BRAVE Combat Federation has added a pivotal bantamweight clash to the supporting card of BRAVE CF 108, as former BRAVE CF Bantamweight World Champion Stephen Loman makes his long-awaited return against No. 2-ranked contender Lasha Abramishvili on Saturday, September 5, at the Pula Arena in Croatia.
The matchup could have major implications for the bantamweight title picture.
Loman returns to the BRAVE CF cage looking to reestablish the dominance that made him one of the promotion’s most accomplished champions.
The Filipino standout has not competed under the BRAVE CF banner in several years, but his legacy remains one of the strongest in the organization’s history.
Since making his promotional debut at BRAVE CF’s inaugural event in September 2016, Loman has compiled a perfect 6-0 record inside the promotion while amassing an overall professional mark of 17-3, including six wins by knockout and two by submission.
His rise reached its peak at BRAVE CF 9: The Kingdom of Champions in November 2017, when he stopped Gurdarshan Mangat in the opening round to become the inaugural BRAVE CF Bantamweight World Champion.
Loman held the title for an impressive 1,179 days and successfully defended it four times. One of the defining moments of his championship reign came in March 2019, when he knocked out former BRAVE CF Featherweight World Champion Elias Boudegzdame in the fourth round before a passionate crowd at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Now representing Lions Nation MMA, Loman returns with the same goal that fueled his first championship run.
The BRAVE CF Bantamweight World Title is once again in his sights, with reigning champion Borislav Nikolić standing atop the division.
“I’ve been waiting for this opportunity for a long time, and I’m grateful that my return is happening in BRAVE CF,” Loman said.
“This organization gave me the platform to showcase my abilities to fans across the world and helped shape my career. Coming back here means everything to me, and this fight in Croatia is the first step toward reclaiming the BRAVE CF Bantamweight World Title.”
Standing across from the former champion is one of the division’s fastest-rising contenders.
Abramishvili enters BRAVE CF 108 with a 12-2-1 professional record and a flawless 4-0 mark in the Bahrain-based promotion.
Three of those victories have come by stoppage, reinforcing his reputation as one of the most dangerous contenders in the 135-pound division.
The Georgian is coming off a unanimous decision victory over Brice Picaud at BRAVE CF 106 this past June after a grueling three-round battle.
With a world title opportunity within reach, Abramishvili knows exactly what a victory over a former champion would mean.
“It is exciting to test myself against someone who accomplished so much in this division,” Abramishvili stated. “Stephen Loman set a very high standard as World Champion, and I respect everything he has achieved.
“A convincing win over him would show that I deserve to be the next man fighting for the BRAVE CF Bantamweight World Title.”
For Loman, BRAVE CF 108 marks the start of another quest for championship gold. For Abramishvili, it presents the chance to eliminate one of the division’s greatest names from the title picture and solidify his status as the next challenger.
When they meet inside the Pula Arena on September 5, both fighters will have the same objective: earning a shot at BRAVE CF gold.
