Two veterans from their respective nations, Bharat and Zia enter the fight with contrasting storylines but similar motivations in what is set to be a historic bout in sports - this will be the first time an MMA fight between an Indian fighter and a Pakistani opponent takes place on Pakistani soil.
Bharat Khandare, one of the pioneering MMA fighters from India, is making his return to BRAVE CF after a seven-year hiatus. A former regional MMA champion, Bharat debuted with the promotion at BRAVE CF 5 and fought once more after that. After stepping away from the sport for various reasons, he is now back in the most global MMA organization, aiming to defend India’s honour in the India vs. Pakistan showdown.
Bharat is not only seeking a victory for India on Pakistani soil but also looking to stage the greatest comeback in the history of Indian MMA.
Zia Mashwani, on the other hand, enters the fight following a recent win on the regional circuit. Notably, Zia's professional MMA career began after Bharat's last fight. The Pakistani fighter has already competed four times in BRAVE CF, facing notable opponents like Nkosi Ndebele and Abdullah Al-Qahtani.
As Zia prepares for his fifth fight in BRAVE Combat Federation, he carries the responsibility of defending Pakistan’s home turf.
In addition to the Bharat vs. Zia showdown, BRAVE CF 85 will feature another India vs. Pakistan matchup, with Srikant Sekhar from India facing Rizwan Ali in the co-main event.