BRAVE Combat Federation’s featherweight division has etched a prominent mark in its history.
While the lightweight stable is often labeled as the “glamor division” worldwide, BRAVE CF’s 145-pound stable stands out as the first division to produce special memories within the most-global MMA promotion. Not only has the BRAVE CF featherweight division been home to some of the world’s best athletes, it too became the very first BRAVE CF weight class to host a BRAVE CF champion after Algeria’s Elias Boudegzdame overcame Mexico’s Masio Fullen at BRAVE CF 4 to become the undisputed BRAVE CF 145-pound king in early 2017.
This month, 67 events and six years later, two BRAVE CF stars will look to earn a spot next to Boudegzdame – and all those who came after him – when they compete for a shot at the elusive Featherweight throne.
On June 23 at BRAVE CF 71, in the first installment of this year’s Kombat Kingdom series, Ukraine’s Omar Solomonov (11-2) and Kazakhstan’s Ilyar Askhanov (12-4) will headline in Riffa, Bahrain – a defining moment for Solomonov and Askhanov, who will square off in their first-ever BRAVE CF main event. The victor will advance to face the winner between incumbent featherweight champion, Russia’s Roman Bogatov, and Kyrgyzstan’s Nemat Abdrashitov, who will throw down four days later at BRAVE CF 72.
In a clash of “technique vs. strength,” the Ukrainian will test his crisp striking and sharp-shooting submission skills against the brute strength of the wrestling phenom in Askhanov. Over the last seven years, Solomonov has run rampant in his professional career, dominating his opponents and racking up a 10-fight win streak that has added to a total of 10 career finishes. Solomonov is the prototype of a complete fighter, as he showcased how diverse his mixed martial arts approach can be in his last two fights.
In his promotional debut at BRAVE CF 50, the Ukrainian used his defensive wrestling and lightning-quick stand-up to subdue any threat posed by Moldova’s grappling specialist Valeriu Mircea. He then produced a grappling masterclass at BRAVE CF 54, where he went on the offense to neutralize the dangerous striking of Brazil’s Rafael Hudson at BRAVE CF 54. Solomonov will now face his trickiest assignment when he meets the aggressively-powerful Kazakh, known for mauling his opponents with his ferocious wrestling and submission game.
Askhanov is a physical specimen with an explosive double-leg takedown which he brought to the fore in his last two BRAVE CF fights, dominating Uzbekistan’s Xusanboy Atabayev and Kyrgyzstan’s Rasul Tezekbaev, respectively.
With eight finishes coming via knockout, Solomonov could have the upper hand on the standup, where he could use his quick hands and beautiful foot movement to maintain distance and outstrike his opponent while keeping his crafty takedown defense on hand.
But will he be able to stop Askhanov’s takedown or become the first man to finish the Kazakh? Askhanov’s ability to close the distance and pressure his opponent with his dominant wrestling game has boded well for him and saw him finish 2022 unbeaten, with two stoppages and one unanimous decision.
The former Kazakhstan lightweight champion has a 75 percent finish ratio, with three knockouts and a staggering six submissions. He now looks to surpass the likes of compatriots Azat Maksum and Asu Almabaev in becoming the first BRAVE CF Kazakhstan champion.
