- George Chung
- Sep 20, 2024
- 2 min read
Georgian MMA superstar Raul Tutarauli is set for the biggest fight of his career at BRAVE CF 87 in the Netherlands, where he will face BRAVE CF Lightweight champion Abdisalam Kubanychbek. Already a well-known name in European MMA, Raul now has the opportunity to gain global recognition and beyond aiming for his first world title, the fight holds personal significance for Raul as it represents a chance to secure a better future for his family.
Raised in poverty, Raul's MMA journey is driven by his desire to provide for his children.
“My children have made me think a lot about life. They are my motivation in sports. That is why I never give up, because my family and children are behind me. It is thanks to them that I train harder and strive more. I want to create a future for them and give them what I did not have in my childhood and what I always lacked,” he said in a recent interview.
Despite his strong family motivation, Raul is anything but soft when it comes to competition. Once inside the cage, he transforms into a ruthless fighter, a trait that has brought him a good amount of success in his MMA career.
“Mixed martial arts is tough, but outside the ring, I am a completely different person. However, when I step into the octagon, the door closes behind me, and the referee signals the start of the fight, I become a completely different Raul. I lose all sense of feeling; I am ruthless and relentless. I’m ready for anything, and I feel no pity. I do not feel pain. During fights, I have even had bones broken, but it had no impact on the fight," Raul added.
In addition to supporting his family, Raul sees this fight as an opportunity to bring pride to Georgia. No Georgian fighter has won a title in BRAVE CF, despite notable athletes like Ilia Topuria and Guram Kutateladze competing in the organization.
"Becoming the first Georgian BRAVE CF champion would be a great honor, and with that honor comes great responsibility. I want to make my family, fans, and country proud by bringing the belt home. Good luck to my opponent, but he should say goodbye to his belt" Raul concluded.
If Raul indeed emerges victorious at BRAVE CF 87, he would not only end Kubanychbek’s undefeated streak in BRAVE CF but also maintain the "Lightweight title curse," as no fighter has successfully defended the title in the organization.
BRAVE CF 87 will take place on September 22 in the Netherlands, marking BRAVE Combat Federation's second event in the country. The event will be held in association with ECE MMA and will feature top MMA talent from around the world.
