Five Filipino fighters, including Team Lakay's Stephen Loman, are being eyed by BRAVE Combat Federation to join its inaugural event in Russia early next year.
For the first time since its establishment in 2016, BRAVE CF will hold a fight night in the city of Sochi on January 16, 2020. Though the final card has yet to be announced, Brave CF president Mohammed Shahid hinted at the possibility of Filipino fighters entering the cage soon.
“The Philippines has been a focus for BRAVE Combat Federation from the very beginning,” said Shahid. “From time to time, warriors from the Philippines prove that they have not only the skill to compete at the international level but also the heart that matters when it comes to combat sports.”
Loman is expected to banner the Philippine flag once more as the bantamweight king and the longest reigning champion in the Bahrain-based promotion.
Holding a 14-2 record, Loman rides on an eight-win match streak in the professional ranks, five coming from BRAVE since his debut in 2017.
The 25-year-old Igorot warrior last saw action in November last year, defeating Canadian challenger Ilias Sanoudakis via unanimous decision.
“I really believe that he (Loman) will take the sport of MMA to another level in the Philippines. He keeps on proving that he is a deserving champion," added the Brave CF chief, comparing his caliber to the likes of eight-division boxing champion Manny Pacquiao.
“People say we gave him the opportunity, but it's actually the opposite. He gave us the honor of fighting in our organization. I was sad that not a lot of Filipinos knew him, but now I'm the happiest man because the country found a new hero, a fighter who proudly represents the country.”
Rolando Dy, son of Filipino boxing icon Rolando Navarrete, is also expected for a future bout against lightweight champion Amin Ayoub of France.
Dy is on a two-match win streak after beating Maciej Gierszewski and John Brewin this year to improve at 14-9.
Team Lakay's Jeremy Pacatiw, Jomar Pa-ac and Harold Banario are also named in the list of possible fighters.
Pacatiw and Pa-ac both won their most recent fights last year while Harold, the younger brother of former ONE world featherweight champion Honorio, took a hiatus from the sport to pursue a college degree at the University of the Cordilleras.