Last July, not many knew of Nursulton Ruziboev when he stepped in on short notice for his first UFC fight. Coming from Uzbekistan, the tall middleweight filled in for Abdul Razak Alhassan against Brazil's Brunno Ferreira. Despite his vast experience and numerous finishes, Ruziboev was an enigma due to limited exposure against well-known opponents or in mainstream regional promotions. Training at Marquez MMA in Philadelphia hinted at his potential, which he confirmed by securing a victory in just 67 seconds during his debut, showcasing that he was indeed UFC material. Reflecting on his journey, Ruziboev shared, “Before joining UFC, I would watch the fights and wonder why I wasn’t part of it, given I could finish these fighters. I knew I had the ability to get finishes and I was ready to prove it.” He lived up to his words by quickly defeating Ferreira with a precise right hand, following a counter to a low kick. His second UFC fight saw him extend his winning streak to 10 after a victory over Sedriques Dumas in the first round at an event in Atlantic City last March. This rapid ascent has brought him back to the cage quickly, this time in a co-main event against Joaquin Buckley in St. Louis. Ruziboev is dropping to welterweight, where he feels more natural and sees a promising future. “I barely cut weight at middleweight, so moving down for this fight was an easy decision. Though I’m open to fighting in either division depending on the opportunities,” he explained. His training environment at Marquez MMA, surrounded by UFC talents like welterweight Sean Brady and middleweights Andre Petroski and Joe Pyfer, has been pivotal. “Training with these guys has greatly impacted my career. Joe Pyfer, in particular, has been a great sparring partner,” Ruziboev praised. Facing Buckley, who is returning to welterweight after a mixed record at middleweight, presents a challenging yet exciting matchup. Buckley, known for his striking and recent wins, including a notable victory over Vicente Luque, brings a strong hometown presence which Ruziboev is ready to counter. “I’ve fought in my opponent’s hometown before, so I’m prepared for any situation,” he stated confidently. Ruziboev aims not just to win but to make a significant statement. “I’m ready for all three rounds, but I plan to finish it in the first, Inshallah,” he declared, looking ahead to climbing the welterweight ranks and setting sights on UFC 302 in Newark. This matchup promises excitement, showcasing two skilled strikers in a fight that’s likely to captivate UFC fans.

The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), the leading global mixed martial arts organization, is set to dazzle fans once again as it returns to Abu Dhabi for a thrilling matchup. Ranked No. 2 bantamweight Cory Sandhagen takes on No. 9 ranked Umar Nurmagomedov on Saturday, August 3, in UFC Fight Night Abu Dhabi organized in collaboration with the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi). Tickets for UFC FIGHT NIGHT: SANDHAGEN vs NURMAGOMEDOV will be available from 1 pm GST on Tuesday, May 7, at the Etihad Arena. UFC Fight Club members have the privilege of early access to tickets starting at 11 am GST on Monday, May 6, while early registrants for the event will enjoy priority access at 12 pm GST on the same day. Cory Sandhagen (17-4), hailing from Aurora, Colorado, returns to the UAE capital with aspirations to solidify his position as the top contender in the bantamweight division. Sandhagen, a seasoned fighter, has secured significant victories over competitors like Rob Font, Chito Vera, and the soon-to-be UFC Hall of Famer Frankie Edgar. He aims for a decisive victory over the emerging star Nurmagomedov to stake his claim for a title opportunity. Meanwhile, Umar Nurmagomedov (17-0), fighting out of Chelyabinsk, Russia, intends to draw attention in the division by defeating a top-ranked adversary in his first appearance in the Octagon in Abu Dhabi. Umar has made a significant impact in the division with dominant victories over Raoni Barcelos, Brian Kelleher, and Sergey Morozov. Now, he focuses on achieving the most significant win of his career by triumphing over Sandhagen.

