Kazakhstani debutant Rauan Bekbolat stepped into the BRAVE CF cage and produced a superb come-from-behind performance to score a shock win over Ukrainian featherweight contender Omar Solomonov and catapult himself into contention in the BRAVE CF 145-pound division
Solomonov was due to face champion Nemat Abdrashitov, but injury forced the champion out of the event, with Bekbolat coming in to face the division’s top contender instead.
And, after two rounds that saw Solomonov in dominant form, Bekbolat stunned Solomonov as he snatched up the number-one contender’s neck and locked in a guillotine choke to render his man unconscious just 45 seconds into the third round as he immediately put himself in the frame to face Kyrgyzstani champ Abdrashitov.
Rauan Bekbolat takes the victory on his #BRAVECF debut 💥Submitting the #1 Featherweight contender in the final round 🤯 pic.twitter.com/eSHFIsdVjE
— BRAVE Combat Federation (@bravemmaf) August 18, 2024
After his vitory, Bekbolat admitted it would be tough for him to face his “brother” from a neighbouring nation, but instead implored Abdrashitov to vacate the belt and move onto another global league so he can take over at the top. He later clarified that he definitely wants to fight for the belt next.
The co-main event saw an epic battle between Pakistan and India as Rizwan Ali extended his perfect professional record to 8-0 with a third-round knockout of Srikant Sekhar.
After a strong start from Sehar in the opening round, Ali came storming back in Round 2 to leave the fight on a knife edge heading into the final round.
And in the third round, Ali closed the show with a huge right hand to send the Pakistani fans into raptures on what would prove to be a huge night for PAKMMA.
Rizwan Ali does it again 🤯In an #indiavspakistan showdown 💥#BRAVECF85 #MMA #Pakistan #BeBrave pic.twitter.com/dSsRqD3TAC
— BRAVE Combat Federation (@bravemmaf) August 18, 2024
The night also saw the victorious return to action of the dangerous Congolese contender Eliezer Kubanza, who knocked out Salamat Orozakunov, then issued a warning to divisional rival Alex Lohore.
Earlier in the night, there was a memorable performance from one of Pakistani MMA’s favourite sons, as Ismail “The Volcano” Khan produced a thrilling comeback to submit undefeated Kazakh wrestler Bagylan Zhakansha in the second round of their flyweight matchup
Khan headed into the matchup on the back of his first career loss at ONE Friday Fights 54 as he lost via rear-naked choke. But on home soil, and backed by a raucous crowd, Khan overcame a rough start before eventually turning the tables on the former Greco-Roman world silver medallist and finishing his man with the same technique he lost with last time out, a rear-naked choke.
Ismail Khan takes his home ground VICTORY in a tight RNC 🤯#BRAVECF85 #MMA #Pakistan pic.twitter.com/xde5HGAAy0
— BRAVE Combat Federation (@bravemmaf) August 18, 2024
You can recap the entire event via the video player above.
BRAVE CF 85: Official results
MAIN CARD
- Rauan Bekbolat def. Omar Solomonov via technical submission (guillotine choke) – Round 3, 0:45
- Rizwan Ali def. Srikant Sekhar via knockout (punch) – Round 3, 3:35
- Eliezer Kubanza def. Salamat Orozakunov via knockout (punch) – Round 1, 4:30
- Ismail Khan def. Bagylan Zhakansha via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 2:32
- Lasha Abramishvili def. Magomed Idrisov via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 2:17
- Zia Mashwani def. Bharat Khandare via submission (triangle choke) – Round 1, 2:10
- Marwin Quirante def. Awan Aqib via knockout (front kick) – Round 1, 0:18
- Abbas Khan def. Adham Mohamed via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Murad Guseinov def. Ruslan Serikpulov via TKO (punches) Round 1, 2:49
- Mojtaba Nasiri def. Yuki Angdembe via submission (Von Flue choke) – Round 3, 1:39
