MUMBAI: Brave Combat Federation, Asia’s largest mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion founded under the patronage of Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa from Bahrain, is hosting its first MMA event in India on Sunday, 23 April, at Dome, NSCI in Mumbai.

Neo Sports has acquired the broadcast rights for the event and the fights will be aired live between 8 pm to 10 pm. It will also be broadcast across 53 nations and streamed online live via bravefights.com. In addition to Neo Sports, the other partners for this event include Carnival Cinemas India (Multiplex & Publicity partner), Essence Transmedia (Event Partner), R City (Mall partner), Seven Hills Hospital (Medical Partner), Times of India (Media Partner) and Radio Mirchi (Radio Partner).

Brave Combat Federation is the first global MMA promotion to organize an event in India. This is the fifth edition of Brave Combat Federation and the Brave 5 Fight card features renowned Indian and International athletes from 11 nations including Algeria, Bahrain, Brazil, Canada, Egypt, India, Mexico, Philippines, Thailand, Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom. Algeria’s Tahar Hadbi and England’s Carl Booth will compete at the main event. Indo-Canadian Gurdarshan ‘Saint Lion’ Mangat is moving two weight classes to compete with Abdul ‘Cutman’ Muneer in the Featherweight division, which is the co-main event.

The line-up also includes Indian athletes such as Mohammed Farhad, Goa's Nelson Paes, IMMAF World Championship medallist Hardeep Rai, former Indian champion Bharat Khandare, and Indian MMA pioneer Chaitanya Gavali and international athletes such as Paulo Gonçalvez from Brazil, TUF Latin America contestant Alejandro Martinez, Bahrain's pride Hamza Kooheji and former Middle Eastern champion Aziz Julaidan. Brave 5 will kick-off with the Weigh-ins and Open Workouts on April 22, which will be held at R-City Mall, Mumbai 6 PM onwards. The event will be attended by key dignitaries including His Highness Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa and prominent Bollywood celebrities.