Tag: BRAVE Combat Federation

Exclusive: “He Has Never Proved His Striking” – Luan Santiago Targets BRAVE Super Lightweight Champion Eldar Eldarov

BRAVE CF fighter Luan SantiagoBRAVE CF super lightweight Luan Santiago is already training his sights on a future title bout with the division’s current champion Eldar Eldarov. The 26-year-old Brazilian takes on France’s Benoit Saint-Denis in the main event of BRAVE CF 49 this Thursday, with the winner earning a title shot against Eldarov. Santiago, who with 11 KO […]

BRAVE CF fighter Luan Santiago

BRAVE CF super lightweight Luan Santiago is already training his sights on a future title bout with the division’s current champion Eldar Eldarov. The 26-year-old Brazilian takes on France’s Benoit Saint-Denis in the main event of BRAVE CF 49 this Thursday, with the winner earning a title shot against Eldarov.

Santiago, who with 11 KO wins to his name is known as one of the most entertaining fighters on BRAVE’s roster, has made no secret of his disdain for Eldarov’s skills, viewing the chamo as little more than a standard wrestler.

“Eldarov is a basic fighter, that boring style, holding people. He looks to get the fight to the ground, stalls, and guarantees himself. But he won’t do that to me. He has never fought someone like me, and he has never proved his striking,” Santiago said to LowkickMMA.

“I’m crazy about that fight. I want to go in there and just fight him. I want a man’s fight against him, not these boring, unbearable fights he puts on.”

However, before the former BRAVE CF lightweight champion gets his wish to take on Eldarov, he must first get past Saint-Denis. The 25-year-old Frenchman heads into this week’s clash with an unblemished 6-0 record, with four of his wins coming in the opening round. Santiago is not looking past his upcoming opponent, but nor is he particularly concerned with what the undefeated Saint-Denis will bring to the table on fight night.

“Benoit is a tough fighter, for sure. But I don’t see him having the experience required at this level. He’s a southpaw too, and we’re going to go at it and fight it out. I’m ready for him. I know he’s going to try and take me down. I’m ready for him on the ground, in the stand-up, on the locker room, on the streets, everywhere,” Santiago exclaimed.

It has been over a year since Santiago last laced up his gloves. The fact that he has had multiple fights canceled on him has only increased his desire to return to the cage.

“The feeling is that I will finally be able to work,” he replied when asked how it felt to be competing again.

“I’ve had three fights canceled, but everything will work itself out now, in the name of God. I’m especially excited to be fighting in Bahrain again. I love this place, the energy it gives me. And the venue at Arad Fort looks so good; it will be amazing. “

Santiago is also relishing being able to fight as a super lightweight. He made the switch following his loss to Cleiton Pereira da Silva at BRAVE CF 25. His debut fight at the new weight class took place at BRAVE CF 29 when he scored a decision victory over Gadzhimusa Gaziev. After getting a taste of life as a 165 pounder, Santiago is in no hurry to go back to 155.

” I found it very easy to fight at Super Lightweight, the preparation is different, and it’s much better. The focus is not that much on weight-cutting anymore, ” he said.

“I’m here to stay at Super Lightweight, and BRAVE CF has done an amazing job of putting together this weight-class.”

If he can get past Saint-Denis, fans could be in for an entertaining and no-holds-barred build-up for a title clash between Santiago and Eldarov.

Exclusive: Jose Torres Is Ready For A “Brawl” At BRAVE CF 49

Profile shot of Jose TorresJose “Shorty” Torres returns to the cage this week when he takes on SBG’s Blaine O’Driscoll in the co-main event of BRAVE CF 49. The three-round bout will take place on Thursday, Match 25, in the Gulf State of Bahrain. Torres was preparing for a rematch with compatriot Sean Santella after the pair’s BRAVE CF […]

Profile shot of Jose Torres

Jose “Shorty” Torres returns to the cage this week when he takes on SBG’s Blaine O’Driscoll in the co-main event of BRAVE CF 49. The three-round bout will take place on Thursday, Match 25, in the Gulf State of Bahrain.

