BRAVE CF 97 Thrills Packed Arena in Bulgaria With Explosive Finishes

BRAVE Combat Federation’s return to Bulgaria for BRAVE CF 97 delivered a high-octane night of action, thrilling fans at a sold-out Arena Burgas with a card stacked full of knockouts, submissions and razor-close decisions. The night culminated in a light heavyweight main event that ended in a rare draw.

Local hero Kaloyan Kolev faced Algerian contender Mohamed Said Maalem in a closely contested bout that saw both fighters trading momentum throughout three rounds. Despite Kolev’s efforts to avenge his teammate Djambazov’s previous loss to Maalem, the judges were unable to declare a winner, resulting in a draw and leaving the door open for a potential rematch.

In the co-main event, bantamweight standout Lasha Abramishvili of Georgia made quick work of Brice Picaud, securing a rear-naked choke just 2:14 into the first round. The dominant finish positioned Abramishvili as a strong contender for a future title eliminator.

Bulgarian lightweight Plamen Penchev lit up the arena with one of the fastest finishes of the evening, knocking out France’s Sofiane Bouafia in just 42 seconds to the roar of the hometown crowd.

Flyweight Gerard Burns made a successful return to the BRAVE CF cage with a composed performance, earning a unanimous decision victory over Alinson Ochoa to continue his rise in the division.

In another strong showing for Bulgaria, Anton Yanchev submitted Johan Van de Hel via arm triangle in a lightweight bout, reinforcing his reputation as one of the division’s rising stars.

Catchweight competitor Murad Guseinov added another emphatic finish to his record, defeating Gabriel Bula via TKO at 4:42 of Round 1 with a display of power and precision.

Welterweight Deyan Galinov delivered a highlight-reel knockout at 2:46 of Round 2 against Abdou Kadirr Sowe, igniting the Burgas crowd with a powerful finish.

The night opened with a high-paced strawweight bout where Mimm Grubb shocked the local fans by earning a unanimous decision over Bulgaria’s Songül Karatorak, handing her the first loss of her BRAVE CF career.

BRAVE CF 97 marked another milestone in the promotion’s push to spotlight European MMA talent and further its global expansion. As the “Year of the BRAVE” continues, momentum builds toward the landmark BRAVE CF 100 event with a wave of new contenders and unforgettable performances shaping the road ahead.