BRAVE CF 63: Is the event hosting an unofficial Super Welterweight Grand Prix?

When BRAVE CF 63 takes the Kingdom of Bahrain by storm on October 19, supporters of the BRAVE Combat Federation will be spoiled for choice. Ismail Naurdiev, who is rated number two in the division, will face Marcin Bandel, who is ranked number three, in a battle for the vacant Super Welterweight title. Kamal Magomedov, who is ranked number four in the division, will face Olli Santalahti, who is ranked number five, in the main event.

Is there, however, potentially more to this than first appears? Have the matchmakers at BRAVE CF created a Super Welterweight Grand Prix with two semifinal fights masquerading as a "title battle" and a "number-one contender" matchup?

These four gladiators are all equally prepared to compete for a shot at the crown, and they are all coming off victories, thus the only differences between them are their paper ranks.

Naurdiev is on a two-fight winning streak, one of which was over top-ranked Nordic Middleweight Santalahti, who was defeated by the "Austrian Wonderboy" at BRAVE CF 54.

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At BRAVE CF 59, Naurdiev defeated Kyrgyzstan's Bekten Zheenbekov by unanimous decision in his subsequent fight. He subsequently made a famous promo in which he demanded a crack at the championship. He will now square off against Poland's Bandel, who has won all of his fights by decision using the BRAVE CF system, and who is on a perfect run to the championship belt.

The dangerous Magomedov faced up against the Finn, Santalahti, earlier in the evening. When he defeated Vitaly Tverdokhlebov of Russia by armbar in the first minute of the match last November, the fourth-ranked Magomedov made a significant statement in his BRAVE CF debut.

The Gladius Gym athlete is full of confidence following that battle, not just because of the outcome but also because he signed with BRAVE CF after winning the Titan FC Welterweight Championship, which further solidified his rapid ascent in the BRAVE CF rankings.

Magomedov has never lost in his professional career, and another victory nearly ensures that he will face the winner of Naurdiev vs. Bandel. He will first have to contend with Santalahti, who won "Fight of the Year" at BRAVE CF 2021. It might be the ideal chance for "The Amazing" to end Magomedov's winning streak and propel himself into a title match.

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If Santalahti and Naurdiev both triumph in their fights that night, it might set up the ultimate rematch and provide the Finn with the ideal chance to exact revenge for his defeat by the Austrian. A thrilling fight is guaranteed in any combination of the top four Super Welterweights on the planet.

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