Nicholas Hwende is preparing for what could become the defining fight of his mixed martial arts career as he heads into BRAVE CF 105 on Sunday, May 31, in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

The former BRAVE CF Bantamweight World Champion will challenge interim titleholder Omar Solomanov for the vacant undisputed featherweight crown in a five-round main event at the Baluan Sholak Sports Palace. The bout places Hwende one victory away from joining an exclusive group of fighters in BRAVE CF history.

Hwende eyes historic feat

A victory over Solomanov would make Hwende only the second athlete in BRAVE Combat Federation history to capture world titles in two different weight divisions. The Zimbabwean contender acknowledged the magnitude of the opportunity but stressed that his focus extends beyond simply making history.

Hwende explained that becoming a two-division champion would validate years of work and prove that he belongs among the elite competitors in the sport. He added that moments like BRAVE CF 105 represent the type of challenge every professional fighter dreams about reaching.

Standing in his way is one of the promotion’s most dangerous featherweights in Solomanov, who carries a 14-3 professional record that includes eight knockout victories and three submission finishes. The Ukrainian fighter secured interim featherweight gold at BRAVE CF 98 after defeating Kazakh rival Rauan Bekbolat by unanimous decision in a highly anticipated rematch.

Solomanov’s performance in that contest further strengthened his reputation as one of the division’s most complete fighters. Despite the momentum surrounding his opponent, Hwende made it clear that he has no plans of backing down from the challenge.

The Zimbabwean star said he respects Solomanov’s accomplishments inside the cage, but emphasized that respect will not stop him from aggressively pursuing the championship. He described the Ukrainian contender as another obstacle standing between him and his ultimate goal.

Championship clash looms

Hwende enters BRAVE CF 105 with a professional record of 10-2 and has already established himself as one of the promotion’s most recognizable African fighters. Across six appearances under the BRAVE CF banner, he has collected four victories while consistently performing on major cards.

One of his biggest recent performances came during BRAVE CF 98, where he successfully debuted at featherweight against China’s Xie Bin. Fighting in front of a hostile crowd, Hwende delivered a composed and disciplined performance that earned him a unanimous decision victory.

That win demonstrated his ability to transition smoothly into a heavier division while maintaining the technical style and composure that helped him previously capture bantamweight gold. The performance also strengthened his case for a world title opportunity at featherweight.

As the championship showdown approaches, Hwende believes the upcoming contest will serve as the ultimate test of both his mindset and overall abilities. He said BRAVE CF 105 is not about making predictions but about imposing his will and proving that no challenge is beyond his reach.

The featherweight title fight is expected to headline one of BRAVE CF’s most important events of the year, with both Hwende and Solomanov entering the cage carrying championship momentum and major expectations.