BRAVE Combat Federation is a mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion based in Bahrain. The organization was established on 23 September 2016 by Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa. BRAVE Combat Federation features mixed martial artists from more than 80 nations located in five continents. BRAVE Combat Federation events are aired though multiple media partners including El Rey Network, Combate, Myx TV, S+A ESPN 5 and Bahrain Radio and Television Corporation.
In 2023, BRAVE Combat Federation set a new record for an MMA promotion hosting events in most number of nations after organizing events in 38 nations worldwide.
The organization was formally launched in 2016 and has established operations in Dublin, São Paulo and Mumbai prior to launching events and for talent relations. BRAVE Combat Federation, alongside the holding company, KHK MMA and Bahrain Mixed Martial Arts Federation hosted the IMMAF World Championships in November, 2017, a partnership which was renewed for 2018 and 2019
In July 2021, BRAVE Combat Federation was nominated for the first time as Promotion of the Year on the World MMA Awards. The organization also has global strategic partnerships with fellow fight promoters Real Xtreme Fighting (RXF), Alash Pride FC, LFC, RXF, WEF, WFC, BFN, Krespost, PRO FC, RSM, Golden Cage, Oktagon, GEC, Beast CF, ATF, NFC, Hexagone MMA, Fight2One, and Victorious Fighting and Entertainment.
History
Overview
KHK MMA is a Bahrain based mixed martial arts organization that promotes the growth of mixed martial arts in the region. KHK MMA Fight Team featured fighters from multiple promotions including Khabib Nurmagomedov, Frankie Edgar, Jose Torres and James Gallagher. Coaches and UFC Hall of Famers like Renzo Gracie, John Kavanagh, Bob Schirmer, and Pete Williams were enlisted to work with KHK MMA.
BRAVE Combat Federation was established under KHK MMA. The promotion held its inaugural event, Brave 1: The Beginning took place in Isa Town, Bahrain, on September 23, 2016, a date which coincided with Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa's birthday. During its initial phase, BRAVE CF expanded into markets such as Brazil, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Jordan, and the United Arab Emirates, positioning itself as a promotion focused on global talent development rather than a single-region model. BRAVE CF also hosted the first-ever International Combat Week, in partnership with the IMMAF.
Between 2018 and 2021, BRAVE CF accelerated its international growth by hosting events across Europe, Asia, and Africa. The organization entered new markets including Northern Ireland, Morocco, and Kazakhstan. The promotion emphasized partnerships with local organizations and regulatory bodies to develop MMA ecosystems in host countries. This period also saw an increase in athlete diversity, with fighters representing a wide range of nationalities. The events also showcased the former UFC champion and KHK MMA fighter Frankie Edgar as a color commentator Later, MMA legend and BRAVE ambassador Wanderlei Silva. BRAVE Combat Federation became the first global MMA promotion to host an event in Africa, with BRAVE 14, in Tangier, Morocco, on August 18. The event was hosted under the patronage of King Mohammed VI, the king of Morocco.
BRAVE Combat Federation hosted its first show in Ljubljana, Slovenia in 2020, in partnership with WFC. The organization announced BRAVE CF 35 (Brazil), BRAVE CF 36 (Romania), and BRAVE CF 37 (Sweden). However, the shows were cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic. BRAVE CF returned to action in July, with BRAVE CF 35 and BRAVE CF 36 taking place in Romania, in closed venues. BRAVE CF continued its expansion strategy by increasing the number of host countries and strengthening its presence in Europe and Asia. The organization has also focused on digital distribution and international broadcasting partnerships to expand its global audience reach.
Roster
Rules BRAVE Combat Federation follows the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts that were originally established by the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board and modified by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
After the Association of Boxing Commissions approved the opening of new weight classes, BRAVE announced it would become the first international promotion to introduce a Super Lightweight division, as well as pushing the Welterweight limit to 175 lbs.
