It’s a rarity when the weekend of competitive violence doesn’t come to a close after Saturday night, but that’s just what’s on the menu this time around. It might as well be a breakfast menu, too. After UFC 305 wraps up from Perth on Saturday, MMA fans will want to get a good night’s sleep because there are more fights to watch over scrambled eggs and toast on Sunday morning.
A week removed from Brave CF‘s start to a packed slate of six cards in 70 days that sees the promotion well into the fall, it returns for the second of three straight weeks with events. This Sunday, they’ll touch down in Lahore, Pakistan for Brave CF 85.
Live coverage of the card begins at 10 am ET/ 7 am PT on DAZN. Those of you in the Pacific and Mountain time zones are advised to set your alarms for an early wake-up call Sunday. All told, barring any late adjustments to the card, the final version of Brave CF 84 features 10 bouts ahead of next week’s trek to Bulgaria for Brave CF 86.
Featherweight Action Focus of Brave CF 85 Main Event
Highlighting the card’s itinerary Sunday is a nontitle showcase at 145 lbs. in the Brave CF 85 main event. Omar Solomonov (12-2 MMA, 3-0 Brave) meets up with Rauan Bekbolat (9-3-2 MMA, Brave promotional debut.)
With no belt at stake on Sunday morning, the Brave CF 85 main event is an advertised maximum of three rounds at five minutes per round to close out the day and weekend’s activities.
🚨 #BRAVECF85 Official Poster & Co-main revealed 🇵🇰
Pakistan MMA sensation takes on Indian veteran Srikant Sekhar in only the 3rd Pakistan vs India fight in BRAVE CF history🔥
Whose side are you on? 🇵🇰 or 🇮🇳?
📍Lahore, Pakistan
📆 August 18, 2024[#BRAVECF #MMA #BeBRAVE] pic.twitter.com/UzFxvlZfBh
— BRAVE Combat Federation (@bravemmaf) August 5, 2024
Brave CF 85 Main Event Fighter Comparison and Betting Odds
Heading into Sunday’s Brave CF 85 main event, Rauan Bekbolat stands as the taller man at six feet even, compared to the 5-foot-9 frame of Omar Solomonov. Bekbolat owns a 72.8-inch reach, with no such information accessible for Solomonov at press time.
Currently, the oddsmakers have Omar Solomonov installed as a -275 favorite on the money line, while Rauan Bekbolat counters as a +200 underdog. If you plan on betting on this or any other fight happening this weekend in MMA and/or combat sports, please wager responsibly.
Solomonov Returns for First Time in 14 Months
Omar Solomonov enters the Brave CF 85 main event on Sunday morning having posted an undefeated 5-0 record in his last five fights. At present, he’s on an 11-fight winning streak dating back to December of 2016.
Last time out, he scored a unanimous decision victory after three rounds over Ilyar Askhanov (13-6 MMA, 2-2 Brave) during the Brave CF 71 main event in June of last year. While Solomonov’s winning streak is certainly most impressive, spanning nearly eight years’ time, taking more than a year between fights when he’s on that streak could be a concern?
What kind of a training camp has Solomonov had ahead of this main event? Will he be able to overcome the ring rust he’s accumulated over the past 14 months? Wake up to tune in for the Brave CF 85 main event on Sunday morning and find out.
Bekbolat Seeks to Impress in Brave CF 84 Main Event
In the other corner, Rauan Bekbolat has posted a mark of 4-1 in his last five fights. At the moment, he’s won four contests in succession.
Back in May, he scored a second-round knockout (ground and pound shots from back mount) over Ilmiyamin Dzhvatov (7-7 MMA). It’s always a boon to a fighter’s psyche to go on an unbeaten run during his or her career. It’s an even bigger plus when said run occurs ahead of the fighter’s promotional debut, which is what’s happened to Bekbolat.
As the old adage goes, “You never get a second chance to make a first impression.” Will Bekbolat’s first impression in Brave be a successful one this Sunday?
Analysis, Film Study and Prediction
With both of these fighters coming in on winning streaks, expect the Brave CF 84 main event to be a good scrap.
Watch Solomonov’s Fists
Statistically speaking, Omar Solomonov has won eight fights by way of knockout. When he gains control of the fight through his punches, like he did vs. Konmon Deh in 2020, it can be a sight to behold.
During the second round of the contest, after Solomonov already teed off with powerful strikes at the end of round one, he just went right back to work, teeing off on his opponent with brutal shots and bloodying his nose.
A barrage of punches to the head against the cage fence forced the referee to mercifully call an end to the bout. If Solomonov lands punches in bunches, his day at the office is going to be a short one on Sunday.
Bekbolat Can Finish the Assignment in Expedient Fashion
In the other corner, Rauan Bekbolat knows a thing or two about punching in and punching out at work. One need look no further than his 2019 fight in Alash Pride versus Alexander Volodin.
Upon putting Volodin in the clinch, Bekbolat scored with a body kick before breaking free and landing a punch to the head to put him on the canvas. A single follow-up punch was all Bekbolat needed to put Volodin away for good.
All it’ll take for Rauan Bekbolat to have a successful Brave CF debut is for one punch to land square and true. If he lands the first punch of the Brave CF 85 main event, it could be game, set, and match right then and there.
Final Thoughts
A Sunday matinee of MMA is a rare treat. You know what has to be done after you get up: Brew the coffee, make your breakfast and enjoy the fights.
Prediction: Omar Solomonov by Second-Round TKO.