With less than two weeks to go before their welterweight co-main event matchup at the upcoming Bellator Champions Series event in Paris, France on May 17th, Cedric Doumbe and Jaleel Willis have thrown verbal haymakers at each other.  Doumbe, who’ll be competing in front of a hometown crowd at the Accor Arena returns to action just a little over two months after suffering a controversial loss due to injury against Baissangour Chamsoudinov, will look to bounce back from his first defeat under the PFL/Bellator banner.  The French striking sensation, who owns a 5-1 professional record with all his wins coming by way of knockout, was initially supposed to face Derek Anderson, but a last-minute shakeup led to Willis stepping in.  Safe to say, there’s no love lost between the two welterweight contenders. During their virtual media conference call, Doumbe and Willis wasted little time going at each other.  “I’m a fighter, I was born to fight, I was born to knock people out,” Doumbe said bluntly. “I was born to knock Jaleel out so I will do it.” The man nicknamed “The Best” will have home field advantage come fight night, but claims that he’ll also have the American fans on his side against his American opponent.  “France is waiting for me, all the French crowd, the French people and even American people are waiting for me to knock him out,” Doumbe claimed. I will do what I do best, rip his head off, shut his mouth and send him back to the US.” Willis, for his part, didn’t hold back on the smack talking either.  “How many times does anybody get to go into anyone’s backyard and dominate and do some [explicit] and be glorified for it and not get locked up?” Willis said? The more experienced of the two fighters, Willis comes in with a 16-5 professional record with five wins coming by knockout.  Doumbe will arguably be the biggest name that Willis will face, and he’s nothing but grateful for the opportunity.  “I was born to fight, this is way different than fighting in the neighbourhood I’m going overseas so I’m embracing that [explicit],” Willis exclaimed. “I was born to hit the streets, wake up, hustle, do what I got to do and get out and bring home the bread for my family.” The beef has since spilled over onto social media, with Willis claiming that Doumbe is worried. “I’ve been doing this long enough to peep when a [ninja emoji] worried about me,” Willis wrote in a story posted on his Instagram account. “Y’all hyping him up and on May 17th I’mma bust his MF head wide open.” Willis continued by posting another story that read “Cedric t’es mort.”, which means “Cedric, you’re dead.” When translated from French to English.  “LOL, poor guy. He doesn’t know what to expect,” Cedric responded in a story of his own.  With the level of trash talking that these two have engaged in, fans should expect fireworks when they finally share the cage in Paris.

Wei Rui had a tall order for his ONE Championship debut at ONE Fight Night 22. The bantamweight kickboxer was up against the division’s top contender, Hiroki Akimoto. The two stars exchanged back and forth for three rounds, leaving the decision up to the judges. “Demon Blade” got the nod in a razor-thin contest and now positions himself as one of the top dogs in the division. Wei admitted to ONE that he was not confident he would get his hand raised before the result was announced. With the debut under his belt, Wei expects only better things to come in future performances. “This is my debut in ONE Championship, and I think it wasn’t really [my best showing]. But I’m super motivated now. I will continue to focus on training, and I will try harder the next time. I will be back,” Wei said. The result has had many split on who they believe actually won. Wei admired the skills he saw in the ring but still thinks he did enough to pick up the victory. Given the closeness of the bout, a future rematch between the two seems likely. “I think Hiroki is a very tough, strong opponent. As you all know, his kicks and his attacks are always crazy and powerful, and compared to my other opponents before, I feel [it’s a harder matchup] with this kind of opponent. He did a lot of crazy things. But he didn’t really dominate the fight, as you could see him struggling; he can’t fight at my pace, and I’m always unpredictable. That is also my greatest technique,” the Chinese star stated. After toppling the No 1-ranked bantamweight kickboxing contender, Wei feels a title shot should not be far off in the future. “Demon Blade” is clear that the victory over Akimoto should put him in the crosshairs of ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing and Muay Thai World Champion Jonathan Haggerty. “Yes, definitely. I think I am qualified to be the next belt challenger. Because, as you know, Hiroki used to be the champion, and I beat him. That means I can definitely [challenge for] the belt,” Wei said. With the experience of competing on ONE under his belt, Wei better understands what he needs to do for his next match. Whether against Haggerty or another top contender, the Chinese athlete is ready to get back in the gym and follow a regimen to hit the next level in his evolution. “Challenging the champion, of course, is not an easy thing to do. I have to prepare a lot, and I think, in the next stage, I will focus on my training. I will follow a long-term, systematic training plan,” Wei said.

