Erko Jun fulfils the biggest goal of his career, eyes Kingdom of Bahrain as site of his first title defense for BRAVE CF
Sep 29, 2024
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The main event of BRAVE CF 88 saw Erko Jun being crowned as the new BRAVE CF Light Heavyweight champion and for Jun, winning the title marked the completion of his legacy and the fulfilment of his biggest career goal. Jun, who transitioned from bodybuilding to MMA, had a difficult childhood, spending time in refugee camps before combat sports and fitness changed his life. After achieving success as a bodybuilder, he shifted to MMA and became a social media star, building his brand and securing lucrative endorsement deals. However, the one thing missing from his career was an MMA world title, a goal he finally achieved with his dominant performance against Alexander Wesner at BRAVE CF 88.
Throughout the four rounds, Jun controlled the fight. While he is known for his early finishes and flashy style, this time he adopted a more calculated approach. In the first round, he attacked Wesner with powerful leg kicks and maintained a cautious strategy in the second round. By the third, he began pressing for the finish, and his leg kicks paid off in the fourth round, allowing him to secure the victory and claim the title. “We knew that Alexander Wesner was a tough opponent. He can take some punches, he doesn’t give up, and he was fighting smart, so we did not want to take unnecessary risks,” Jun explained about his strategy. After the fight, Jun reflected on how he silenced critics who had doubted his transition from bodybuilding to MMA. "Seven years ago, when I started my MMA career, people were laughing at me. They are not laughing now. This fitness guy, this bodybuilder, is now a world champion. Look at me now,” he added. Having cemented his place in BRAVE CF history, Jun expressed his desire for a quick return to the cage and announced his readiness to defend his title in Bahrain in December. He called out Mohamed Said Maalem, who recently won at BRAVE CF 86 in Bulgaria. "I have one name. Mohamed Said, you said I’m easy work. Let’s fight again in December. I’m ready. Let’s go. I want to fight in Bahrain,” Jun concluded. BRAVE CF 88, held on September 28 in Slovenia in association with WFC, was the biggest MMA event in Slovenian history, setting multiple records. The co- main event saw Pavel Dailidko crowned as the inaugural BRAVE CF Heavyweight champion.