Filipino mixed martial artists Stephen “The Sniper” Loman and Drex “The T-Rex” Zamboanga have extended their support to Filipino communities living in Bahrain and across the Middle East as regional tensions continue to escalate.
For Loman, the situation is deeply personal due to his history with BRAVE Combat Federation. The Filipino standout competed six times under the promotion between 2016 and 2019, including three bouts in Bahrain.
During that run, Loman secured one of the biggest achievements of his career by winning the inaugural BRAVE CF Bantamweight World Championship, defeating Gurdarshan Mangat by unanimous decision in February 2017.
“It is heartbreaking to see what is happening in the Middle East right now. Bahrain has always been close to my heart because of my journey with BRAVE CF. My thoughts are with every Filipino family facing uncertainty and fear during this time,” Loman said.
Zamboanga, who joined BRAVE CF in February 2025, also shared his concern for Filipinos living overseas, particularly those affected by the ongoing situation.
“I offer my prayers to all Filipinos in Bahrain and throughout the Middle East. May God surround you with protection, strength, and comfort in these difficult times,” Zamboanga stated.
According to estimates from early 2026, between 2.1 million and 2.4 million Filipinos reside and work across the Middle East, making it one of the largest overseas Filipino populations worldwide. Major communities are based in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, with significant populations also in Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain.
Reports indicate that around 86,000 Filipinos are currently in areas under active crisis alert levels, increasing the likelihood of repatriation if tensions persist.
The situation has also had implications for the sport, with expected appearances by Loman and Zamboanga in BRAVE CF potentially being pushed to the second quarter of 2026.
Despite the uncertainty, Loman remains hopeful for a resolution.
“I pray that peace will prevail soon. I look forward to stepping back inside the cage and bringing pride and joy to our fellow Filipinos in the Middle East, especially in times like this,” he stressed.
Zamboanga echoed that optimism while recognizing the broader impact of the crisis.
“Many are directly or indirectly affected by this war, and it is not easy for anyone. Still, I believe there is light ahead. We hold on to hope and continue to stay strong together,” he added.
Leave a comment
Please login to leave a comment.