Tajikistan’s Khurshed Nazarov is set to make his BRAVE Combat Federation debut at BRAVE CF 82 on May 11 in Mauritius when he takes on Zimbabwe’s Nicholas Hwende in the co-main event.  The fight has major implications for the Bantamweight division as Nazarov comes in with an undefeated record when Hwende is at the doorsteps of a potential title shot. Beyond the implications on the Bantamweight division, the debut of Khurshed Nazarov once again underlines the commitment of BRAVE CF towards the Central Asia region. BRAVE CF has consistently provided a global platform for MMA athletes from the region, with Nazarov being the latest standout talent to benefit. This move reflects BRAVE CF's longstanding vision for Central Asia, which began with the promotion's early ventures into the region, starting with BRAVE CF 6 held in Kazakhstan shortly after its inception. Along with hosting events in the region, BRAVE CF has been playing a crucial role in the rise of MMA stars from Central Asia. The biggest examples from the long list of Central Asian athletes that have benefited due to BRAVE CF would be current BRAVE CF world champions Nemat Abdrashitov and Abdisalam Kubanychbek.  Nemat Abdrashitov and Abdisalam Kubanychbek have fought across the globe with BRAVE CF. When Khurshed Nazarov makes his promotional debut at BRAVE CF 82, he will be looking to follow the lead of these two champions to make a lasting impression and act as a catalyst to bring BRAVE CF to Tajikistan.   For this, Nazarov should first overcome the challenge posed by Nicholas Hwende who has already made his intentions clear about wanting a title shot.  In his previous fight in BRAVE Combat Federation, Hwende managed to outclass Tajikistan’s Mutolibsho Akobirov to secure a unanimous decision win. This will be the second straight opponent from Tajikistan for Hwende and he has a chance to spoil the promotional debut of the undefeated Nazarov.  BRAVE CF 82 will be the second event of the year that will mark the debut of the organization in Mauritius. Headlined by the Bantamweight title fight between Jose ‘Shorty’ Torres and Nkosi Ndebele, BRAVE CF 82 will feature some of the top stars from Africa and the world including Hwende and Nazarov.

BRAVE Combat Federation is gearing up for a landmark event in Mauritius on May 11, which promises to be the most significant fight in African MMA history. The event, BRAVE CF 82, marks BRAVE CF’s debut in Mauritius and represents the third African country to host a BRAVE CF event, following successful events in South Africa and Morocco. The highlight of BRAVE CF 82 is the highly anticipated trilogy fight between Bantamweight World Champion Nkosi Ndebele and former champion Jose ‘Shorty’ Torres. This trilogy is unique in MMA history, with each bout taking place on a different continent: the first in South America (Colombia), the second in Asia (Bahrain), and now the climactic third in Africa. South African native Nkosi Ndebele, BRAVE Combat Federation's first entirely homegrown world champion, will defend his title on African soil, adding a special significance to this bout. Ndebele's professional career has been nurtured within BRAVE CF, emphasizing the organization's commitment to providing a global platform for African athletes. This event not only highlights Ndebele’s journey but also provides Jose Torres with an opportunity for redemption. After losing his title to Ndebele at BRAVE CF 80, Torres is motivated to settle the score decisively, despite the challenge of fighting against the home ground advantage of Ndebele. As BRAVE CF continues to expand its footprint across Africa, the upcoming fight in Mauritius on May 11 is set to captivate the MMA world, offering a thrilling conclusion to this historic trilogy. Watch the Fight On: https://watch.bravecftv.com/video/brave-cf-82

