Muhammad “The Punisher” Mokaev has climbed every stage of the sport. From dominating the amateur circuit to rising as one of the world’s top flyweights, he has met each challenge with precision and hunger.

At BRAVE 100 on Friday, November 7, he stands on the brink of his greatest milestone yet: the chance to claim his first World Championship. The Dagestani-born English standout meets Gerard “The Animal” Burns for the inaugural BRAVE CF Flyweight World Title.

For Mokaev, there could be no better setting. Bahrain is where his story first took flight — a nation that shaped his identity and career, and one he still calls a second home.

“I achieved some of the biggest moments of my career here,” Mokaev said. “Bahrain will always have a special place in my heart.”

Bahrain shaped Mokaev’s rise from amateur star to professional force

During his amateur run, Mokaev turned heads in Bahrain, winning gold medals and earning admiration from fans and fellow competitors. When he turned pro in 2020, BRAVE Combat Federation embraced him and built around his soaring potential.

Across five appearances under the BRAVE CF banner, he delivered. Mokaev won four bouts — including two submissions — proving he was more than hype and establishing himself as a future champion in the making.

“BRAVE CF believed in me from the beginning,” he said. “They gave me the platform to show who I truly am as a fighter.”

That connection deepened in December 2024 when he returned at BRAVE CF 91, submitting Joevincent So in the first round. The win served as both reminder and promise — his pursuit of greatness had never faded.

Title shot marks emotional full-circle moment for rising star

Now, the stage is set at Khalifa Sports City in Isa Town. The stakes are clear: one fight, one gold belt, one chance to complete the story where it started.

“To win my first World Title here would mean everything,” Mokaev said. “This is where my dreams took shape. Becoming World Champion in Bahrain would make it all come full circle.”

As BRAVE CF celebrates its landmark 100th event, one of its brightest prodigies returns to seize his defining moment.