BRAVE CF 79: Ismail Naurdiev moves up to Middleweight, meets Tahar Hadbi in main event

TDT | Manama    

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Two-time BRAVE CF Super Welterweight title challenger Ismail Naurdiev is moving up in weight in search of the elusive world title.

‘’The Austrian Wonderboy’’ headlines BRAVE CF 79, on December 8, as he makes his Middleweight debut against Tahar ‘’Fast Hands’’ Hadbi.

In the co-main event, Heavyweight giants collide, as Pavel Dailidko looks for his third straight BRAVE CF victory against Hungary’s Janos Csukas.

Ismail Naurdiev signed with BRAVECF in early 2021 and made his debut headlining BRAVE CF 50 against then-champion Jarrah Al-Silawi.

He lost the fight via second-round TKO, but bounced back with two dominant victories.

First, in a Fight of the Year winner against Olli Santalahti, then in a first-round stoppage of Bekten Zheenbekov, which earned him another shot at gold.

Despite breaking Marcin Bandel’s jaw early on in their BRAVE CF 63 title fight, he succumbed to the new champion via armbar submission.

After another loss at Super Welterweight, Naurdiev has decided to move up to 185 pounds.

He will meet fellow Middleweight debutant Tahar Hadbi, who made his promotional debut all the way back in 2017 at BRAVE CF 5 and was noted for kicking off his BRAVE CF career with two No Contests.

He then earned the only win of his stint against arch-rival Mohammad Fakhreddine before losing to Jarrah Al-Silawi.

‘’Fast Hands’’ then suffered a heart attack after training in early 2019, but was given the all clear to return to MMA, following a miraculous recovery.

Hadbi last fought in the main event of BRAVE CF 38, when he lost to Giannis Bachar.

As is the case with his opponent, the French-Algerian fighter is hoping a move to Middleweight will reignite his career.

In the co-main event of BRAVE CF 79, Pavel Dailidko will look for his third straight victory under the BRAVE CF banner as he welcomes Janos Csukas.

The Lithuanian giant, who trains with the likes of Tom Aspinall and Phil de Fries, is eager to make a statement in search of the Heavyweight title, while Csukas will make history as he becomes the first Hungarian fighter to represent his country at BRAVE CF.

BRAVE CF 79 is the second of three professional events that highlight the BRAVE International Combat Week, at the Khalifa Sports City Arena in Bahrain.

Between December 5 and December 15, three shows will take place in the Kingdom as well as the IMMAF Asian Championships.