ONE Championship brought 11 fun martial arts contests to U.S. primetime, here are the results of ONE Fight Night 22. Although a title was lost on the scale before the event, the stars still made the walk to entertain the masses. In the main event, Smilla Sundell overcame early adversity to score a win in the 126.5-pound catchweight contest. Natalia Diachkova rocked the 19-year-old in the first round but could not close the show. Even though the Russian kept the pressure on her Swedish opponent, Sundell found the mark with a crushing body blow. Unable to defend herself, Diachkova ate more knees and punches until the bout was called. Unbeatens Akbar Abdullaev and Halil Amir threw down, and Abdullaev got to showcase his massive power with a second-round knockout. Amir tried escaping the pressure from Abdullaev and exited from the corner of the ring. Still, he left his chin exposed, and the rising featherweight star connected cleanly to end the match. As both Dmitry Menshikov and Sinsamut Klinmee eyed a rematch with Regian Eersel, it was the Russian who came away with the win. Sinsamut started strongly, but the power of Menshikov showed its head in the final round to take victory from the Thai star. With three consecutive knockouts, Menshikov is knocking on the door of a title shot. Wei Rui edged past Hiroki Akimoto by a unanimous decision in what became controversial. The bout was tight throughout, with both men finding success. In the end, it was the Chinese athlete who got the three judges to see it his way. Reece McLaren was nearly finished in the first round but survived and rallied to turn away the surging Hu Yong. After the first round, McLaren relied on his superior grappling and veteran savvy to take over. McLaren edged past the Chinese athlete to continue his bid for flyweight contention. Multiple-time BJJ World Champion Bianca Basilio wasted no time securing a 35-second rear-naked choke win. She immediately got Nanami Ichikawa’s back and sunk in the choke without much issue. The swift win netted the Brazilian a huge win in her return to the global stage. Sean Climaco got the action rolling with a swift knockout over Josue Cruz. After touching him up, Climaco changed levels and hit Cruz in the body. The Mexican athlete collapsed and was unable to answer the referee. It was a big debut for the American, who got the victory in his promotional debut. Fans can relive every second on-demand at Prime Video . ONE Fight Night 22 Full Results Smilla Sundell def. Natalia Diachkova by TKO at 2:59 of the second round Akbar Abdullaev def. Halil Amir by KO at 2:52 of the second round Dmitry Menshikov def. Sinsamut Klinmee by KO at 1:33 of the third round Maurice Abevi def. Zhang Lipeng by unanimous decision Wei Rui def. Hiroki Akimoto by unanimous decision Reece McLaren def. Hu Yong by split decision Rungrawee Sitsongpeenong def. Bogdan Shumarov by split decision Chihiro Sawada def. Noelle Grandjean by unanimous decision Zakaria El Jamari def. Thongpoon PK Saenchai by unanimous decision Bianca Basilio def. Nanami Ichikawa via submission (rear-naked choke) at 0:35 of the first round Sean Climaco def. Josue Cruz by KO at 2:06 of the first round

The “Toughest Test in MMA” the 2024 PFL Global Season debuts at Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, SD June 28 with Welterweight and Featherweight action Featherweight’s Brendan Loughnane and Justin Gonzales meet in main event South Dakota’s own Logan Storley faces Laureano Staropoli in Welterweight co-main event 2024 PFL Global Season, Available Live Across ESPN platforms in the U.S. and via DAZN in Canada, Europe and additional premium sports platforms internationally The Professional Fighters League (PFL) today announced the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, SD will host 2024 PFL Global Season action on Friday, June 28 with fights in the Welterweight and Featherweight divisions. The night’s main event will feature 2022 PFL Featherweight Champion, the pride of Manchester Brendan Loughnane facing Justin Gonzales. Loughnane currently sits atop of the PFL Featherweight standings and will look to secure a trip to the 2024 PFL Playoffs where the chance of another world title and $1 million prize awaits.   The night’s co-main event will see South Dakota’s own and Bellator veteran Logan Storley take on Laureano Staropoli. Storley a Rosyln native who fights out of Webster, SD holds a professional record of 15 wins against only three losses, is looking to enter the PFL Playoffs in his first season with the League.   “The toughest test in MMA, the PFL Global Season, is coming to South Dakota for the first time ever,” said PFL CEO Peter Murray. “We are delighted to bring the most exciting brand of mixed martial arts, the PFL Global Season, to South Dakota for our final PFL Regular Season event. On June 28, PFL Playoff berths hang in the balance while PFL athletes look to continue their $1 million journey.” The second half of the 2024 PFL Global Season continues June 28, from Sanford Pentagon with Welterweights and Featherweights in action. The card will feature respective division points leaders Brendan Loughnane, Gabriel Braga, Don Madge, Magomed Umalatov, and Murad Ramazanov returning to Global Season action.  2024 PFL Global Season event tickets for Sanford Pentagon will be available Monday, May 6 only at  Ticketmaster .  2024 PFL Global Season is available live across ESPN platforms in the U.S. and via DAZN in Canada, Europe and additional premium sports platforms internationally. Full Fight Card Featherweight Brendan Loughnane v Justin Gonzales Welterweight Logan Storley v Laureano Staropoli Welterweight Magomed Umalatov v Brennan Ward Featherweight Gabriel Braga v Bubba Jenkins Welterweight Murad Ramazanov v Shamil Musaev Featherweight Timur Khizriev v Enrique Barzola Welterweight Goiti Yamauchi v Andrey Koreshkov Featherweight Kai Kamaka v Pedro Carvalho Welterweight Don Madge v Neiman Gracie Featherweight Adam Borics v Brett Johns Featherweight Enrique Barzola v Brett Johns Welterweight Alternate Bout Zach Juusola v Luca Poclit Featherweight Showcase Jordan Oliver v Isaiah Hokit

UFC events in Rio de Janeiro have consistently delivered unforgettable moments. From Anderson Silva, Jose Aldo, and Ronda Rousey defending their titles to breakout performances by Max Holloway, Jessica Andrade, and Jamahal Hill, Rio's history suggests another electrifying night at UFC 301. Main Event: Alexandre Pantoja vs. Stephen Erceg The main event features local champion Alexandre Pantoja defending his flyweight title against the surging Australian contender, Stephen Erceg. Pantoja, known for his grappling prowess, faces a versatile challenger in Erceg, who enters the fight on a ten-fight win streak. Co-Main Event: Jonathan Martinez vs. Jose Aldo In the co-main event, rising bantamweight Jonathan Martinez faces the legendary Jose Aldo, who returns after a 21-month hiatus. Martinez, on a six-fight winning streak, looks to continue his ascent against the newly inducted UFC Hall of Famer. Featured Bouts: Anthony Smith vs. Vitor Petrino:  Former title challenger Anthony Smith aims to overturn recent setbacks against undefeated prospect Vitor Petrino in a crucial light heavyweight bout. Michel Pereira vs. Ihor Potieria:  Michel Pereira, thriving in the middleweight division, clashes with Ihor Potieria, who seeks redemption in a new weight class. Paul Craig vs. Caio Borralho:  Middleweights Paul Craig and Caio Borralho open the main card, with both fighters looking to solidify their rankings. Preliminary Card Highlights Jack Shore vs. Joanderson Brito:  Featherweights Jack Shore and Joanderson Brito face off in what promises to be a dynamic contest. Karolina Kowalkiewicz vs. Iasmin Lucindo:  Veteran Karolina Kowalkiewicz meets young contender Iasmin Lucindo in a pivotal strawweight match. Elves Brener vs. Myktybek Orolbai:  Lightweights Elves Brener and Myktybek Orolbai aim to extend their winning streaks in a promising bout. Jean Silva vs. William Gomis:  Featherweights Jean Silva and William Gomis look to continue their successful runs in the UFC. Joaquim Silva vs. Drakkar Klose:  Experienced lightweights clash as Joaquim Silva takes on Drakkar Klose in a matchup of seasoned fighters. Mauricio Ruffy vs. Jamie Mullarkey:  Mauricio Ruffy makes his UFC debut against the battle-tested Jamie Mullarkey. Dione Barbosa vs. Ernesta Kareckaite:  UFC newcomers Dione Barbosa and Ernesta Kareckaite vie for their first win on the sport's biggest stage. Ismael Bonfim vs. Vinc Pichel:  Lightweights Ismael Bonfim and Vinc Pichel look to bounce back from recent losses. Alessandro Costa vs. Kevin Borjas:  Flyweights Alessandro Costa and Kevin Borjas aim for their first victory of 2024 as they open the night's action. UFC 301 promises to be a thrilling event with high stakes and exciting matchups that could reshape the future of multiple divisions. Full Fight Card - UFC 301: Pantoja