BRAVE CF, the self-proclaimed only truly global MMA promotion in the world, is set to return on Friday for an exciting seven-fight main card emanating from Khalifa Sports City Arena in Isa Town, Bahrain. Bahrain, of course, is where the promotion is based, and given BRAVE CF’s history for delivering exciting shows toward the end of a calendar year, fight fans should be in for a good one.
The show is set to be headlined by “The Austrian Wonder Boy” Ismail Naurdiev moving up to middleweight to take on Tahar Hadbi out of France.
Fight fans can catch BRAVE CF 79 streaming live on DAZN beginning at 10 a.m. ET/7 a.m. PT.
Main Event — Hadbi vs. Naurdiev
Naurdiev has shown promise and potential throughout stints competing in both Europe and the UFC, but one vital hole in his game has continually been exposed: his grappling. A shocking upset to Chance Rencountre in the UFC eventually led to his release from the promotion, and Naurdiev tried unsuccessfully to capture super welterweight gold in BRAVE CF, dropping the fight to Marcin Bandel by way of first-round armbar. Another first-round finish has led Naurdiev to move up to the middleweight division. Whether or not this aids him in his deficiency will be determined, but one thing Naurdiev has always had going for him is his power and flashy ability on the feet. Will this be compromised fighting up a weight class?
He will be taking on a game fighter in Hadbi, who is one of a handful of French fighters moving up in the world as of late. However, given the fact that he is 36 and coming off a pair of defeats means the promotion could be looking at this fight as a get-right spot for Naurdiev. Granted, Hadbi is not a fighter that can be overlooked, as he owns knockouts in eight of 14 career victories, and Naurdiev is coming off being knocked out in the first round himself.
Rest of the Card
The co-main event will see Pavel Dalidko of Lithuania meet Janos Csukas of Hungary in the heavyweight division. BRAVE CF is quickly becoming known for producing name heavyweights to keep an eye on, with Shamil Gaziev recently earning his way into the UFC and former Olympic standout Rasul Magomedov also set to compete on this card. Whether Dalidko or Csukas can measure up to that level remains to be seen, but fans should be in for a barnburner as both men have yet to see the judges’ scorecards in their careers.
The show is littered with prospects with minor momentum who will undoubtedly have a chance to raise their stock with emphatic victories. One of those names is Eliezer Kubanza out of Congo (4-0). He’ll be taking on Adel Ibrahim (3-0) out of Lebanon in the super welterweight division. Both fighters will have a huge opportunity to take one step closer to putting their respective nations on the MMA map.
David Forster is also scheduled to compete on Friday against Mohammadseifi Mohsen. The 4-0 Slovenian is returning to BRAVE CF after a third-round finish over Nemanja Nikolić back in April, and he’s shown a ton of promise early in his career. He meets a fighter in Mohsen who poses plenty of problems with his hands, and is coming off three consecutive knockout victories.
For up-to-the-minute results and updates from BRAVE CF 79, be sure to stay locked into MMA Sucka!
BRAVE CF 79 Results
Main Card
Ismail Naurdiev def. Tahar Hadbi via Submission (Standing Guillotine) at 1:11 of Round 1
Pavel Dailidko def. Janos Csukas via TKO (Injury) at :14 of Round 1
Eliezer Kubanza def. Adel Ibrahim via Knockout (Left Straight) at 3:40 of Round 1
Nika Kupravishvili def. Khamzat Maaev via TKO (Ground and Pound) at 4:35 of Round 2
Rasul Magomedov def. Farshedi Shamsidin via TKO (Ground and Pound) at 3:39 of Round 1
Mohammadseifi Mohsen def. David Forster via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Chequina Noso Pedro def. Dhzokhar Duraev via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
