Following its historic four-event stretch dubbed “21 Days of MMA Mayhem” that ran from March 11 to April 1, BRAVE Combat Federation has announced its next live show as the Bahrain-based promotion gears up for the second half of 2021.
In partnership with Rukh Sport Management, the organization is set to hold its inaugural event in Belarus on June 4. The state-of-the-art Falcon Club Arena in Minsk will play host to BRAVE CF 51.
Although the company has yet to announce the bout lineup for its maiden venture on Belarusian soil, two Filipino mixed martial artists have thrown in their names as willing participants on the card.
Both Rolando “The Incredible” Dy and Jenel “The Demolition Man” Lausa see a golden opportunity to redeem themselves as well as hoist the Philippine flag aloft by competing at BRAVE CF 51.
Dy bowed to Kyrgyz powerhouse Abdisalam “Omok” Kubanychbek via second-round corner stoppage in the headliner of BRAVE CF 47: Asian Domination this past March. On the undercard of the same event, Lausa took a unanimous decision loss at the hands of Ryskulbek Ibraimov.
Although he fell short in securing a cage date with Amin “Fierceness” Ayoub for the BRAVE CF Lightweight World Championship, the 29-year-old son of boxing legend Rolando Navarrete remains in high spirits. He shared how much he learned after locking horns with Kubanychbek.
“I have no other options but to get back up. I know the loss to Kubanychbek will make me a better fighter. I learned a lot from this loss more than I learned from my wins,” Dy said. “I will be ready for the next one. I hope I will be back in action very soon.
“I haven’t been to Europe yet, and it’s enticing to fight over there. Belarus is a great starting point on my road to redemption. I won’t think twice about taking that offer to fight in Europe.”
Meanwhile, Lausa looks up to the legendary Andrei “The Pitbull” Arlovski, an MMA pioneer who paved the way for the sport’s popularity in Belarus by capturing the UFC Heavyweight World Title in 2005.
“He’s one of my idols. I admire how he fights in the cage because he’s exciting and gives it all in every fight. It will be a dream come true if I get to fight where he started his career,” Lausa stated.
Like Dy, Lausa is also eager to place himself back on the winning track after kicking off his run with BRAVE CF on a sour note.
“I think of it as a lesson. It will serve as an inspiration to push myself to the limit. I will triple my time in training. I’m not discouraged at all. I want to fight as soon as possible. Winning and fighting again will motivate me,” the Iloilo native declared.