Torres was preparing for a rematch with compatriot Sean Santella after the pair’s BRAVE CF flyweight Grand Prix quarter-final at BRAVE CF 42 ended in a draw. However, after Santella was struck down with an injury, O’Driscoll put his hand up for a shot against Torres. The Irishman is known for his striking ability, which for Torres is a welcome change after having fought several recent bouts against grapplers.

“It’s honestly been one of the best camps ever. It was focused on Sean Santella, but I have the skills for a standup game. I have the standup skills for Blaine, and it’s exciting to know that I am finally fighting a standup fighter, something I have wanted for years now, at least [since] 2018,” Torres said to LowkickMMA.

“I’m really excited for it. He is a pressure fighter. You know it’s going to be a brawl.”

This will be Torres’s third bout under the BRAVE CF banner, and fortunately for the Chicago-native, his training camp has been relatively untouched by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

“It feels great to be back in the BRAVE cage, it’s been about six months since my last fight, and I have been training ever since, ” Torres exclaimed.

“Luckily, the training hasn’t has been affected at all by Covid. I train with a very small group of people. Myself, Din Thomas, Gillian Robertson, and David Evans is the majority group,” he added.

” I travel to train all the time, and luckily for me, Florida, where I station my camps now, is pretty much an open state. So everything is practically the same.”

The BRAVE CF Flyweight Championship has had a somewhat interesting history of late. The promotion has attempted to crown an inaugural champion on multiple occasions. Still, no fighter has yet been able to lay claim to the vacant title for a variety of reasons. The ongoing Flyweight Grand Prix looks set to change that, and if Torres can get his hand raised against O’Driscoll, he will meet the winner of the Dustin Ortiz – Ali Bagautinov clash, which takes place at BRAVE CF 50.

” Shorty” is aware he will be the heavy favorite against O’Driscoll, but he is not letting his guard down, especially when he knows a title fight could soon be on the line. The 28-year-old has spent enough time in MMA to know the dangers thinking too far ahead can cause a fighter.

” I have my future opponent, which was Sean, and now it’s Blaine, and then next possibly Ali or Dustin Ortiz, and all three are very tough opponents. I have to go one by one, I can’t look past any opponent no matter if it’s last-minute, no matter what his record is,” Torres said.

“Even though I have a resume over this man, it does not mean I am better than him. We will find out March 25.”

Torres has worked too long and hard to let this opportunity to chase some silverware go by. So fans can expect to see “Shorty” come out as focused as he has ever been.

BRAVE CF 48: Full Results

BRAVE CF 48 went down on Thursday, March 18 with the mammoth 14-fight card taking place in the Gulf State of Bahrain. It was the second of four events in the promotion’s Kombat Kingdom series, which sees four events being held over 21 days. In the main event of BRAVE CF 48, French-Algerian Ylies Djiroun […]

BRAVE CF 48 went down on Thursday, March 18 with the mammoth 14-fight card taking place in the Gulf State of Bahrain. It was the second of four events in the promotion’s Kombat Kingdom series, which sees four events being held over 21 days.

In the main event of BRAVE CF 48, French-Algerian Ylies Djiroun submitted Abdul-Rakhman Makhazhiev in the third round of their lightweight clash. It was the 28-year-old’s promotional debut, and the win has immediately established him as a force in BRAVE’s lightweight division.

Djiroun started the stronger of the two, dropping Makhazhiev with a vicious high-kick in the opening frame. However, the Russian was able to regroup and establish his offense in the second stanza before Djiroun stormed back to win it in the third.

In the co-main event, Lebanon’s Ahmed Labban was too good on his feet for Serbia’s Nemanja Kovac. Labban impressive striking skills saw him claim a unanimous decision victory over his opponent in their super lightweight matchup. BRAVE CF is now halfway through its Kombat Kingdom series. The promotion returns on Thursday, March 25 with BRAVE CF 49. It then wraps up the series with BRAVE CF 50 which is scheduled to take place on Thursday, April 1.

