Lucas Martins Shatters French Dreams at BRAVE CF 74

12 September 2023

Fight veteran Lucas "Mineiro" Martins played the role of the perfect villain at BRAVE CF 74, breaking the hearts of millions of French fans by delivering a stunning knockout victory over hometown hero Ylies Djiroun in the highly anticipated main event.

BRAVE CF 74, held in collaboration with leading organization Hexagone MMA, marked a historic moment for the rapidly expanding MMA brand. France became the 29th nation to host a BRAVE Combat Federation event, fulfilling the dreams of countless fans who witnessed their favorite superstars live at the H Arena.

As the night unfolded, the French faithful hoped for a fairy-tale ending to the special event. Global superstar Lucas Martins faced off against Ylies Djiroun in the headline fight, which had the potential to determine the number-one contender in the lightweight division. However, the former BRAVE CF Lightweight champion had different plans in mind.

In a swift and decisive fashion, Lucas Martins dispatched the submission specialist Djiroun via TKO (strikes) in the first round, leaving a deafening silence in the H Arena. Adding salt to the wound, an exuberant Martins exited the cage and confronted former BRAVE CF Lightweight champion Amin Ayoub, a revered figure in French MMA.

Martins boldly challenged Ayoub, further aggravating the disheartened French fans, whose disapproval resonated through the H Arena in a chorus of boos.

Returning to the BRAVE CF cage after the heated confrontation, Martins expressed his gratitude to France and BRAVE Combat Federation for the opportunity to compete. He revealed the depth of his motivation, fueled by his recent life-changing experience as a father to his daughter, Clara.

Having weathered a challenging period, Martins now hungers for a return to the pinnacle of the sport and is willing to go to great lengths to secure a bout with the undisputed champion, Abdisalam Kubanychbek.

"BRAVE CF knows I am the biggest name in the Lightweight division, and I'll be a great matchup for Kubanychbek. I want to fight before the end of the year again," concluded Martins, setting his sights on a swift ascent back to championship glory.