Three years away from the cage. One fight to prove he still belongs at the top. Stephen ‘The Sniper’ Loman is staking his comeback on the biggest gamble of his career, and he’s brought Philippine MMA royalty along for the ride.

Two of the sport’s most respected names, Eduard ‘Landslide’ Folayang and Jeremy ‘The Juggernaut’ Pacatiw, have joined Loman’s corner as he returns to the BRAVE CF cage against No. 1-ranked contender Lasha Abramishvili. The co-main event bout headlines BRAVE CF 108 from Pula Arena in Croatia on Saturday, September 5.

Folayang, Pacatiw Bring Championship Pedigree to Loman’s Corner

Folayang’s credentials alone make his presence a statement. Known as ‘The Face of Philippine MMA,’ he helped build the sport’s popularity in the country during its early years and captured the World Title twice at lightweight.

Pacatiw brings something just as valuable: insider knowledge of the exact promotion Loman is stepping back into. ‘The Juggernaut’ competed for BRAVE CF 10 times between 2016 and 2019 and holds the distinction of fighting in more countries than any other athlete in promotion history.

Loman explained why he wanted this specific pairing in his corner. ‘I’m happy that I’ll be with them. I really need people who truly understand my game and have been with me throughout camp,’ he said. ‘It’s good because they can see the adjustments I need to make in the fight.’

He was equally clear about their function once the cage door closes. ‘I need them to be my voice of reason while I’m in there,’ Loman explained, adding that their job is to make sure he is fully prepared before he ever steps into the cage.

Explosive Return Comes Against Red-Hot Contender

Loman’s timing could not be more urgent. His last BRAVE CF appearance came in November 2019, when he successfully defended his bantamweight crown against Louie ‘Leonidas’ Sanoudakis at BRAVE CF 30.

Since then, the division has kept moving without him. Abramishvili has won eight straight fights during Loman’s absence, six by stoppage, building a 12-2-1 record that includes four victories inside the BRAVE CF cage.

That kind of momentum makes Abramishvili one of the most dangerous tests Loman could face in his return. The Georgian’s stoppage rate alone signals a fighter operating at peak form heading into Saturday’s bout.

Beyond the opponent, the fight also marks a personal milestone for Loman. He will compete for the first time under the Lions Nation MMA banner, the team Folayang built alongside Kevin ‘The Silencer’ Belingon, Honorio ‘The Rock’ Banario, and Joshua ‘The Passion’ Pacio after leaving Team Lakay in 2023.

‘I’m happy because this is a new chapter for me,’ Loman said. ‘At the same time, I’m excited to represent the team. So I’ll really do my best.’

With Folayang and Pacatiw anchoring his corner, a new team behind him, and a surging contender standing in his way, Loman’s comeback fight carries stakes far beyond the scorecards. Saturday’s bout at Pula Arena could define the next chapter of his career.