Belarus star Denis Maher draws new opponent, takes on Fernando Gonzalez at BRAVE CF 51

BRAVE Combat Federation, the only truly global mixed martial arts promotion in the world for hosting live events in 20+ countries, has just announced that Giannis Bachar of Greece has withdrawn from his three-round Super Welterweight bout against hometown hero Denis Maher in the co-headliner of BRAVE CF 51: The Future Is Here. The historic card is set to take place at the state-of-the-art Falcon Club Arena in Minsk, Belarus on June 4th.

Stepping in for Bachar is Sweden’s Fernando Gonzalez, a submission specialist who owns a 9-2 professional record with five victories by way of tapout. It will be the 29-year-old veteran’s debut on the sport’s global stage after plying his trade in the European circuit for almost a decade. A product of the world-renowned Allstars Training Center, he trains with a handful of outstanding athletes, including Alexander "The Mauler" Gustafsson, Ilir "The Sledgehammer" Latifi and former BRAVE CF standout Khamzat "Borz" Chimaev.

Welcoming Gonzalez in BRAVE CF is fellow debutant Denis Maher, an undefeated prospect from Belarus who has a perfect 7-0 slate with four wins by submission and two via knockout. The Minsk-based phenom is coming off a spectacular 2020, making quick work of his first assignment last year courtesy of a first-round submission and then following it up with a second-round stoppage victory.

Maher and Gonzalez are the latest additions to the organization’s talent-filled Super Welterweight division that was recently beefed up with the signings of Axel Sola, Kamal Magomedov, Andreas Stahl, Nursulton Ruziboev, Luis Felipe Dias, and Vadim Kutsyi, who will also be in action on June 4th.

BRAVE CF 51: The Future Is Here, the organization’s first-ever venture on Belarusian soil, will be held in association with Rukh Sports Management, and is headlined by a Lightweight clash between Brazil’s very own Lucas “Mineiro” Martins and German rising star Marcel Grabinski.