After three years away from competition, Stephen “The Sniper” Loman is finally set to make his long-awaited return to the cage when he takes on No. 1-ranked bantamweight contender Lasha Abramishvili in the co-main event of BRAVE CF 108 tonight at the historic Pula Arena in Croatia.
Loman weighed in at 62 kilograms, narrowly exceeding the bantamweight limit of 61.8 kilograms, while Abramishvili made weight at 61.7 kilograms on his second attempt. The three-round bout will proceed at catchweight, with Loman forfeiting 15 percent of his purse.
Despite the lengthy layoff, Loman is returning to a promotion where he remains one of its most accomplished athletes. The Lions Nation MMA representative has won all six of his BRAVE CF appearances since debuting at the organization’s inaugural event in September 2016.
The 17-3 Filipino has six wins by knockout and two by submission, while his BRAVE CF résumé includes a historic championship reign.
Loman became the inaugural BRAVE CF Bantamweight World Champion at BRAVE CF 9: The Kingdom of Champions in November 2017, stopping Gurdarshan “Saint Lion” Mangat by first-round technical knockout. He held the title for 1,179 days and successfully defended it four times.
One of those defenses came during a memorable homecoming in March 2019, when Loman knocked out former BRAVE CF Featherweight World Champion Elias “Smile” Boudegzdame in the fourth round at the Mall of Asia Arena in front of a large Filipino crowd.
His last BRAVE CF appearance came at BRAVE CF 30 in November 2019, when he successfully defended his bantamweight crown against Louie “Leonidas” Sanoudakis. Loman stepped away from competition in 2023, making Saturday’s matchup his first fight in three years.
(C) BRAVE CF
For his comeback, Loman has surrounded himself with two trusted figures who know his game and the BRAVE CF environment well: Filipino MMA icon Eduard “Landslide” Folayang and former BRAVE CF fighter Jeremy “The Juggernaut” Pacatiw.
“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. It’s good because they can see the adjustments I need to make in the fight,” Loman said.
Folayang, widely regarded as “The Face of Philippine MMA,” helped fuel the sport’s rise in the country and is a two-time world champion at lightweight. Pacatiw, meanwhile, competed in BRAVE CF 10 times between 2016 and 2019 and holds the distinction of having traveled to and fought in more countries than any other athlete in the promotion’s history.
Loman said their roles extend beyond simply lending star power to his corner.
“Of course, there are things that I might not see or notice during the fight. I need them to be my voice of reason while I’m in there. At the same time, I want them with me to make sure I’m completely ready before I step into the cage,” he explained.
The fight presents a difficult test, particularly given Abramishvili’s rapid rise during Loman’s absence.
The Georgian owns a 12-2-1 professional record and is unbeaten in four BRAVE CF appearances, finishing three of those opponents before the final bell. Since Loman stepped away in 2023, Abramishvili has won eight consecutive fights, six by stoppage.
His most recent victory came at BRAVE CF 106 last June, when he defeated Brice “Lion Kid” Picaud by unanimous decision.
With the BRAVE CF Bantamweight World Championship currently vacant, Saturday’s matchup carries significant implications for the division. A victory for either fighter could put him in prime position to pursue the vacant title.
The bout also represents a new chapter for Loman, who will make his first competitive appearance representing Lions Nation MMA—the stable founded by Folayang alongside Kevin “The Silencer” Belingon, Honorio “The Rock” Banario, and Joshua “The Passion” Pacio following their departure from Team Lakay in 2023.
“I’m happy because this is a new chapter for me. At the same time, I’m excited to represent the team. So I’ll really do my best,” Loman said.
