The Netherlands is widely known for its strong kickboxing roots, with many Dutch MMA fighters excelling in striking. However, Daan Duijs is an exception. Rather than following the usual kickboxing path, Daan began his martial arts journey with Judo at the age of six. Ten years later, he transitioned to MMA, where he quickly found success, remaining undefeated in his first six professional fights.
Now, Daan is preparing for his next big challenge at BRAVE CF 89. He enters the fight on a two-fight winning streak and hopes to extend it further. More than just another win, this fight could be life-changing for Daan, who has been balancing his MMA career with part-time work to support his family. A victory could elevate him among the top names in BRAVE CF’s Bantamweight division, which is currently ruled by champion Nkosi Ndebele.
Daan’s grappling skills have been a key part of his success. As a black belt in Judo, six of his ten career wins have come via submission. His striking skills have also improved significantly, thanks to training with top athletes like former MMA World Champion Germaine De Randamie and kickboxing champion Ilias Bulaid.
With BRAVE Combat Federation making waves in the Netherlands, especially after successful events like BRAVE CF 83 and BRAVE CF 87, this is the perfect moment for Daan to shine on the global stage. However, his opponent at BRAVE CF 89, Abdelmoumen Mssaate, is no easy challenge. Mssaate has already faced the division’s champion Nkosi Ndebele, so if Daan can outperform him, it could be a major statement in the Bantamweight division.
BRAVE CF 89 will take place on October 19 at Pabellón Santiago Martín in Tenerife, Spain, in partnership with Fight2One. The event will be headlined by a Super Welterweight title fight between champion Kamal Magomedov and Brazilian contender Luiz Cado. For Daan Duijs, this fight could be the opportunity to solidify his position in one of the world’s most competitive MMA organizations.