vs. Erceg MAIN EVENT | UFC FLYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP | 125 LBS Alexandre Pantoja vs. Steve Erceg CO-MAIN EVENT | BANTAMWEIGHT · 135 LBS | PRO MMA Jonathan Martinez vs. José Aldo MAIN CARD | LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT · 205 LBS | PRO MMA Anthony Smith vs. Vitor Petrino MAIN CARD | MIDDLEWEIGHT · 185 LBS | PRO MMA Michel Pereira vs. Ihor Potieria MAIN CARD | MIDDLEWEIGHT · 185 LBS | PRO MMA Paul Craig vs. Caio Borralho PRELIMINARY CARD | FEATHERWEIGHT · 145 LBS | PRO MMA Joanderson Brito vs. Jack Shore PRELIMINARY CARD | STRAWWEIGHT · 115 LBS | PRO MMA Karolina Kowalkiewicz vs. Iasmin Lucindo PRELIMINARY CARD | LIGHTWEIGHT · 155 LBS | PRO MMA Elves Brener vs. Myktybek Orolbai PRELIMINARY CARD | FEATHERWEIGHT · 145 LBS | PRO MMA Jean Silva vs. William Gomis PRELIMINARY CARD | LIGHTWEIGHT · 155 LBS | PRO MMA Joaquim Silva vs. Drakkar Klose PRELIMINARY CARD | LIGHTWEIGHT · 155 LBS | PRO MMA Mauricio Ruffy vs. Jamie Mullarkey PRELIMINARY CARD | FLYWEIGHT · 125 LBS | PRO MMA Dione Barbosa vs. Ernesta Kareckaite PRELIMINARY CARD | LIGHTWEIGHT · 155 LBS | PRO MMA Ismael Bonfim vs. Vinc Pichel PRELIMINARY CARD | FLYWEIGHT · 125 LBS | PRO MMA Alessandro Costa vs. Kevin Borjas

Director: Rupert Sanders Release Date: June 7, 2024 Movie and Bruce Lee fans solemnly recall the tragic accident during the 1994 The Crow production. Brandon Lee died from a wound on set, caused by a firearm malfunction . Lee only had three more days of  required filming. To complete the film, stunt doubles   Chad Stahelski  and Jeff Cadiente served as stand-ins; special effects  were used to give them Lee's face. Tragic as it was, “Lee's on-set death paved the way for deceased actors to complete or have new performances, since pioneering CGI techniques were used to complete The Crow.”  30 years later, in 2024 we are getting the remake of The Crow Originally slated for this spot was the John Wick  spinoff  Ballerina , but Lionsgate has opted to delay its release until 2025. Instead, they've chosen to debut The Crow  on June 7, 2024.  This installment serves as a reboot for the franchise, recounting the tale of Eric Draven. In the original comic, Eric and his fiancee, Shelly, fall victim to a gang assault, resulting in their deaths. Eric is resurrected by a crow to avenge their murders using his newfound abilities.  Bill Skarsgard takes on the role of Draven, while FKA Twigs portrays Shelly. The cast also includes Danny Huston (coincidentally, the half-brother of a Ballerina cast member, Anjelica Huston!), Jordan Bolger, Laura Birn, and Sami Bouajila. Sanders, known for directing the live-action Ghost in the Shell film and Snow White and the Huntsman, helms this project. Stay tuned for The Crow ( 2024) review. Meanwhile, check out the trailer below:

South Africa's own ''The Future'' is gearing up for his first title defense as he takes on his arch-rival Jose ‘Shorty’ Torres in the main event of BRAVE CF 82 in Mauritius on May 11 Beyond the title implications, the BRAVE CF 82 main event of the evening has its place in the history books, when Nkosi Ndebele and Jose Torres kick off their third straight fight they will be officially competing in the first-ever trilogy in BRAVE CF history. In the first fight between the two which happened in Colombia, it was Jose Torres that came out on top through a split decision win. He won the Bantamweight world title as a result but just a few months later, in the rematch which happened at BRAVE CF 80 in Bahrain, Nkosi forced Torres to quit in the third round and levelled the scores. Now, a third fight with historic proportions will headline BRAVE CF 82 in Mauritius on May 11. Following his stoppage win at BRAVE CF 80, Nkosi is full of confidence and is planning to once again force Torres to quit. The South African claimed that he wants to break Torres this time around.  “Shorty will never beat me. He can bring whatever he has, anything that he has. I will have every answer, I will have all the answers of whatever he tries to bring. And trust me, those answers are going to be doubled or tripled, even worse. What am I expecting in that fight, I’m expecting him to quit again but this time, it is going to be something that will break him,” Nkosi said. Nkosi has been in camp for the fight at Soma Fight Club in Indonesia even before the fight announcement and has been training alongside fellow African superstar Eliezer Kubanza who will also be seen fighting in Mauritius.  