Solomanov Claims Interim Featherweight Gold at BRAVE CF 98 in China
Zhangjiajie, China – September 20, 2025: BRAVE Combat Federation hosted its first event in mainland China with BRAVE CF 98, headlined by an interim featherweight title bout. Ukrainian grappling ace Omar Solomanov faced Kazakh contender Rauan Bekbolat in a bout that saw momentum swings and tactical adjustments. Solomanov controlled much of the first two rounds with takedowns and top pressure, but Bekbolat rallied late, landing crisp punches and leg kicks. In the championship rounds, Solomanov rediscovered his rhythm, mixing level changes with striking combinations to secure a unanimous decision and claim the interim belt.
The co‑main event featured a triumphant return for Zimbabwean star Nicholas Hwende, who kept Chinese crowd favorite Xie Bin on the end of jabs and leg kicks for three rounds to earn a unanimous decision. Earlier, Pakistan’s Owais Yaqoob made a splash in his promotional debut, dragging Ian Paul Lora to the canvas and finishing him with ground‑and‑pound at 3:06 of the opening frame.
Local hero Jiniushiyue thrilled fans by outlasting South African grappler Luthando Biko in a high‑paced striking battle. Chinese veteran Haitao Ti followed with a dominant performance, taking India’s Kantharaj Agasa down and unloading punches for a stoppage at 1:34 of round 1. In lightweight action, Kalinu Kadelibieke rallied from early adversity to TKO Turbayar Khurelbaatar in the third round.
Flyweight prospect Zeqiuduoji overcame a fast start from Iran’s Mojtaba Nasiri to claim a unanimous decision. The night’s opener saw Egyptian wrestler Ahmed Tarek dominate grappler Zhao Yikun, repeatedly taking his opponent down and threatening submissions on his way to a lopsided decision.
BRAVE CF 98 marked an important milestone in the promotion’s expansion into Asia and delivered a card full of finishes and competitive decisions. Solomanov’s win sets up a future unification bout with undisputed champion Roman Bogatov, while the performances of Hwende, Yaqoob and Jiniushiyue signal new contenders for BRAVE’s featherweight and bantamweight divisions.
