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Is BRAVE CF 63 the home to a Super Welterweight unofficial 'grand-prix'?
Oct 15, 2022
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BRAVE Combat Federation fans will be spoilt for choice when BRAVE CF 63 rocks the Kingdom of Bahrain on October 19th. An electric card will include two huge Super Welterweight bouts as number-two ranked Ismail Naurdiev faces number-three ranked Marcin Bandel for the vacant title, while the main card features a duel between number-four ranked Kamal Magomedov fight number-five ranked Olli Santalahti for further honors in the division.
But is there perhaps more to this than what meets the eye? Have the BRAVE CF matchmakers produced a Super Welterweight Grand Prix, with two semi-final bouts - if you may - under the guise of a ‘title fight’ and a ‘number-one contender’ matchup?
It’s only rankings on paper that separate these four gladiators as they’re all equally ready to fight for a title shot with all of them coming off a win. Naurdiev is riding a two-fight win streak with one of those wins coming against the number-one ranked Nordic Middleweight, Santalahti who lost via unanimous decision to the ‘Austrian Wonderboy’ at BRAVE CF 54.
In his next bout, Naurdiev produced an emphatic TKO victory over Kyrgyzstan's Bekten Zheenbekov at BRAVE CF 59, and then cut a memorable promo demanding a shot at the title. He now lines-up against Poland’s Bandel who has not set a foot wrong in the 175-pound division with two BRAVE CF wins in as many fights as he looks to make it a hat-trick and the perfect run to the golden strap.
Earlier in the evening, the dangerous Magomedov take on the Finn, Santalahti. Number four-ranked Magomedov made a big statement in his BRAVE CF debut last November when he beat Russia’s Vitaly Tverdokhlebov via armbar within one minute of the first round. The Gladius Gym athlete is riding high on confidence post that fight not only because of the result but also due to the fact that he signed with BRAVE CF off the back of a successful Titan FC Welterweight Championship bout reiterating his quick rise in the BRAVE CF rankings.
Magomedov is unbeaten in his professional career and one more win almost guarantees a shot with the winner between Naurdiev and Bandel. He will first have to deal with BRAVE CF 2021 ‘Fight of the Year’ recipient, Santalahti. For ‘’The Amazing’’, it could be the perfect opportunity for him to break Magomedov’s unbeaten streak and shoot himself to a title fight.
Should both Santalahti and Naurdiev win their respective fights on the night, it could set up the ultimate rematch and the perfect opportunity for the Finn to avenge his loss against the Austrian. In truth, any combinations between four of the best Super Welterweights on the planet means an electric fight. Roll-on Wednesday evening!
