Slovenia is set to host the biggest MMA event in Europe as BRAVE Combat Federation returns for BRAVE CF 88 tonight and the event will mark the rise of MMA as the new national sport of the European nation.
Since its debut in Slovenia in 2020 with BRAVE CF 34, BRAVE Combat Federation, in partnership with Slovenia’s leading promotion WFC and the Slovenian MMA Federation, has worked to establish a new era of MMA in the country.
The first event featured top international fighters such as Benoit St. Denis, Phil Hawes, Zach Makovsky, and Velimurad Alkhasov, alongside local talent like Luka Podkrajšek and Monika Kučinič, setting the foundation for the sport’s growth in Slovenia.
With the event, BRAVE CF played a crucial role in engaging local media, government bodies, and private companies, while supporting the Slovenian MMA Federation’s integration into the IMMAF ecosystem to foster grassroots development. The organization returned in 2023 with BRAVE CF 70, which was met with strong support from Slovenian fans and media, attracting global attention for fighters like Erko Jun, Pavel Dailidko, and David Forster.
The success of BRAVE CF 70 led to the addition of two more events in Slovenia in 2024, starting with BRAVE CF 81 in April. Like the earlier events, BRAVE CF 81 featured top international and local fighters, proving to be a resounding success story, including the rise of European superstar Erko Jun, an ‘’adopted’’ son of Slovenian MMA, adored by the local fans, as the number one contender for the vacant Light Heavyweight world title.
Now, BRAVE CF 88 promises to be a historic event for both Slovenian and European MMA. The card includes two title fights: Jun battles German national champion Alexander Wesner for the Light Heavyweight belt; while Lithuanian powerhouse Pavel Dailidko faces Patryk Dubiela from Poland for the Heavyweight crown.
The show will also feature some of the top Slovenian fighters developed by BRAVE CF and WFC, such as Monika Kučinič, Luka Podkrajšek, Miha Frlic, and Domen Drnovsek, as they continue their developments, with the likes of Monika already seen as one of the top European fighters in her weight-class.
The event will strengthen the partnership between BRAVE CF, WFC, and the Slovenian MMA Federation, reaffirming Slovenia as a prime destination for MMA in the region. BRAVE CF 88 is part of the organization’s 70-day world tour, which has already visited China, Pakistan, and Bulgaria, with future events planned in the Netherlands, Slovenia, and Spain.
Roberto Villa is the CEO, Founder, Executive Writer, Senior Editor of FightBook MMA. Has a passion for Combat Sports and also a podcast host for Sitting Ringside. He’s also a former MMA fighter and Kickboxer.
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