BRAVE CF 79: Ismail Naurdiev Moves Up to Middleweight to fight Tahar Hadbi

29 November 2023

Two-time BRAVE CF Super Welterweight title contender Ismail Naurdiev is set to embark on a new chapter in his quest for championship glory as he moves up in weight. Dubbed "The Austrian Wonderboy," Naurdiev will make his Middleweight debut in the headline bout at BRAVE CF 79 on December 8, where he faces Tahar "Fast Hands" Hadbi.

Having signed with BRAVE CF in early 2021, Naurdiev has been on a remarkable journey, making an impactful debut by headlining BRAVE CF 50 against then-champion Jarrah Al-Silawi. Despite a second-round TKO loss, Naurdiev bounced back with two dominant victories, including a Fight of the Year-winning performance against Olli Santalahti and a first-round stoppage of Bekten Zheenbekov. The impressive run earned him another shot at the gold, but a loss in the Super Welterweight division prompted his decision to move up to the Middleweight class.

His Middleweight debut opponent, Tahar Hadbi, made his promotional debut in 2017 at BRAVE CF 5. Known for overcoming adversity, Hadbi kicked off his BRAVE CF career with two No Contests before securing a win against arch-rival Mohammad Fakhreddine. Following a setback against Jarrah Al-Silawi and a miraculous recovery from a heart attack in early 2019, Hadbi is determined to reignite his career with a move to the Middleweight division. His last outing in the main event of BRAVE CF 38 ended in defeat against Giannis Bachar, and now, the French-Algerian fighter aims for a fresh start in a new weight class.

In the co-main event of BRAVE CF 79, Heavyweight giants Pavel Dailidko and Janos Csukas are set to clash. Dailidko, seeking his third consecutive victory under the BRAVE CF banner, aims to make a statement in his pursuit of the Heavyweight title. On the other hand, Csukas will create history as the first Hungarian fighter to represent his country at BRAVE CF.

BRAVE CF 79 marks the second instalment of the three professional events highlighting the BRAVE International Combat Week at the Khalifa Sports City Arena in Bahrain. Between December 5 and December 15, three shows, along with the IMMAF Asian Championships, will captivate audiences in the Kingdom.