SATURDAY, MARCH 20, 2021 11

Players not respecting jobs: Ylies wins on debut at BRAVE CF 48 Mourinho Epic knockouts showcase the best of Arab MMA at BRAVE CF 48: Arabian Night

Ylies Djiroun beat Abdul-Rakhman• Makhazhiev by submission in the first round in the main event Jose Mourinho TDT | Manama Reuters | London RAVE Combat Federation made history on Thurs- tunned Tottenham Bday, holding the biggest SHotspur manager Jose fight card in Arab MMA history, Mourinho has accused his with athletes from all over the players of not respecting world descending upon Kombat their jobs after his side Kingdom to face off the best crashed out of the Europa fighters from the MENA region. Ylies Djiroun in action against Abdul-Rakhman Makhazhiev Ahmed Labban in action against Nemanja Kovac League following a 3-2 ag- In the main event, French-Al- gregate defeat by Dinamo gerian Ylies Djiroun beat Ab- BRAVE CF 48: Arabian Night Results Zagreb on Thursday. dul-Rakhman Makhazhiev by Leading 2-0 from the first BETTER Lightweight Ylies Djiroun def. Abdul-Rakhman Makhazhiev via submission (guillotine choke) - 3m34s - Round 3 submission in the first round leg in north London, Tot- and sent a stark message to the Super Lightweight: Ahmed Labban def. Nemanja Kovac by unanimous decision (3x 30-27) tenham were overwhelm- Lightweight division, claiming ing favourites to reach the KNOW (77kgs):Olli Santalahti def. Georges Eid by split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28) he’s ready for everyone. quarter-finals but produced Bantamweight: Nkosi Ndebele def. Abdelmoumen Msaate by TKO - Round 2 After dropping Makhazhiev a tepid performance as Za- in the first round with a high Catchweight (88kgs): Murtaza Talha def. Cameron Mentijies by KO - 1m51s - Round 1 greb stormed back with a kick, Djiroun saw his opponent BRAVE CF continues Catchweight (58.5kg): Azat Maksum def. Michael Aljarouj by KO - 56s - Round 3 sensational hat-trick by have a better second frame, its 21 days of madness Featherweight: Yousif Ghrairi def. Hassan Talal by KO (Knee) - 2m53s - Round 3 Mislav Orsic. when Abdul-Rakhman scored next week with BRAVE Coming after his side was with tough body kicks and take- Super Lightweight: Abbas Khan def. Omar El Dafrawy via unanimous decision (3x 30-27) heavily criticised for a poor downs. However, in the third CF 49, taking place Middleweight: Hassan Fakhreddine def. Eslam Abdel Menem by TKO (body shot) - 3m49s - Round 1 performance in Sunday’s once again on the round, Ylies stepped up on his Middleweight: Eslam Syaha def. Mohamed Ghorabi by TKO - 2m04s - Round 1 north London derby loss at boxing and eventually landed a beautiful Arad Fort, Arsenal, Mourinho suffered nasty guillotine, which forced Arad, Bahrain on Catchweight (70 kgs): Hussein Salem def. Gerson Pereira via TKO - Round 2 - 3m35s one of the most chasten - Makhazhiev to tap out. March 25th Catchweight Bout (59kgs):Maysara Mohamed def. Issa Salem by unanimous decision (3x 29-28) ing defeats of his glittering In the co-main event Leba- Catchweight (68 kgs): Abdullah Alyaqoob def. Ramyar Luqman by unanimous decision (2x 30-27, 29-28) managerial career. non’s Ahmed Labban put on a dominant unanimous decision While Orsic’s hat-trick, striking clinic over a very tough in his BRAVE CF debut. Lightweight: Mohsen Mohammadseifi def. Bichi Zakaria via TKO - 43s - Round 1 completed early in extra Nemanja Kovac. ‘’The Shadow’’ Yousif Ghrairi had an amazing time, was world class, Tot- threw everything at Kovac, us- performance in his BRAVE CF clinch that separated Talal from taza Talha, Azat Maksum, Nkosi days of madness next week with tenham’s performance was ing his world-class striking skills debut, coming from behind to his consciousness. Ndebele, Hassan Fakhreddine, BRAVE CF 49, taking place once feeble in the extreme and to always be one step ahead of beat Hassan Talal by knockout, Elsewhere there were domi- Eslam Syaha, among others. again on the beautiful Arad Fort, they capitulated after half- ‘’Sledgehammer’’ en route to a connecting with a knee from nant knockout victories for Mur- BRAVE CF continues its 21 Arad, Bahrain on March 25th. time in the 3-0 loss.

