BRAVE CF 87: Abdisalam Kubanychbek Aims for Legacy in Lightweight Title Defense

LockerRoom Team

12 Sep 2024

BRAVE CF Lightweight Champion Abdisalam Kubanychbek is preparing for his first official title defense against Georgian star Raul Tutarauli at BRAVE CF 87. The event is scheduled for September 22 in Alkmaar, Netherlands.

A Chance for Greatness

While this bout might seem like another fight on Kubanychbek’s successful career path, it represents a crucial opportunity for him to solidify his status as the greatest fighter in BRAVE CF history. Since his debut in 2019 at BRAVE CF 32, the Kyrgyz fighter has been dominant, securing a first-round finish and subsequent victories over notable opponents like Vagif Askerov, Jahongir Saidjamolov, and Rolando Dy. Kubanychbek's win over Dy, who was named BRAVE CF Fighter of the Year the previous year, sent a strong message to the Lightweight division.

Path to the Title

Following a no-contest with Cleiton Silva at BRAVE CF 57, Kubanychbek earned the interim Lightweight title by defeating Olzhas Eskaraev at BRAVE CF 59. He became the undisputed champion with a victory over Kamil Magomedov at BRAVE CF 69 and defeated former champion Lucas Martins at BRAVE CF 77. However, since Martins missed weight, that fight was non-title, making Kubanychbek's upcoming bout against Tutarauli his first official title defense.

Tutarauli’s Challenge

Raul Tutarauli presents a formidable challenge for Kubanychbek. The Georgian fighter is on a three-fight winning streak and boasts 22 stoppage wins, nearly double the number of the champion. As a former two-division champion outside BRAVE CF, Tutarauli holds top rankings in nine categories across Lightweight and Featherweight, underscoring his status as a top Eurasian fighter.

Breaking the Title Defense Curse

Kubanychbek not only faces a strong opponent but also aims to overcome the Lightweight title defense curse in BRAVE CF, where no champion has successfully defended the title. A victory over Tutarauli would cement Kubanychbek’s position as BRAVE CF’s most dominant champion and strengthen his claim as the best fighter in the organization’s history.

Event Details

BRAVE CF 87 will take place on September 22 in Alkmaar, Netherlands. This event marks the organization’s second appearance in the Netherlands this year, following BRAVE CF 83. It is part of BRAVE CF’s 70-day world tour, which has already visited China, Pakistan, and Bulgaria, and will continue to Slovenia and Spain after the Netherlands.