MMA History in the Making: Bharat Khandare Faces Zia Mashwani in Pakistan

LockerRoom Team

18 Aug 2024

The highly anticipated clash between Bharat Khandare and Zia Mashwani is poised to be a highlight of BRAVE CF 85, scheduled for August 18 in Lahore, Pakistan. This bout will mark the first-ever MMA fight between an Indian fighter and a Pakistani opponent on Pakistani soil, making it a significant moment in the history of combat sports in South Asia.

Bharat Khandare, a trailblazer in Indian MMA, is making a comeback after a seven-year hiatus. A former regional champion, Bharat initially joined BRAVE Combat Federation at BRAVE CF 5, where he made a name for himself. After stepping away from the sport due to various challenges, he is now returning to the international stage, determined to defend India’s honor in the India vs. Pakistan rivalry.

Khandare’s return is not just about securing a win; it’s about making history by staging one of the most remarkable comebacks in Indian MMA.

On the opposite side, Zia Mashwani enters the fight with a different narrative but a similar drive. A rising star in Pakistani MMA, Zia’s career took off after Bharat’s last fight, and he has since competed four times under the BRAVE CF banner, facing tough opponents like Nkosi Ndebele and Abdullah Al-Qahtani. As he prepares for his fifth appearance in the promotion, Zia carries the weight of defending Pakistan’s home turf.

In addition to the Khandare vs. Mashwani bout, BRAVE CF 85 will also feature another India vs. Pakistan matchup, with India’s Srikant Sekhar taking on Pakistan’s Rizwan Ali in the co-main event. This event marks BRAVE Combat Federation’s return to Pakistan after BRAVE CF 17 in 2018 and is expected to be the largest MMA event in South Asia to date.