Jose ‘Shorty’ Torres has assured BRAVE NATION that Izzedine Al-Derbani is ‘going down’ in their BRAVE CF 65 co-main event fight this week. After the Jordanian MMA star blatantly disregarded the American’s ability by questioning his power and stating that he is ‘easy work’, Shorty has now clapped back with a subtle yet effective warning for the BRAVE CF debutant.
“Honestly, I am not worried about this fight. Don’t get me wrong, Izzedine is a tough fight. He is a game fighter, a Samurai ready to go against anyone. But now, he is going down. I know that I am better than him,” says Shorty ahead of their Bantamweight duel.
The last few years have been tough on BRAVE CF star “Shorty”. On the eve of his BRAVE CF Flyweight title fight, he had learnt of his father’s passing forcing him to pull out of his championship bout. Covid-19 further delayed his title aspirations before weight-cutting issues then hindered his chances at a BRAVE CF belt when he withdrew from the semi-final of the BRAVE CF Flyweight tournament due to his inability to make 125 pounds.
Now, Shorty – unbeaten in BRAVE CF – returns to the fastest growing mixed martial arts promotion with hopes of paving a way to a title in the heavier 135-pound division. And he is keen on reminding the BRAVE CF newbie who he is.
Arab MMA star, Al-Derbani is a dangerous customer riding a five-fight win streak and is riding high on confidence coming into BRAVE CF considering that his latest loss was more than three years ago. What makes him even more of a threat in the Bantamweight division is the fact that he’s a natural 178cm-tall Featherweight who has also fought at Lightweight.
“Izzedine is a little wild, but he can do some work. He has fought against some of the best and his record of 13-2 says it all, he has even knocked out our main event (Hamza Kooheji). But I know that I am better than him,” Shorty reiterated.
The Palestinian Samurai, Al-Derbani is also a former Desert Force Featherweight champion after he knocked out now-BRAVE CF star Hamza Kooheji in 2016. During BRAVE CF 65 Media Day today, Al-Derbani intimated that he is already thinking about a rematch with Bahraini star Kooheji. “Yeah, I see he is already talking crap about that win over Kooheji, good for him, but he needs to remember that the fight against Hamza happened years ago in 2016, he needs to focus on me instead. If he can get through me, then good for him, but for now, he should focus on me, because this is what he has to deal with right now,” added Torres who is relishing the idea of facing a much bigger opponent.
“Izzedine is a tall and long opponent, he has fought at Lightweight and Featherweight before which is awesome because I have a Napoleon complex,” says the much shorter 162cm ‘Shorty’ who will be punching above his usual weight class.
“I like to take out big things, so for him coming down, and being much taller than me, that gives me that Napoleon complex I strive for … I want to take down the big guys, I want to prove that this little guy can put on a presence,” added Shorty.
BRAVE CF 65 – taking place this Friday, October 28th – will be headlined by Bahrain’s Kooheji and Colombia’s Eduardo Mora in a Featherweight cracker at the Khalifa Sports City Arena, concluding the epic nine-day Kombat Kingdom festival For more information on BRAVE CF’s Kombat Kingdom series, visit www.bravecf.com.
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