As tension engulfs the Middle East, mixed martial artists Stephen Loman and Drex Zamboanga have extended their compassion to overseas Filipinos navigating uncertainty in the region.
The conflict, triggered last February 28 by a joint military action from the United States and Israel against Iran following failed diplomatic efforts to curb Tehran’s alleged nuclear ambitions, has intensified through sustained airstrikes across key Iranian cities.
What began as a strategic offensive has since rippled across at least 14 nations in the Middle East, placing communities, including thousands of Filipinos, in precarious conditions.
For Loman, the situation resonates deeply. The Middle East has long been a second home, having built a significant chapter of his professional career in BRAVE Combat Federation.
Between 2016 and 2019, “The Sniper” competed six times under the promotion’s banner, three of those in Bahrain, highlighted by his inaugural BRAVE CF Bantamweight World Title-clinching victory over Gurdarshan Mangat in February 2017.
“My heart is heavy seeing what is happening across the Middle East,” Loman said in an exclusive interview with this article’s author.
“Bahrain holds a special place in my journey, and I know so many Filipinos there who are working hard for their families. It is painful to think of what they are going through right now.”
Zamboanga, who redirected his professional path to BRAVE CF in February 2025, echoed the sentiment.
The older brother of reigning ONE Women’s Atomweight MMA World Champion Denice Zamboanga has grown increasingly concerned for fellow countrymen abroad.
“I offer my prayers to every Filipino affected,” Zamboanga shared. “May God grant them comfort, protection, and strength in these uncertain times.”
An estimated 2.1 to 2.4 million Filipinos reside across the Middle East, forming one of the largest overseas populations worldwide, with key communities in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain.
Reports indicate that around 86,000 are currently in areas under active crisis alert, raising the possibility of repatriation as tensions persist.
The instability has also disrupted sporting schedules, including the anticipated BRAVE CF bouts of both athletes, now likely to be pushed to the second quarter of 2026.
Loman, who returned to the Bahrain-based promotion before the close of 2025 after a prolonged hiatus, remains hopeful.
“I pray that peace finds its way back to the region soon,” he stated. “I look forward to stepping inside the cage again, not just to compete, but to bring a sense of pride and joy to Filipinos there, even in the middle of hardship.”
Zamboanga, for his part, chooses to hold on to optimism despite the gravity of the situation.
“We know many are affected, directly or indirectly, by what is happening,” Zamboanga expressed. “But I believe there is still light ahead. Filipinos are resilient, and together with faith, we will overcome this.”
