Ukraine’s Omar Solomanov became the BRAVE CF Interim Featherweight World Champion with a hard-fought victory over Rauan Bekbolat at BRAVE CF 98 in Zhengzhou, China.

The promotion returned to Chinese soil in partnership with YFU, delivering a card stacked with global talent and local standouts at Henan TV Studio 8.

Solomanov takes rematch against Bekbolat

In the main event, Solomanov showcased superior grappling to smother his Kazakh rival through much of the five-round contest.

Bekbolat surged in the third with dangerous submission attempts, but the Ukrainian regained control in the championship rounds. Judges scored the bout unanimously for Solomanov, who secured the interim featherweight crown.

Hwende, Yaqoob, and Jiniushiyue shine

Former BRAVE CF bantamweight champion Nicholas Hwende outclassed China’s Xie Bin in the co-main event. Hwende pushed the pace from the start and neutralized a late surge from the hometown favorite to earn a unanimous decision.

India’s Owais Yaqoob made a spectacular debut, stopping Filipino striker Ian Paul Lora in the first round. Yaqoob scored an early takedown and unleashed relentless hammerfists that forced a submission to strikes.

Local star Jiniushiyue thrilled fans in a 59-kilogram catchweight war against South Africa’s Luthando Biko. Both men traded heavy shots for three rounds, but the Chinese fighter pulled away late to claim a unanimous decision.

Elsewhere, Haitao Ti stopped Kantharaj Agasa in just over a minute, Kalinu Kadelibieke finished Turbayar Khurelbaatar in the third round, and Zeqiuduoji edged Mojtaba Nasiri by decision. Egypt’s Ahmed Tarek opened the night with a dominant grappling win over Zhao Yikun.