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Filipino MMA Stars Extend Support As Crisis Grips Middle East
Mar 24, 2026
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Stephen “The Sniper” Loman and Drex “The T-Rex” Zamboanga have expressed their concern for Filipino communities in the Kingdom of Bahrain and across the Middle East as tensions continue to escalate in the region.
The situation carries personal significance for Loman, who spent a notable portion of his professional career competing under BRAVE Combat Federation.
Between 2016 and 2019, “The Sniper” fought six times under the organization’s banner, with three appearances taking place in Bahrain.
Among his most memorable achievements was capturing the inaugural BRAVE CF Bantamweight World Championship with a unanimous decision victory over Gurdarshan “Saint Lion” Mangat 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.
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Zamboanga, who committed to BRAVE CF in February 2025, echoed similar sentiments.
The former URCC Bantamweight Champion voiced his concern for overseas Filipinos navigating the uncertainty brought about by the conflict.
“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.
As of early 2026, an estimated 2.1 to 2.4 million Filipinos are living and working across the Middle East, making it one of the largest concentrations of overseas Filipinos globally.
Key hubs include Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, along with sizable communities in Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain.
Approximately 86,000 Filipinos are currently in areas under active crisis alert levels, raising the possibility of repatriation as tensions persist.
The ongoing developments have also impacted the sporting landscape, with the anticipated bouts of Loman and Zamboanga under BRAVE CF potentially being rescheduled to the second quarter of 2026.
Despite the challenges, Loman remains hopeful that stability will return to the region.
“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.
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Zamboanga also expressed optimism while acknowledging the widespread effects of the situation.
“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.
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