Brave Combat Federation has landed in Alkmaar in the Netherlands for Brave CF 83, where a trio of promotional debutants are bidding to make huge statements on their first appearances inside the Brave CF cage.
Headlining the event is a battle at the sharp end of the promotion’s 175-pound super-welterweight division, as former champion Marcin Bandel takes on promotional newcomer, and seasoned European MMA contender, Alex Lohore.
It’s a matchup that could propel the winner towards a shot at the super-welterweight title, and Brave CF play-by-play commentator Phil Campbell highlighted the stakes as he chatted with me ahead of fight night in Holland.
“It’s an interesting fight for a number of reasons.” he explained.
“You have Bandel, who is an exquisite practitioner of Brazilian jiu-jitsu. He has 20 wins by submission, with 19 of them coming in the very first round, and he is the former Brave CF super-welterweight champion.
“But, with a big win over Bandel, Lohore can really push himself to the front of the queue for title contention.”
It’s a matchup that, on paper, pits a lethal submission specialist against a man who prefers to get the job done on the feet. Fight analyst Kirik Jenness, who will be part of Brave CF’s commentary team on fight night, broke down the challenge for both men, and shared a thinly-veiled prediction for the bout.
“Mixed martial arts was born from Brazilian jiu-jitsu, but BJJ has headed off in some odd, donkey-guard, directions,” he grinned.
“But, even back in the day, the great Carlson Gracie Jr. said, ‘Punch a black belt in the face, he becomes a brown belt. Punch him again – purple.’ But if you punch Marcin Bandel in the face, he’s going to break your leg.
“So we’re looking at a man who has a nearly unprecedented number of submissions in the sport, against a man who has never been tapped. This is a classic immovable object against an unstoppable force.
“My prediction? Heel hook – and we know who it’s going to come from.”
Brave CF
The shadow of “King Kong”
Whoever gets the victory on Saturday in Alkmaar could be rewarded with a bout against one of the most destructive rising stars in the promotion. Congolese contender Eliezer “King Kong” Kubanza staked his claim for a fight against Saturday’s winner, and had some pointed words for promotional new boy Lohore.
Kubanza may not be competing in the Netherlands this weekend, but his presence will be felt, according to Campbell.
“The shadow of Eliezer Kubanza looms heavy over this fight,” he stated.
“Speaking to Kubanza last week in Mauritius, he said that he wants to face the winner of this fight, and firmly believes that he has what it takes to beat either man and really cement his position as one of the top contenders in this super-welterweight division.”
A world champion makes his debut
The night’s other big debut will see former Muay Thai world champion Youssef Boughanem step into the Brave CF cage for the first time. The Belgian, who is 1-0 in professional MMA, will take on Saad Touijar in a 159-pound/72kg catchweight matchup after his original opponent, Anando Amoksi, was forced off the card.
To say he has extensive credentials in the striking arts would be putting it mildly, as Campbell laid out some of Boughanem’s career highlights.
“He’s a multiple-time Muay Thai world champion, with 168 wins in Muay Thai, and 120 by way of KO or TKO,” he said.
“He’s a former Lumpinee Stadium champion, a former WBC Muay Thai champion, a former IBF Muay Thai champion – more world championships than you can shake a stick at. The man has more belts than your favourite department store!
“He has unbelievable credentials in Muay Thai, and now he’s making the transition to MMA. Will it be a favourable, successful transition? There’s only one way to find out!”
A new record
The event will also see new records set by the promotion, as Campbell explained.
“It’s also worth noting that this is the 14th European country that Brave CF will be visiting, eclipsing any other record set by any other promotion,” he said.
“Not only that, I believe we will have the 89th different country represented inside the Brave CF cage, when Noach Blyden makes his debut in the co-main event.
“The big man from Suriname will represent the 89th country to be featured inside the Brave CF cage. Absolutely huge, absolutely historic.”
Brave CF 83: Main card
- Marcin Bandel vs. Alex Lohore
- Noach Blyden vs. Oskar Herczyk
- Youssef Boughanem vs. Saad Touijar
- Muhammad Idrisov vs. Zaka Fatuullazade
- Chequina Noso Pedro vs. Ali Isajew