Weight divisions and champions
BRAVE Combat Federation has following weight classes: Weight class nameUpper limitCurrent championDate wonTitle Defensesin pounds (lb)in kilograms (kg)Flyweight12556.7 Muhammad MokaevNovember 7, 20250Bantamweight13561.2 Borislav NikolićJune 7, 20250Featherweight14565.8 Nemat AbdrashitovJune 23, 20230Lightweight15570.3 Abdisalam KubanychbekDecember 5, 20233Super Lightweight16574.8 Eldar EldarovApril 19, 20191Welterweight17579.4 Luiz CadoOctober 19, 20240Middleweight18583.9 Mohammad FakhreddineJune 7, 20250Light Heavyweight20593.0 Erko JunSeptember 28, 20240Heavyweight265120.0 Pavel DailidkoSeptember 28, 20242
Championship history
Heavyweight Championship 206 to 265 lbs (93.4 to 120.2 kg) No.NameEventDateReign(total)Defenses 1 Brave CF 88 Sep 28, 2024(incumbent)
Light Heavyweight Championship 186 to 205 lbs (84.3 to 93 kg) No.NameEventDateReign(total)Defenses 1 Klidson Abreu Brave CF 8 Aug 12, 2017 327 daysAbreu vacated his title and parted ways with BRAVE CF on July 5, 2018.2 Brave CF 52 Aug 1, 2021 14 daysSaid Maalem was stripped of the title on August 15, 2021, when his bout with Fakhreddine was overturned to a no contest due to illegal blows to the back of the head.3 Mohammad Fakhreddine Brave CF 57 Mar 11, 2022 105 daysFakhreddine vacated the title on June 24, 2022, when he left the promotion.4 Erko Jun Brave CF 88 Sep 28, 2024 616 days5 Mohamed Said Maalem Brave CF 106 & WFC 30 Jun 6, 2026(incumbent)
Middleweight Championship 176 to 185 lbs (79.8 to 83.9 kg) No.NameEventDateReign(total)Defenses 1 Daniel Souza Pereira Brave CF 31 Dec 7, 2019 285 days2 Brave CF 41 Sep 17, 2020 645 daysFakhreddine vacated the title on June 24, 2022, when he left the promotion.3 Brave CF 96 Jun 7, 2025 (incumbent)
Welterweight Championship 166 to 175 lbs (75.3 kg to 79.4 kg)
No.NameEventDateReign(total)Defenses 1 Carlston Harris Aug 12, 2017 405 days2 Jarrah Al-Silawi Brave CF 16 Sep 21, 2018 210 days3 Brave CF 23 Apr 19, 2019 168 days4 Jarrah Al-Silawi Brave CF 27 Oct 4, 2019 706 daysAl-Silawi vacated his title after signing with Professional Fighters League.5 Marcin Bandel Brave CF 63 Oct 19, 2022 422 days6 Kamal Magomedov Brave CF 77 Dec 5, 2023 319 days7 Luiz Cado Brave CF 89 Oct 19, 2024 (incumbent)
Super Lightweight Championship 156 to 165 lbs (70.8 kg to 74.9 kg) No.NameEventDateReign(total)Defenses 1 Brave CF 23 Apr 19, 2019 (incumbent)Joilton Lutterbach defeated Mihail Kotruţă for the interim Super Lightweight Championship at Brave CF 68 on December 17, 2022, but was ineligible to win the title due to missing weight.
Lightweight Championship 146 to 155 lbs (66.2 to 70.3 kg) No.NameEventDateReign(total)Defenses 1 Ottman Azaitar Brave CF 9 Nov 17, 2017 671 daysAzaitar was stripped of his title and released by BRAVE on September 19, 2018 for not defending the belt- Lucas Martins Brave CF 11 Apr 13, 2018 –2 Lucas Martins – Sep 19, 2018 58 days3 Abdul-Kareem Al-Selwady Brave CF 18 Nov 16, 2018 154 days4 Luan Santiago Carvalho Brave CF 23 Apr 19, 2019 133 days5 Cleiton Pereira da Silva Brave CF 25 Aug 30, 2019 433 days6 Amin Ayoub Brave CF 44 Nov 5, 2020 324 days7 Ahmed Amir Brave CF 54 Sep 25, 2021 472 daysAmir was stripped of his title on January 10, 2023 due to uncertainty regarding his competition status.– Abdisalam Kubanychbek Brave CF 59 Jun 18, 2022 –8 Abdisalam Kubanychbek Brave CF 69 Feb 18, 2023 (incumbent)– Raul Tutarauli Oct 3, 2025 (incumbent)
Featherweight Championship 136 to 145 lbs (61.7 to 65.8 kg) No.NameEventDateReign(total)Defenses 1 Brave CF 4 May 31, 2017 478 days 2 Bubba Jenkins Brave CF 16 Sep 21, 2018 532 daysBubba Jenkins vacated his title after signing with Professional Fighters League.3 Roman Bogatov Brave CF 64 Oct 22, 2022 244 days4 Nemat Abdrashitov Brave CF 72 Jun 23, 2023 (incumbent)– Omar Solomanov Brave CF 98 Sep 19, 2025 (incumbent)Abdrashitov vacated his title after signing with Tuff-N-Uff.5 Nicholas Hwende Brave CF 105 May 31, 2026 (incumbent)
Bantamweight Championship 126 to 135 lbs (57.1 to 61.2 kg) No.NameEventDateReign(total)Defenses 1 Brave CF 9 Nov 17, 2017 1179 daysLoman vacated his title after signing with ONE Championship.2 Brad Katona Brave CF 57 Mar 11, 2022 359 daysKatona vacated the title, would make his appearance on The Ultimate Fighter 31.3 Jose Torres Brave CF 73 Aug 12, 2023 125 days4 Nkosi Ndebele Brave CF 80 Dec 15, 2023 365 days5 Brave CF 91 Dec 13, 2024 176 days6 Brave CF 96 Jun 7, 2025 (incumbent)
Flyweight Championship 116 to 125 lbs (52.6 to 57 kg) No.NameEventDateReign(total)Defenses 1 Muhammad Mokaev Brave CF 100 Nov 7, 2025 (incumbent)
List of events