‘The Menace’ faces stiff test against Ham Lukaku in Zidane ‘not planning anything’ TDT | Manila Belgium squad for long-term future at Madrid despite Inter AFP | Madrid nbeaten Filipino warri- Covid-19 issues Uor Denice “The Menace” inedine Zidane again Zamboanga is bracing for a Zraised doubts around his tough first-round battle against future yesterday by admitting South Korean rival Seo Hee he is not looking beyond the Ham in the inaugural women’s current season as Real Madrid grand prix of the coach. ONE: Empower at the Singapore Zidane’s contract runs until Indoor Stadium on May 28. June 2022 but he has refused Zinedine Zidane “I can say that this is the to confirm he will stay for the “I don’t look beyond what biggest challenge I could face Romelu Lukaku duration of that deal, with a I am doing now,” said Zidane in this tournament, especially possible move to the French in a press conference ahead of for a first-round matchup. But AFP | Milan national team mooted after the Madrid’s La Liga game away at this is what I live for, to test European Championships this Celta Vigo on Saturday. myself against the best,” said Zamboanga, right, is not in any way intimidated by a veteran foe elgium coach Roberto summer. “I don’t plan for anything. Zamboanga, who sports an im- peted in several promotions. BMartinez included Inter Uncertainty also stems from You can sign for 10 years here maculate 8-0 record, including The 34-year-old Ham used Milan’s Romelu Lukaku in the way Zidane left the club in and be out tomorrow. And the three victories in ONE Cham- to compete in UFC Fight Night, the squad for World Cup 2018, when he unexpectedly other way around, you can sign pionship. I can say that this is winning once in three bouts qualifiers later this month resigned following Madrid’s for one year and stay for 10. I “I didn’t get to where I am the biggest challenge and was Rizin Fighting Federa- yesterday despite a corona- success in the Champions am motivated by this year and by facing easy opponents. I’m I could face in this tion’s atomweight queen before virus outbreak at the strik- League, only to return less the rest is a discussion I can’t heading into this fight with the tournament, especially jumping ship to ONE. er’s club. than a year later. get into.” best Denice Zamboanga you’ve Zamboanga, for her part, Inter’s game with Sass- ever seen.” for a first-round had registered three victories uolo on Saturday has been The 24-year-old Filipina, matchup. But this is in ONE Championship against postponed after four players the No. 1 women’s atomweight what I live for, to test Watsapinya Kaewkhong of tested positive for Covid-19. contender, will face the fighter myself against the best Thailand, of Ja- Belgium host Wales on from South Korea with a six- DENICE “THE MENACE” ZAMBOANGA pan, Jihin Radzuan of Malaysia. March 24 and head to the match win streak so obviously The quarterfinals of the Czech Republic three days she is not taking her lightly. Marrok Force, has been laying atomweight grand prix are part later before entertaining “Ham is a very experienced down strategies to combat the of the all-female card in ONE: Belarus on March 30. fighter, the most experienced striking prowess of Ham, who Empower on May 28. “I think it’s a bit too soon out of all of us. I’m not taking she described as a “complete Other matchups are Meng Bo to give a clear response,” he her lightly by any means. She’s fighter” without any weakness- of China against Ritu Phogat said about Lukaku’s partic- held multiple world titles in dif- es. of India; Itsuki Hirata of Ja - ipation in the fixtures. ferent organizations, and she’s “We know she’s incredible pan against Alyse Anderson Real Madrid’s Eden Haz- a legit, well-rounded striker,” with her hands, and she’s a of America; Stamp Fairtex of ard will miss the match - said Zamboanga. southpaw. I don’t have much Thailand against Alyona Ras- es with a foot injury and The Korean seasoned UFC experience facing southpaws. sohyna of Ukraine. Borussia Dortmund mid- campaigner boasts a 23-8 over- Her straight punch is her most Should Zamboanga advance, fielder Axel Witsel is side- all record that saw her win the dangerous weapon,” said Zam- she will face the winner be - lined with an Achilles issue. Road FC 105lbs title and the boanga. tween Stamp and Rassohyna. Two uncapped midfield- Rizin 108lbs title, beating some Despite being a newcomer The grand prix champion will ers in Anderlecht’s Albert of the best fighters in the divi- in the Singapore-based pro - take a crack at the belt against Sambi Lokonga and Stutt- sion in the process motion, Ham is no stranger to reigning atomweight titlehold- gart’s Orel Mangana have Zamboanga said her team, mixed martial arts, having com- er in November. received their first call-ups.