BRAVE Combat Federation Celebrates Women in MMA 

BRAVE Combat Federation is proud to join the rest of the world in celebrating International Women’s Day. This day recognizes the achievements of women in different areas, including sports. BRAVE CF has been at the forefront of empowering women in mixed martial arts (MMA) since its inception in 2016.

The brand has given hundreds of women from various parts of the world a platform to showcase their talents. BRAVE CF has fostered 29 female fighters from 16 countries, including some of the most renowned female fighters on the planet. Among them are Kazakhstan’s Mariya Agapova, Brazil’s Luana Pinheiro, Poland’s Ewelina Wozniak, and Sweden’s Josefine Knutsson.

One of the standout moments in BRAVE CF’s history was in November 2019 at BRAVE CF 29 when they hosted the first-ever professional female mixed martial arts bout in the Kingdom of Bahrain. Luana Pinheiro faced England’s Helen Harper in a Strawweight bout on the main card of the groundbreaking show.

BRAVE CF has also made it mandatory to include more female officials in the promotion, and since 2017, they have seen a number of qualified female referees officiate their fights. BRAVE CF recognizes the importance of having women in different positions, and outside the cage, they have provided opportunities and employment to women forming part of the production, media and communications, logistics, finance, and promotions teams.

BRAVE CF and KHK Sports COO Valeria Lang have been instrumental in the promotion’s success. Lang has been working hand-in-hand with BRAVE CF President Mohammed Shahid and various executives in realizing His Highness Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa’s vision of globalizing mixed martial arts, empowering governance within the sport, and revolutionizing MMA from an events business to a sports business. Lang is the highest-ranked female executive in any global MMA organization.

BRAVE Combat Federation is proud of the achievements of women in mixed martial arts and will continue to create opportunities for women in different areas of the sport.