The feud between Mohammed Farhad and Ruel Panales’ respective teams has rolled over into a three-part drama series ahead of their eagerly-anticipated rematch at Brave CF 70.
India’s Farhad and Philippines’ Panales will look to end their heated rivalry after their first bantamweight fight was declared a no contest”due to Farhad landing an unintentional groin kick to his Filipino opponent.
Since that fight, both camps have been at loggerheads after Farhad initially claimed that Panales and his coach Rolando Dy took the “easy way out” by faking an injury before Dy clapped back, insisting that it was Farhad who cheated by “kicking the groin thrice.”
The barbs continued this week, with Dy criticizing “Sher-e-Hind” for leaving his country to train elsewhere. The 34-year-old Farhad – renowned for his striking ability with eleven knockouts – decided to improve his all-round game by traveling to Dagestan to train alongside UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev at Khabib Nurmagomedov’s school.
Earlier this week, Farhad was the talk of the town after Makhachev expressed how impressed he was with Farhad’s skills since joining their gym. While the shift may vastly improve Farhad’s chances of becoming the first Indian Brave CF champion, Dy called the move a cop-out and questioned the legitimacy of Indian-based MMA training.
“Now you’re asking Daddy Islam and Papa Khabib for help. You are not confident with your MMA camp in India. That speaks volumes, Farhad,” said Dy, the owner of the Philippines’ famous DYincredible Fighting and Fitness Center, where he has been grooming the next generation of Filipino fighters, including the unbeaten Panales, who has amassed four wins and one no contest thus far.
“Ruel has prepared right here in the Philippines with his original team, while you are running scared and hoping Daddy Islam can help save your bum life within five weeks,” added the Brave CF veteran.
The rivalry between the two teams will be settled when the two fighters face off at Brave CF 70 on April 23 in Ljubljana, Slovenia.