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MMA Rivals to Friends: Jose Torres Bids Farewell as Nkosi Ndebele Exits BRAVE CF
Apr 02, 2025
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Few rivalries in mixed martial arts encapsulate both competition and respect as much as the trilogy between Jose ‘Shorty’ Torres and Nkosi Ndebele. With the news of Ndebele’s departure from BRAVE Combat Federation, Torres took to social media to extend his well wishes to his longtime adversary, highlighting the camaraderie they developed through their shared history.
Torres’ message, accompanied by a video of the two shaking hands and taking pictures together after their third fight, read: “Win, lose, or draw. We both have always shown respect not just to each other, but to the game. We created history! Best of skill on your next journey!”
Their trilogy was one for the history books, marking the first time in MMA that three fights between the same two competitors took place on three different continents. Their rivalry was built around the pursuit of the BRAVE CF Bantamweight Championship, beginning with their first clash at BRAVE CF 73 on August 12, 2023, in Bogota, Colombia. That night, Torres edged out a split-decision victory to claim the then-vacant title.
However, Ndebele exacted his revenge at BRAVE CF 80 on December 15, 2023, in Isa Town, Bahrain, when Torres retired during the third round, crowning Ndebele as the new bantamweight champion. Their trilogy was completed at BRAVE CF 82 on May 11, 2024, in Cote d'Or, Mauritius, where Ndebele secured a unanimous decision victory to cement his place as the better man in their series.
Between the three battles, Torres and Ndebele shared nearly 13 grueling rounds inside the BRAVE CF cage. Each fight was a testament to their skills, determination, and warrior spirit. Despite their competitive fire, the two have always carried themselves with mutual respect, recognizing the legacy they built together and as individuals in the organization.
Since their last encounter, Torres has moved down to flyweight and made an appearance in RIZIN, while Ndebele attempted to defend his title against Nicholas Hwende in the first-ever BRAVE CF main event to feature two African fighters. However, Ndebele fell short in that contest before the confirmation of his departure from BRAVE CF.
Regardless of where Ndebele lands next, one thing is certain - his rivalry with Torres helped define his BRAVE CF career, just as Torres’ own journey was shaped by their battles. As Torres expressed in his heartfelt message, their competitive legacy is cemented in history, and he wishes his former foe nothing but success in the future.
With Ndebele moving on, the MMA world will be watching closely to see where ‘The King of Many Nations’ takes his talents next. BRAVE CF joins the many supporters in wishing Nkosi Ndebele well in future endeavors.
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