BRAVE Combat Federation fighter Kenneth “Smooth” Maningat, 30, trains at the DyIncredible Fighting and Fitness Center in Dasmariñas, Cavite, Philippines. He is one of the proteges of former BRAVE CF fighter “Dy Incredible” Rolando Gabriel Dy, 31.
Maningat grew up in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines. His mother is from Malabon, Metro Manila and his father is from Batangas, Philippines.
Maningat’s mother wanted him to study engineering in college but his father wanted him to study political science then pursue a law degree. The parents wanted their son to choose between the two.
But Maningat chose neither because what he really wanted to study was information technology. In the end, he graduated from De La Salle University-Dasmariñas in Dasmariñas with a bachelor’s degree in IT.
While pursuing a career in MMA, Maningat worked as an IT specialist. He was an undefeated professional MMA fighter from August 27, 2021 to November 25, 2022.
On November 26, 2022, Maningat made his BRAVE CF debut at “BRAVE CF 66” at Politeknik Pariwisata in Bali, Indonesia where he was submitted via rear-naked choke by Asu Almabaev, 29, of Almaty, Kazakhstan. The Filipino MMA fighter replaced the original opponent of his Kazakh opponent and they competed in the flyweight division.
After “BRAVE CF 66”, Almabaev joined the Ultimate Fighting Championship. On the other hand, Maningat quit his IT job and started training full-time at the DyIncredible Fighting and Fitness Center.
On June 19, 2023, Maningat will fight Abdulla Al Yaqoob, 29, of Manama, Bahrain at “BRAVE CF 71” at the Bahrain National Stadium in Riffa, Bahrain. They will battle it out in the bantamweight division.
Currently, Al Yaqoob holds a professional MMA record of 4 wins and 0 loss. Maningat has 6 wins and 1 loss.
CONAN Daily 