Here are the full results for BRAVE CF 48

  • Lightweight: Ylies Djiroun def. Abdul-Rakhman Makhazhiev via submission (guillotine choke) – 3m34s – Round 3
  • Super Lightweight: Ahmed Labban def. Nemanja Kovac by unanimous decision (3x 30-27)
  • Catchweight (77kgs):Olli Santalahti def. Georges Eid by split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
  • Bantamweight: Nkosi Ndebele def. Abdelmoumen Msaate by TKO – Round 2
  • Catchweight (88kgs): Murtaza Talha def. Cameron Mentijies by KO – 1m51s – Round 1
  • Catchweight (58.5kg): Azat Maksum def. Michael Aljarouj by KO – 56s – Round 3
  • Featherweight: Yousif Ghrairi def. Hassan Talal by KO (Knee) – 2m53s – Round 3
  • Super Lightweight: Abbas Khan def. Omar El Dafrawy via unanimous decision (3x 30-27)
  • Middleweight: Hassan Fakhreddine def. Eslam Abdel Menem by TKO (body shot) – 3m49s – Round 1
  • Middleweight: Eslam Syaha def. Mohamed Ghorabi by TKO – 2m04s – Round 1
  • Catchweight (70 kgs): Hussein Salem def. Gerson Pereira via TKO – Round 2 – 3m35s
  • Catchweight Bout (59kgs):Maysara Mohamed def. Issa Salem by unanimous decision (3x 29-28)
  • Catchweight (68 kgs): Abdullah Alyaqoob def. Ramyar Luqman by unanimous decision (2x 30-27, 29-28)
  • Lightweight: Mohsen Mohammadseifi def. Bichi Zakaria via TKO – 43s – Round 1

Exclusive:BRAVE CF’s President On Covid, Scouting Networks & BRAVE’s Fiftieth Event

BRAVE CF officially launched its second Kombat Kingdom series last week, with BRAVE CF 47: Asian Domination taking place on Thursday, March 11. The Bahrain-based promotion has a further three events scheduled to occur over the next two and a half weeks. BRAVE CF 48 is scheduled for this Thursday, followed by BRAVE CF 49 […]

BRAVE CF officially launched its second Kombat Kingdom series last week, with BRAVE CF 47: Asian Domination taking place on Thursday, March 11. The Bahrain-based promotion has a further three events scheduled to occur over the next two and a half weeks. BRAVE CF 48 is scheduled for this Thursday, followed by BRAVE CF 49 and 50 taking place on March 25 and April 1 respectively.

Since its inception in 2016, BRAVE CF has marched to the beat of its own drum as it has looked to establish itself in the highly-competitive world of MMA. From the start, the company’s focus has been on building a promotion truly global in nature and scope.

It has achieved this by signing a diverse roster of fighters and staging events in countries like Colombia, Romania, and India, where MMA is still in its infancy. BRAVE CF has also collaborated with several smaller MMA promotions, including Latin Fighting Championship, RXF, and Krepost Selection, to help establish MMA in new territories. It is these achievements that BRAVE CF President Mohammad Shahid takes pride in when looking back over the past four years.

“I don’t consider the number 50 as a milestone; it’s what we have accomplished with 50 events that gives meaning to the name BRAVE,” Shahid said to LowkickMMA.

“Traveling to 21 countries in 5 continents. Uniting the private sector and empowering the government body for MMA in every country we go,making the biggest amateur world championships and allowing [fans] the opportunity to see special talents like [ Muhammad] Mokaev, Shorty Torres, and Ramazan Gimbatov. But most of all, the seed that was put in the MMA industry to show that it’s time for this sport to take a new turn towards entering into the sports business from the event business. “

One area where BRAVE CF wanted to place a strong focus on was its scouting programs. MMA promotions are only as good as the fighters on the roster; the greatest marketing team in the world cannot cover-up a shallow talent pool. So, with this in mind, BRAVE CF set about creating an extensive and sophisticated network of scouts crisscrossing the globe in search of the best up-and-coming talent.

“Sports is always based on a structure where the scouting program has been the key to success. Not a team of matchmakers, whatever that means, looking at how marketable they are, their language and many other non-sports factors. We have established a global network of BRAVE CF scouting agents and a structure with 78 experts currently around the world scouting for BRAVE CF,” Shahid explained.

