PHILIPPINE EMBASSY EXTENDS SUPPORT TO FILIPINO FIGHTERS AT THE FIRST “BRAVE” MIXED MARTIAL ARTS CHAMPIONSHIPS IN BAHRAIN (Top photo) Ambassador Ver greets Stephen Loman as he leaves the Octagon following his victory over Irishman Frans Mlambo. (Middle photo) Loman pinning down Mlambo in one of the decisive moments of the bout. (Bottom) Ambassador Ver shares a light moment during the Brave Championship with the sons of Bahrain’s King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa namely, Sheikh Nasser Bin Hamad Al Khalifa (center), Representative of His Majesty the King for Charity Works and Youth Affairs, Chairman of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports and President of the Bahrain Olympic Committee and Sheikh Khalid Bin Hamad Al Khalifa (left) First Deputy President of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports of Bahrain. Philippine Ambassador, H.E. Alfonso A. Ver and other Philippine Embassy personnel extended their support to the two (2) Filipino fighters that competed in the first Brave Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) Championship held on 23 September 2016 at the Khalifa Sports City Stadium in Isa Town, Bahrain. Ambassador Ver joined hundreds of other Filipino MMA fans who rooted for the fighters who flew all the way from the Philippines. In the Bantamweight Division, Baguio-city native Stephen Loman beat Frans Mlambo of Ireland via unanimous decision. Loman was inspired and encouraged by the presence of hundreds of his compatriots who chanted his name and waved Philippine flags all throughout his fight. The Khalifa Sports City Stadium erupted in an even loader roar when the referee announced Loman’s unanimous victory over Mlambo. In the other fight, however, Manila-boy Jessie Rafols lost to Ivan Lopez from Mexico via submission. The Brave Combat Federation is a new international MMA Federation and the first to be based in the Kingdom of Bahrain. Its founder and prime patron is His Highness Sheikh Khalid Bin Hamad Al Khalifa, son of His Majesty the King of Bahrain King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa. Sheikh Khalid is the First Deputy President of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports of Bahrain and also the founder of the KHK MMA group in the Kingdom. Ambassador Ver congratulated Sheikh Khalid on the unprecedented success of the first-ever Brave MMA Championship and assured him of the support of the Filipinos in the Kingdom in future events. Sheikh Khalid hopes to turn Bahrain into a global MMA destination which will surely establish another platform for Filipino fighters to compete and shine in the fast-rising sport of MMA. He also praised the fighters for their strong performances and success in their fighting careers. End .