We are looking at the biggest European event in Serbia, says Mohammed Shahid

Mohammed "The Hawk" Shahid, president of the BRAVE Combat Federation, is eager to give the Serbian MMA fans a memorable experience at BRAVE CF 69. When Darko Stosic and Aleksandar "Joker" Ilic step into the BRAVE CF cage in the Stark Arena in Belgrade next month as the culmination of the BRAVE Serbia International Combat Week, the largest combat sports festival in European history, two Serbian legends will fight in front of their adoring fans for the first time in years.

The evening's co-main event features a titanic Heavyweight fight between Darko Stosic and unbeaten Bahraini Shamil Gaziev, while the Catchweight (90 kg) feature fight pits Serbian legend Aleksandar "Joker" Ilid against Poland's Marcin Naruszczka.

President Shahid is honoured that BRAVE CF would be able to bring these Serbian stars back to their fans by having both of them make their BRAVE CF debuts.

“We are looking at the biggest European event in Serbia, the BRAVE CF Serbia International Combat Week, the largest world championships, and the biggest fight card for BRAVE CF in European and Balkans history. It just makes it even better to have fighters like Darko Stosic and Aleksandar “Joker” Ilic make their homecoming fight," says President Shahid.

“When you look at Darko, he has not fought in Serbia since 2017, and Ilić has not fought in his country since 2018, and for them now being able to fight in their home country and have those fans cheering for them live, that is something I look forward to. All fans love to watch them on TV, but come February 18, BRAVE CF has made it possible for fans to see these legends of Serbian MMA live and be able to cheer for them inside the amazing Stark Arena,” added Shahid.

Darko Stosic, who has a professional record of 17 wins and 5 losses, has earned a top-3 spot in the Eastern European and Polish rankings. Given that he has so far won eleven victories by way of knockout, the Heavyweight Serbian superstar, one of the biggest stars in the Balkans, has heavy hands and a black belt in Judo.

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To start off his BRAVE CF account well, he will rely on all of his talent and the backing of his local crowd.

Ilic (14-5) crushed Russian veteran Alexander Shlemenko (62-15-1) in the opening round with a knee and ground-and-pound tactics, earning a significant victory in his final mixed martial arts contest. With eleven victories (71 percent) coming by way of KO/TKO, "Joker" is a great entertainer, which is why his fans adore him.

He is a versatile fighter with prior experience in Europe's finest promotions, and he will make his international debut with the worldwide organisation that is expanding at the fastest rate. Ili is well-liked in Serbia, therefore he will undoubtedly have their support when he enters the Belgrade audience.

“When all these fans start cheering for Darko and Ilić, it will be an emotional moment for Serbia. It is moments like these that add so much value to what BRAVE CF is really all about, as we want to give the Serbian fans this gift,” concluded Shahid.

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With the largest degree of official backing ever given to a mixed martial arts event in Europe, the IMMAF World Championships, which will host more than 500 competitors from more than 60 countries in the capital on February 11, the week-long celebration gets underway.

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