BRAVE Combat Federation made a historic return to Pakistan on Sunday night with BRAVE CF 85 in Lahore, marking the first-ever India vs. Pakistan MMA fights in the country.
In the Featherweight main event, Kazakhstan’s Rauan Bekbolat delivered the biggest upset of the evening by submitting Omar Solomanov in the third round, ending the Ukrainian’s 11-fight winning streak. Bekbolat, who secured a guillotine choke to get the win, became the new number one contender in the Featherweight division and extended his own winning streak to five fights.
The co-main event featured an intense India vs. Pakistan showdown between Srikant Sekhar and Rizwan Ali. Srikant controlled much of the first two rounds with top position, while Rizwan countered with strikes from the bottom and two submission attempts in the second round. Both fighters appeared fatigued in the third round, but Rizwan managed to drop Srikant with a powerful right hand, securing the victory. Srikant was carried out on a stretcher as Rizwan celebrated inside the cage.
Eliezer Kubanza earned his third consecutive first-round finish in BRAVE CF by knocking out Salamat Orozakunov with heavy punches. After the fight, Kubanza, who remained undefeated and extended his record to 6-0, expressed his desire to face Alex Lohoré next.
In the first-ever India vs. Pakistan MMA fight on Pakistani soil, Zia Mashwani submitted Indian MMA veteran Bharat Khandare in the first round. Mashwani was aggressive from the start, locking in a triangle choke after a scramble, securing his place in history.
Ismail Khan made a strong debut in BRAVE CF by submitting Kazakh World Wrestling Championship medallist Bagylan Zahakansha in the second round. Following his win, Ismail called…
