The BRAVE CF 91 press conference at the Oasis Mall in Bahrain erupted into a war of words as Bahrain’s own Hamza Kooheji and Turkish fighter Alperen Karabulut engaged in a heated exchange, setting the stage for what promises to be an explosive showdown on the co-main event of the evening.
The tension began when Karabulut fired the first verbal shot, declaring that Hamza Kooheji, once hailed as “The Pride of Bahrain,” would soon be remembered as “The Clown of Bahrain.” The provocative statement visibly irked Kooheji, who leaned forward, his expression darkening, as he prepared his response, amidst the booing from the crowd.
“He said he wanted to take photos with me after the fight, said that he respected me, and now he changed”, Hamza said. “It’s ok, I will still take a photo with him after the fight but he will have another face, deformed one”.
Adding fuel to the fire, Flyweight global superstar Muhammad Mokaev, Kooheji’s teammate, stepped in to defend his friend. Mokaev chastised Karabulut for his remarks, calling them disrespectful and uncalled for. Karabulut then replied saying that they were coming “two against one” after him. To which Mokaev simply replied: “Inside the cage, it’s one on one”.
However, Karabulut was undeterred and escalated the confrontation by issuing a bold challenge. “Mokaev, I’m coming after you too. After I beat Hamza I will fight you too. I am your destiny, you can’t run away from me”, the Turkish youngster stated. Mokaev reacted immediately: “Where were you when they were looking for an opponent for me? You could’ve fought me but you stayed quiet”.
Unfazed, Kooheji turned the focus back on himself, dismissing Karabulut’s claims of toughness and experience with a sharp retort that showcased his pride and fighting spirit. “You keep talking about being tough, this and that, but when I was fighting on the streets, you weren’t even born!”, he said.
The climax of the fiery exchange came when Kooheji vowed to make Karabulut regret his words. The Bahraini fighter promised his fans that come fight night, he would deliver a definitive performance. “I will smash your face, mark my words. This Friday, I will smash your face!”.
With emotions running high and pride on the line, the heated exchanges have only amplified anticipation for BRAVE CF 91. Both fighters left the press conference that had to be cut short due to the increasing animosity, with one message clear: this is not just a fight — it’s personal.
