IMMAF President Commends Jose Torres' Triumph at BRAVE CF 73

31 August 2023

International Mixed Martial Arts Federation President Kerrith Brown couldn't hide his pride as he presented the BRAVE CF Bantamweight title to former IMMAF two-time World Champion, Jose “Shorty” Torres, during BRAVE CF 73 over the past weekend. Torres' split decision victory over South Africa’s Nkosi “The Future” Ndebele marked the climax of a demanding five-round cerebral battle, crowning him the new ruler of the 135-pound division. This remarkable achievement unfolded in the spotlight of the Pan-American Combat Week event held in Bogota, Colombia. The fight extravaganza also featured the Pan-American Championships, where amateur athletes from across North, South, and Central America vied for distinction and IMMAF recognition.

Torres and former IMMAF African gold medalist Ndebele serve as living testimonials to the exemplary system established by the global amateur governing body in collaboration with BRAVE Combat Federation. President Brown expressed immense pride in these two athletes who have seamlessly transitioned into the realm of professional MMA, becoming prominent figures on the circuit. "It’s been a great night of fighting, the main event with Torres and Ndebele, it was really technical, it was just a very proud moment just to see two IMMAF athletes of Ndebele and Torres’ caliber compete on this level," Brown remarked in a post-fight interview.

At 31 years old, Torres secured gold in 2014 and 2015 at the IMMAF World Championships, while the 28-year-old Ndebele captured hearts when he clinched the IMMAF African championship in 2017.

President Brown found excitement in the duel of the 'old vs new' champions, highlighting the significance of their encounter. He appreciated Torres’ astute employment of Judo hip tosses, a technique that significantly influenced his favor with the judges after a grueling 25 minutes. "As a former Olympian Judo bronze medalist, just to see Torres activating his Judo and understanding what was needed to get the upper hand, it was exciting," Brown noted. He continued, emphasizing Torres’ versatility and strategic point accumulation, stating, "Torres is a shining example of how a mixed martial artist activates various skills and scores points. Those takedowns helped him win the BRAVE CF World Championship."

President Brown also extended praise to BRAVE Combat Federation and IMMAF for their collaborative efforts since their partnership was formed almost seven years ago. He acknowledged the invaluable support of Highness Sheikh Khalid Bin Hamad Al Khalifa and BRAVE CF in IMMAF's evolution. Brown highlighted the success of previous IMMAF World Championships hosted in Bahrain, praising the transition from amateur to professional. He observed Torres' trajectory from a two-time IMMAF World Champion to clinching a BRAVE CF title as particularly exciting.

BRAVE Pan-American Combat Week, facilitated by BRAVE CF, IMMAF, the Colombian Association of Mixed Martial Arts (OCAMM), and the Latin Fighter Championship (LFC), marked the second International Combat Week held outside Bahrain. Earlier this year, BRAVE CF introduced the successful BRAVE Serbia International Combat Week in Belgrade, Serbia, further solidifying its commitment to global combat sports. Colombia joins Bahrain and Serbia as the third nation to host this monumental event.