BRAVE Combat Federation delivered another historic night at BRAVE CF 88 in Slovenia. The event saw two new champions crowned in front of a sold-out crowd. Erko Jun became the Light Heavyweight champion, while Pavel Dailidko claimed the inaugural Heavyweight title.
Erko Jun Becomes Light Heavyweight Champion
In the main event, Erko Jun faced Alexander Wesner for the Light Heavyweight belt. Jun dominated early by targeting Wesner’s lead leg with powerful kicks. These strikes slowed down Wesner and set the tone for the fight. A cut on Jun’s head opened during a second-round scramble, but the fight remained competitive.
Jun pushed for a finish in the third round, dropping Wesner with a heavy strike but couldn’t secure a stoppage. However, in the fourth round, Jun’s leg kicks finally took their toll. A low leg kick brought Wesner to the ground, and Jun finished the fight to claim the title.
Pavel Dailidko Wins Heavyweight Title
In the co-main event, Pavel Dailidko became the first-ever BRAVE CF Heavyweight champion. He faced Patryk Dubiela, who aimed to use his grappling skills. However, Dailidko’s defense held firm. He dominated the fight with powerful ground-and-pound strikes, leading to a first-round stoppage.
This win marked Dailidko’s fifth consecutive finish in BRAVE CF and cemented his place in the promotion’s history as the first Heavyweight champion.
Thrilling Action Across the Card
Monika Kučinič delivered a fight-of-the-year contender, defeating Fabiola Pidroni by split decision. Pidroni nearly finished Kučinič with a head kick in the first round, but Kučinič showed resilience. She bounced back in the second and third rounds with sharp striking, earning her second victory of the year.
Luka Podkrajšek returned to the win column with a TKO victory over Italian veteran Michele Mirabella. Podkrajšek ended the fight with ground-and-pound strikes. In his post-fight interview, he revealed he fought with a broken rib and hinted at retirement.
Elsewhere on the card, Miha Frlic secured a quick victory, stopping Samuele Di Guardo in just 37 seconds with a flurry of strikes. This win marked Frlic’s first victory in BRAVE CF and kept his undefeated record intact.
Kristjan Toniste showed his experience in a Super Lightweight bout against Domen Drnovsek. Toniste dominated the fight, winning by unanimous decision. He controlled the stand-up exchanges and defended Drnovsek’s submission attempts.
Marina Spasič remained undefeated with a third-round stoppage of Maristela Alves. After a competitive first two rounds, Spasič broke Alves’ nose in the final round, forcing the referee to stop the fight.
IMMAF European champion Kirill Negru delivered a strong performance in the opening fight. He defeated Ilia Sinani by unanimous decision and earned a spot in the IMMAF World Championships in Uzbekistan.
Looking Ahead
BRAVE CF 88, held in partnership with WFC, was the promotion’s second event in Slovenia this year. The event once again showcased the growing popularity of mixed martial arts in the country. BRAVE CF will next head to Spain for BRAVE CF 89, scheduled for October 19, continuing its global expansion in the MMA world.
BRAVE CF 88 Results:
- Light Heavyweight: Erko Jun def. Alexander Wesner via TKO (leg kicks) – 1m27s – Round 4
- Heavyweight: Pavel Dailidko def. Patryk Dubiela via TKO (punches) – 4m33s – Round 1
- Strawweight: Monika Kucinic def. Fabiola Pidroni via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
- Heavyweight: Luka Podkrajsek def. Michele Mirabella via TKO (punches) – 3m24s – Round 1
- Heavyweight: Miha Frlic def. Samuele Di Guardo via TKO (punches) – 37s – Round 1
- Super Lightweight: Kristjan Toniste def. Domen Drnovsek via unanimous decision (3x 30-27)
- Strawweight: Marina Spasič def. Maristela Alves via TKO (punches) – 2m11s – Round 3
- Amateur Welterweight: Kirill Negru def. Ilian Sinani via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)