The program has already produced one bonafide star in the figure of Khamzat Chimaev. The Chechen fighter fought four times under the BRAVE CF banner before the UFC snapped him up. Chimaev may have been the first star the program unearthed, but he is unlikely to be the last. The work that BRAVE CF is putting in now could pay huge dividends in the future, especially as rising prospects like Muhammad Mokaev began to establish themselves on the world stage.

When asked what regions of the globe could be the next-in-line to produce future MMA stars, Shahid commented.

“Middle East, 100% and Africa I think are [ the next] areas. Although we see a few [other regions] are still heavily untapped, that’s how low global scouting programs of every other promotions are.”

When Covid-19 struck, BRAVE CF, like sports organizations worldwide, was forced to regroup and rethink its 2020 strategy. After starting the year with January’s BRAVE CF 34, the company had to wait six months before restarting its engine. However, when it did spark back into life, it did so in a major way. The promotion staged six shows in almost as many weeks with back-to-back events in Romania, followed up with four consecutive cards in Sweden.

The promotion then held its first-ever Kombat Kingdom series, which fittingly took place in the Kingdom of Bahrain. It was an impressive comeback, especially as it involved multiple countries and continents.

“It’s always challenging when we are facing the unknown. To be able to push through the pandemic doing events in Europe, more than any promotion, and establishing the Kombat Kingdom here in Bahrain is always a blessing,” Shahid said, speaking about the work him and his team undertook to get BRAVE CF up and running again.

The world may not be back to normal, but BRAVE CF appears to have found its groove. The company is regularly signing fresh talent as well as announcing new events. It will be interesting to see where BRAVE CF finds itself by the time BRAVE CF 100 comes around.

Muhammad Mokaev: I Beat All The Top Guys

Muhammad MokaevMuhammad Mokaev is undoubtedly one of the most promising prospects in all of MMA right now. The undefeated fighter is set to face Abdul Hussein on March 25th, at Brave CF 49. Mokaev currently holds a 4-0 professional record. However, he also holds an extraordinary 23-0 amateur record, with wins over high-level opposition. Abdul Hussein […]

Muhammad Mokaev

Muhammad Mokaev is undoubtedly one of the most promising prospects in all of MMA right now.

The undefeated fighter is set to face Abdul Hussein on March 25th, at Brave CF 49.

Mokaev currently holds a 4-0 professional record. However, he also holds an extraordinary 23-0 amateur record, with wins over high-level opposition. Abdul Hussein will be Mokaev’s toughest test to date, with the Finnish flyweight holding 7 wins and only 1 loss on his record.

Mokaev recently took the time to sit down with LowKick MMA’s Frank Bonada, to discuss his upcoming fight, as well as his future in both Brave CF and the UFC.

Still only 20 years old, Mokaev has aspirations of becoming the youngest UFC champion of all time. Despite this, he still wishes to climb the rankings at Brave CF first. However, Mokaev see’s a UFC debut appearing in the not so distant future.

“This is my dream. There is a lot of money involved at the moment. With other organisations like Brave for example. But I’m not chasing money, I want to chase my dream. I want to chase my dream and I’ve got three and a half years to achieve this dream. So hopefully, maybe early next year you will see me there.”

Whilst Mokaev is currently focused on his career at Brave, he believes he is already at the level of the UFC flyweight elite.

When asked if he beleives he can stack up to the UFC elite, Mokaev had the following to say:

“Of course. Of course. I sparred, for example, with Jose Torres yesterday. Who was in the UFC. I’m not saying who won these rounds, but you maybe ask him. You can ask him… But sparring is sparring. Fighting is fighting. But you can ask him, can Mokaev be in top flyweight. I believe he will say yes. I spar with many guys around the world. I go to Tiger Muay-Thai a lot, and I see bantamweights. For example, I sparred with Petr Yan and these guys, and I believe I beat many top guys. Not even many, all of them.”

Mokaev also spoke about his upcoming fight with Hussein. Hussein will be Mokaev’s most experienced foe to date.

