The first BRAVE Combat Federation event in Bulgaria, BRAVE CF 86, met expectations by delivering thrilling fights to the enthusiastic fans present at the arena in Burgas and to viewers worldwide. Here are the detailed BRAVE CF 86 Results.
In the headline bout, Mohammed Said Maalem bounced back impressively from his defeat at BRAVE CF 81 by defeating Bulgarian veteran Atanas Djambazov in the third round. The initial round witnessed a showdown of strength as both competitors vied for control. Djambazov began to display signs of tiredness in the second round but persisted in fending off Said Maalem's assaults. Nonetheless, in the third round, Said Maalem seized the opportunity presented by Djambazov's fatigue and secured a victory.
In the co-main event of BRAVE Combat Federation, Alex Lohoré secured his second consecutive first-round victory by defeating Bulgaria's Jivko Stoimenov. Lohoré sealed the win with a devastating uppercut that sent Stoimenov to the canvas, prompting the referee to step in after Lohoré continued with a series of strikes. Post-match, Lohoré revealed his desire for a Super Welterweight title opportunity and deliberated on the prospect of challenging Kamal Magomedov.
The intense battle between Pavel Vladev and Christian Mach turned out to be quite eventful. Vladev initially aimed for a quick victory, but Mach's grappling expertise thwarted his efforts. Despite coming close to a ground-and-pound stoppage at the end of the first round, Vladev ran out of time. A similar scenario unfolded in the second round, but this time Vladev clinched the win with ground and pound just moments before the round concluded, extending his winning streak to six matches.
Khamzat Maaev made a successful return to form by securing a first-round submission win over Antonio Bushev. Maaev applied constant pressure from the outset, preventing Bushev from launching any significant offense before locking in a triangle choke. This victory marked Maaev's fifth first-round finish in his professional MMA career, showcasing a strong resurgence following his defeat at BRAVE CF 79.
Amateur MMA champion Rusi Minev, who has won six titles, showcased his grappling skills in a dominant professional performance against Christos Tsirimokos, handing Tsirimokos his first defeat in professional MMA. In another bout, Gabriel Gilthon faced Eduard Evdokimov in a catchweight match that pitted a grappler against a striker, with Evdokimov securing a stoppage win in the third round with a powerful liver kick followed by strikes.
The opening fight saw Anton Yanchev securing a first-round submission victory to maintain his undefeated record, marking his third consecutive stoppage win. BRAVE Combat Federation, with its recent event BRAVE CF 86, solidified its position as a leading force in European MMA and as the most globally recognized MMA organization. Upcoming events include BRAVE CF 87 in the Netherlands on September 22, followed by BRAVE CF 88 in Ljubljana, Slovenia, featuring a world title doubleheader just six days later.
BRAVE CF 86 Results
Light Heavyweight: Said Maalem def. Atanas Djambazov via TKO (punches) - 3m15s - Round 3
Super Welterweight - Alex Lohoré def. Jivko Stoimenov via KO (punches) - 4m03s - Round 1
Lightweight: Pavel Vladev def. Christian Mach via TKO (strikes) - 4m50s - Round 2
Super Lightweight: Khamzat Maaev def. Antonio Bushev via submission (triangle choke) - 1m50s - Round 1
Lightweight: Rusi Minev def. Christos Tsirimokos via unanimous decision (3x 30-27)
Catchweight 68kg - Eduard Evdokimov def. Gabriel Gilthon via TKO (Strikes) - 2m59s - Round 3
Lightweight: Anton Yanchev def. Patryk Krzak via submission (rear-naked choke) - 2m47s - Round 1