BRAVE Combat Federation’s highly awaited return to Bulgaria lived up to the hype, as BRAVE CF 97 delivered a night of fireworks at the jam-packed Arena Burgas. From jaw-dropping knockouts to clinical submissions and intense battles, the card underscored BRAVE CF’s status as a global MMA powerhouse on the road to BRAVE CF 100.
Main event ends in rare draw after three-round war
In the main event, Bulgaria’s Kaloyan Kolev went to war with Algerian standout Mohamed Said Maalem in a light heavyweight clash that had the home crowd roaring. Kolev aimed to avenge his teammate Viktor Djambazov’s loss to Maalem, and both fighters pushed the pace across three rounds. Despite their efforts, the bout ended in a rare draw, leaving fans eager for a potential rematch in the near future.

Submissions and knockouts highlight co-main and undercard
The co-main event didn’t last long. Georgia’s Lasha Abramishvili overwhelmed Brice Picaud with a dominant performance, locking in a rear-naked choke at 2:14 of the opening round. With this emphatic win, Lasha could be in line for a bantamweight title eliminator.
Bulgaria’s Plamen Penchev delivered one of the fastest finishes of the night, needing just 42 seconds to knock out France’s Sofiane Bouafia in their lightweight showdown, drawing massive cheers from the hometown crowd.
Flyweight contender Gerard Burns continued his rise by outstriking Alinson Ochoa over three rounds to secure a unanimous decision win, showcasing his evolving skill set and poise under pressure.
Meanwhile, Anton Yanchev fueled Bulgaria’s momentum by submitting Johan Van de Hel via arm triangle, further establishing his presence in the lightweight division.
In catchweight action, Murad Guseinov blasted Gabriel Bula with a first-round TKO at 4:42, adding another highlight to his growing list of stoppage victories.
Deyan Galinov thrilled fans with a crushing KO at 2:46 of Round 2 over Abdou Kadirr Sowe, electrifying the Burgas crowd with his welterweight power.
In the card opener, Mimm Grubb stunned the locals with a unanimous decision win over Bulgarian hopeful Songül Karatorak in a high-tempo strawweight bout, handing Karatorak her first BRAVE CF loss.
Road to BRAVE CF 100 intensifies
BRAVE CF 97 underscored the promotion’s commitment to developing European MMA and putting global talent on display. With new contenders rising and rivalries intensifying, the “Year of the BRAVE” is charging toward a monumental BRAVE CF 100 with unstoppable momentum.