The young prospect does not believe that the Finn has the skillset required to best him. He stated the following:

“If you look at his record, I will be his toughest opponent. And I’ve had tougher opponents I believe. Yes, he did win world champions senior in IMMAF in 2016 in Las Vegas. And he has like 9-0 amateur. So it’s actually like similar careers. But the experience level is different. I did grapple with him in Tiger Muay-Thai in 2020. January actually. And he knows what’s up.”

“I believe I will stop him.”

Mokaev believes that his extensive amateur career, which saw him go on a 23 fight undefeated streak, has him better prepared than any other fighter in his division.

“In Brave, I’ve had good opponents so far. So I had 0-0, Glenn McVeigh. I had had Jamie Kelly, 3-0. And now we’ve got 7-1, so I’m always ahead. They have more experience in professional, but the amateur career behind me is way higher than them combined.“

Muhammad Mokaev will fight Abdul Hussein on March 25th. Will you be watching? Let us know in the comments.

Video: BRAVE CF 47 Produces Wild KO’s And A Stunning Comeback

BRAVE CF kicked off its Kombat Kingdom series this week, with BRAVE CF 47 laying down the gauntlet for the next three shows. The 10-card bout was filled with brutal KO’s, stunning submissions, and an impressive comeback. The most notable was a walk-away KO by Abdul-Azim Badakhshi, who sent Agshin Babayev crashing to the canvas […]

BRAVE CF kicked off its Kombat Kingdom series this week, with BRAVE CF 47 laying down the gauntlet for the next three shows. The 10-card bout was filled with brutal KO’s, stunning submissions, and an impressive comeback.

The most notable was a walk-away KO by Abdul-Azim Badakhshi, who sent Agshin Babayev crashing to the canvas with a devasting right hook in the final stages of the opening round of their featherweight clash. It was an impressive performance from the Afghan fighter, making only his second appearance inside the BRAVE CF cage.

On a normal night, Badakhshi would have no competition for bragging rights around the best stoppage of the night. However, only two bouts prior India’s Mohammed Farhad defeated Pakistan’s Uloomi Karim with a jaw-dropping straight right, stopping his opponent right in his tracks.

Kyrgyzstan’s Nemat Abdrashitov scored the ‘comeback of the night’ after finishing Russia’s Anzor Abdukhozhaev via second-round TKO. The 29-year-old found himself in dangerous waters half-way through the second-round after Abdukhozhaev appeared to lock in a game-winning ninja-choke. However, Abdrashitov was able to escape the Russian’s clutches and fire back with a powerful right hook, leading to his victory.

In the evening’s main event, Kyrgyzstan’s Abdisalam Kubanychbek racked up a comprehensive win over Rolando Dy of the Philippines. Kubanychbek’s offense overpowered Dy, with the former UFC fighter’s corner throwing in the towel at the end of the second. The win means that Kubanychbek’s next bout will be for the BRAVE CF lightweight strap, currently held by Amin Ayoub. Still, Ayoub will first need to retain his title when the 25-year-old defends his strap against Egypt’s Ahmed Amir in the co-main event of BRAVE CF 50.

Here are the full Results for BRAVE CF 47: Asian Domination

  • Lightweight: Abdisalam Kubanychbek def. Rolando Dy via TKO (corner stoppage) – Between Rounds 2 and 3.
  • Featherweight: Tae Kyun Kim def. Husein Kadimagomaev by TKO – Round 3
  • Super Welterweight: Nursulton Ruziboev def. Ibrahim Mane via knockout (slam) – Round 1
  • Catchweight (68 kg): Nemat Abdrashitov def. Anzor Abdukhozhaev by TKO – Round 2
  • Featherweight: Abdul-Azim Badakhshi def. Agshin Babayev via KO – Round 1
  • Flyweight: Ryskulbek Ibraimov def. Jenel Lausa by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
  • Bantamweight: Mohammed Farhad def. Uloomi Karim by knockout – Round 2
  • Catchweight (63 kg): Ali Guliev def. Rana Rudra by TKO – 1m34s – Round 1
  • Amateur Flyweight: Mohammed Zuhair def. Wissam Sandakli via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2
  • Amateur Lightweight: Hussain Muhammad def. Raymond Rizk by TKO – Round 2