Ismail Naurdiev will be making his return to the BRAVE CF Super Welterweight division at BRAVE CF 81 in search of another shot at the world title, hoping third time’s the charm for him. Following two failed shots at the 175-pound crown, Naurdiev has reinvented himself at Middleweight, and is now ready to return to his original weight-class in search of that elusive belt.
Naurdiev will be fighting Brazil’s Luiz Cado in the co-main event of BRAVE CF 81, in a bout that has Fight of The Night honors written all over it. Two of the finest strikers in the division, Naurdiev and Cado have that fan-friendly style that is likely to translate into an all-time classic.
Ahead of the fight, Luiz Cado initiated a war of words and claimed that he will make his opponent quit. Cado also questioned Naurdiev's heart and says that his willingness to go all-out will bring him the victory in what is likely to become a number one contender's bout for Kamal Magomedov's world title. ‘The Austrian Wonderboy’, however, is unfazed by the threat from Cado and noted that he has faced tougher opponents in the past, laughing off the suggestion that he will quit.
“No pressure, nothing because, obviously, the opponents that he had, they were different. They were not on my level. I had much crazier fighters, opponents than him. I had a lot of tough fighters in my career, that’s why nothing surprises me anymore,” Naurdiev said.
And at BRAVE CF 81, Naurdiev is set on reminding the world of his own greatness and toughness, traits that made him one of the youngest BRAVE CF world title challengers in recent memory, as well as one of the finest strikers in the world - that despite having a Wrestling background.
“To be honest, I am looking forward to this fight. I think he also likes to fight in standup so it's going to be a good fight. Also of course he is tough, he is a very tough guy, he is from Brazil so almost every
Brazilian guy is tough but I am from Chechnya, I’m tough too,” he added.
BRAVE CF 81 takes place at the Hala Tivoli Arena, in Ljubljana, Slovenia, in association with WFC on April 20. The event will be headlined by a Light Heavyweight showdown between Erko Jun and Mohammed Said Maalem, a fight which also has title implications, with the winner likely to be in line for the vacant 205-pound belt.