BRAVE Combat Federation’s No. 1-ranked super lightweight Joilton “Peregrino” Lutterbach‘s laborious super welterweight victory over Sweden’s Andreas “Bane” Gustafsson Berg at BRAVE CF 70 this past weekend offered him a new perspective on his immediate future in BRAVE CF.
After 48 fights, Germany’s Lutterbach admirably risked it all and signed up for his first-ever super welterweight bout in BRAVE Combat Federation as he and Gustafsson Berg formed a late-replacement fight for the canceled bantamweight co-main event matchup between Jose Torres and Nkosi Ndebele.
The 165-pound athlete was willing to put his unbeaten nine-fight combat sport run on the line in a much heavier division against the natural middleweight in Gustafsson Berg – a BRAVE CF “Fight of the Year” award recipient with seven stoppages in eight wins. While most athletes would be in two minds to take up such a challenge, Lutterbach stepped up to the plate and met his opponent on the battlefield in Ljubljana, Slovenia, this past weekend, where he performed with great aplomb.
The matchup against the Swede offered way more challenges in comparison to his contests with Germany’s Marcel Grabinski and Moldova’s Mihail Cotruta, whom Lutterbach dispatched early in round one of their 165-pound battles. At BRAVE CF 70, Gustafsson Berg tested “Peregrino’s” mettle as the Swede relied heavily upon his massive frame to try and tire Lutterbach and neutralize the German’s striking that has helped him secure 37 knockouts to date.
The first couple of exchanges came as a shock to the system, however, Lutterbach quickly found his rhythm and countered Gustafsson Berg’s gameplan with his own grappling and wrestling clinic. As the Swede closed the distance on Lutterbach, clinching up, Lutterbach reminded the MMA world that he’s far more than just a high-level striker, activating his judo, Brazilian jiu-jitsu and luta livre to subdue and attack “Bane” in the close exchanges. Lutterbach eventually had an answer for every question Gustafsson Berg asked but was far from happy with his majority decision win, respectfully admitting how tough BRAVE CF’s bigger boys are.
“I was not happy with my performance. It was a hard fight. I got good takedowns and threw some good clean shots, but Andreas kept me on the cage even though he failed to really take me down.
“These BRAVE CF super welterweights are so strong. I have lots of respect for Andreas. I have to give it to my opponent.
“I actually told him I did not expect this. What a tough competitor. I feel this fight could have ended in a split decision,” said Lutterbach.
“But, this is how this game goes, it’s about how you adapt to the situation. I will learn from this and improve. I wanted to strike, but he came to wrestle, so I had to meet him there. I am just happy to have secured the win, as I am a super lightweight who came up to fight at super welterweight,” said a fatigued Lutterbach, who will now reassess his plans after previously hinting at chasing BRAVE CF super welterweight champion Marcin Bandel.
After experiencing the mass difference and intensity in BRAVE CF’s heavier divisions, Lutterbach (38-10) will refocus on super lightweight champion Eldar Eldarov (14-1), whom the German has been targeting for a long time. In the build-up to BRAVE CF 70, Lutterbach was unconvinced that he’d ever get a shot at Bahrain’s Eldarov.
“I don’t want to call out Eldar any longer. He is a good fighter, and I respect him, but I don’t want to continue with that. I know that he won’t fight me. I know he had injuries and will ask to fight at the end of the year, but I guarantee, come to the end of the year, he will say he got injured again or that he is struggling to make weight,” said Lutterbach during the media day in the lead up to BRAVE CF 70.
Now, following a rude awakening in the super welterweight division, Germany’s six-promotion multi-division MMA champion aims to play to his strengths and is putting even more pressure on Eldarov to place his title on the line considering that he last defended it in January of 2021.
“It has to be Eldarov next. The time is now. I would really like to fight Eldarov, possibly end of the year. It gives him time to sort out any family or personal issues.
“I am not sure when the next BRAVE CF event will be in Europe, if there is one this year, we can do it here, or we can even go to Bahrain, I always wanted to visit Bahrain. I want to go there to rest with my family after the fight. I want to fight there, but also have my vacation, I hear it’s beautiful.
“I think I deserve this. I have a three win-streak in BRAVE CF now, two knockouts, and one decision win. My time is now.
“Hey Eldar, if you want to, let’s fight at the end of the year, anywhere. I am ready for you,” concluded Lutterbach.
