade, Serbia being made clear in the process.

Elsewhere, rising star Mim Grubb used her time on the mic to shine a light on BRAVE CF’s commitment to women’s MMA. “BRAVE have really shown that they want to pioneer female MMA and, to be part of that, is really amazing,” she said. “It’s an honour to fight for BRAVE.”

Meanwhile, Alex Lohoré, representing France, England, and Ivory Coast, spoke passionately about what carrying the African flag into the cage means to him. “Ivory Coast is in my heart. It’s always been in my heart,” he said. “It’s motivation, it’s legacy, it’s what I do it for. I’m excited to represent Ivory Coast. I’m excited to represent Africa.”

With tensions rising and emotions running high, BRAVE CF 100 promises to deliver a night worthy of its historic billing - a celebration of global talent, national pride, and the relentless spirit of mixed martial arts. It all goes down on Friday, November 7 live from the Khalifa Sports City in Isa Town, Bahrain.

Images from the BRAVE CF 100 Press Conference can be found here.

Full BRAVE CF 100 Press Conference is available to watch here.

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ABOUT BRAVE CF

BRAVE Combat Federation, founded in 2016, is the fastest-growing MMA organization globally, dedicated to transforming mixed martial arts from an event-driven business into a comprehensive sports ecosystem. With a vision to provide fighters worldwide a platform to showcase their talents, BRAVE CF has hosted 99 events across a record-breaking 38 countries.

The organization boasts the world's largest MMA development program, featuring over 800 fighters from 90+ nations, supporting athletes from grassroots to professional stardom. BRAVE CF actively supports efforts for SportsAccord recognition and potential Olympic inclusion of MMA.

As the leading sports media property in the Middle East and holding the largest market share in Asia and Europe, BRAVE CF broadcasts to over 160+ countries, reaching 1.7 Billion households worldwide.