BRAVE CF News: Fakhreddine-Said Maalem Rematch Slated For March 11 Card

Bahrain-based BRAVE Combat Federation appears all set to stage another successful event this coming March with BRAVE CF 57.

However, there is perhaps nothing bigger than the heated rivalry between Mohamed Said Maalem and middleweight titleholder Mohammad Fakhreddine.

A rematch between the two fighters is set for BRAVE CF 57, which was confirmed by company head honcho Mohammed “The Hawk” Shahid when he appeared on the Sports Bytes PH podcast hosted by Brian Yalung and Rica Aquino.

“We definitely have a rematch, a long-awaited story between Mohammed Fakhreddine and Mohamed Said Maalem. This has been a funny situation. I don’t know how to put it, but so many things have happened between them,” Shahid said.

Like most, Shahid is a bit puzzled at how much animosity developed between the two heavy-hitters.

“The histories are there, but then where is the hatred coming from? They are both legends and hate each other,” Shahid pointed out.

The social media exchange between Said Maalem and Fakhreddine is well documented, and the storyline just got a different twist.

In their last encounter at BRAVE CF 52: Bad Blood for the vacant light heavyweight championship, the result was overturned by the Italian Federation of Grappling and Mixed Martial Arts following a thorough investigation of the match.

It was found that there were illegal strikes made by Said Maalem on Fakhreddine in the final sequence of the title tiff, something that contributed to the stoppage of the match.

“We need to finish the story here. Fight, win, and I hope nothing else happens. But you know what? I have a feeling that this drama does not end here. It’s something I’m not expecting," Shahid stated.

"I don’t know what, but I want this fight to happen. I don’t want anything to stop this fight, I hope no one gets COVID and I hope that fights don’t get canceled. I want to get to the bottom of it and that is the co-main event of our event in Bahrain,” he added.

However, it is yet to be determined if the vacant light heavyweight title will be on the line or Fakhreddine's middleweight belt will be up for grabs in the second encounter.

BRAVE CF 57 is scheduled to happen on March 11, during the BRAVE International Combat Week, at the Khalifa Sports City Arena in Isa Town, Bahrain.

Also slated on the card is the battle for the available bantamweight championship, pitting Hamza Kooheji opposite UFC veteran Brad Katona.

BRAVE CF is expected to release the full card soon with one more world title fight scheduled to be part of the organization’s first major show for the new year.