Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, first deputy president of the country’s Supreme Council for Youth and Sports and an avid MMA fan, has come a long way in taking the Bahraini MMA scene to a whole new level.
Saturday August 15, Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad will officially announce enlisting John Kavanagh, head of the SBG Ireland MMA gym and Conor McGregor’s coach, to help establish and develop his new international MMA team under the name “KHK MMA”.
H.H will hold a press conference next Saturday August 15 at “Sofitel” Hotel in Bahrain expected to bring a new dimension to the sport.
John Kavanagh runs the Straight Blast Gym Ireland and was the first Irish person to be awarded a black belt in BJJ. Kavanagh has trained notable fighters such Conor McGregor, Gunnar Nelson, Paul McVeigh, Cathal Pendred, Aisling Daly, Chris Fields and Owen Roddy.
Top UFC lightweights Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev have already signed on to help the team, and two of Kavanagh’s most promising amateur fighters, James Gallagher and Frans Mlambo, will continue their training affiliated with KHK.
The day will also witness the signing of the first 9 fighters for his team including Desert Force fighter Hamza Kooheji and Mohammed Shahed.
The new team will aim to bring together a host of top fighters from around the world, varying from up-and-coming prospects to established professionals competing in leading organisations such as the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
His Highness Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa:
“I always look for the support of the sport and seek to develop them through the creation of all-weather fighters Bahrainis, which will reflect positively on the results of the posts coming, and that we aspire through which best achieve and raise the name of the Kingdom of Bahrain high in those posts,” he added that the press conference presented unveiled about Khalid bin Hamad team mixed martial arts for professionals and amateurs, who will be under the management of coach Mr. Mohamed Shahid, in a move to create a special team in the sport of mixed martial arts, which gives the opportunity to change the face of the sport towards professionalism stage.
King of Bahrain’s son has never missed a chance to support the Bahraini fighters. Sponsoring local fighters is all good, but the young and aspiring Sheikh has been spotted in his fighters’ corners on every occasion, be it in regional events such as Desert Force or in world-class missions where he lead the team to the 2015 IMMAF World Championships in Las Vegas.”
Stay tuned on ArabsMMA.com for more on KHK MMA!