Nkosi will be looking to become the first African MMA world champion to successfully defend the title on African soil; a testament to the commitment that BRAVE CF has shown towards MMA in Africa.  BRAVE CF 82 will be the fourth event on African soil for BRAVE Combat Federation following the organization’s events in South Africa and Morocco. Stacked with athletes from Africa and around the world, the fight night promises to deliver big time for the MMA fans in Africa and around the world.  Watch the Fight for FREE here: https://watch.bravecftv.com/video/brave-cf-82

UFC 301 Main Event Flyweight Champion, Alexandre Pantoja's story begins in the vibrant streets of Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro, where he first encountered the struggles and dreams of many young Brazilians. At the tender age of 17, Pantoja stepped into the professional fighting arena, driven by a blend of ambition and the harsh realities of life in a tough neighborhood. He quickly made a mark by winning seven of his first eight fights, signaling his potential as a future star in the sport. However, Pantoja's path was not without obstacles. An early career defeat to fellow Brazilian fighter Jussier Formiga tested his resolve, but he responded with a remarkable streak of seven consecutive victories. These successes opened doors for him in the United States, where he clinched the Resurrection Fighting Alliance title and became the first Legacy Fighting Alliance (LFA) flyweight champion. His prowess earned him a spot on Season 24 of The Ultimate Fighter, where he was the top seed in the tournament aimed at determining the challenger for Demetrious Johnson's UFC flyweight title. Despite not winning the reality TV competition, Pantoja's performance was compelling enough to secure his place in the UFC. Over the years, he has competed in various international venues, including the United States, Scotland, Chile, Argentina, Canada, South Korea, and the United Arab Emirates. Each fight added layers to his experience and skill, but he had never competed in his home country—until now. Returning to Brazil as the UFC flyweight champion, Pantoja is set to defend his title against Stephen Erceg in the main event of UFC 301, hosted at the Farmasi Arena in Rio de Janeiro. His homecoming is not just a professional milestone but a personal celebration. In Copacabana, where it all started, banners bearing his name adorn the neighborhood, a testament to his local hero status. The support from his community is a source of immense pride and motivation for Pantoja, who has expressed profound gratitude for the opportunity to perform in front of his hometown crowd. Pantoja often cites the movie "Slumdog Millionaire" as a metaphor for his life—unexpected challenges providing unexpected solutions, mirroring the protagonist's journey on the game show. His own story includes times of hardship, like when he supplemented his income by driving for Uber Eats while managing injuries and preparing for major fights. These experiences not only tested his resilience but also forged his character, preparing him for critical bouts that led him to the championship. As the fight night approaches, Pantoja reflects on his journey with a mix of excitement and introspection. He is keenly aware of the unique circumstances of this match, fighting not just for a title but for the pride of his origins. The energy of competing in Rio resonates deeply with him, fueling his determination to remain champion in what promises to be an electrifying contest. While the narrative of Alexandre Pantoja's career might resemble a cinematic story of struggle and triumph, it is firmly grounded in reality. His preparation, spirit, and connection to his roots are all too real, as is his readiness to face Stephen Erceg in a battle that is more than just a fight—it's a celebration of his life's work. As Pantoja himself has said, this isn't just about defending a title; it's about embodying the spirit of a champion, both in the octagon and beyond.