MMA
BRAVE CF 108 preview: Fight card and how to watch for free on DAZN
Watch BRAVE CF live and for free on DAZN
BRAVE Combat Federation heads to Croatia for the first time this weekend, with BRAVE CF 108 bringing MMA to one of the most spectacular venues in combat sports.
Saturday's card will take place inside the historic Pula Arena, one of the world's best-preserved Roman amphitheatres, as Croatia becomes the 39th country to host a BRAVE CF event.
There is plenty at stake inside the cage too, with Croatian middleweight Andi "Highlight Machine" Vrtačić fighting in front of his home crowd against Sofiane Bouafia in the main event.
Former BRAVE CF bantamweight world champion Stephen "The Sniper" Loman also makes his long-awaited return against Lasha Abramishvili in a co-main event which could determine one of the next challengers for the vacant bantamweight title.
Fans can watch BRAVE CF 108 live on DAZN on Saturday, September 5.
What is BRAVE CF 108?
BRAVE CF 108 is the latest event from BRAVE Combat Federation and will mark the MMA promotion's first event in Croatia.
The event will be staged at Pula Arena, the Roman amphitheatre which has stood for almost two millennia and once hosted gladiatorial contests and other public spectacles.
Croatia becomes the 18th European country and 39th nation overall to stage a BRAVE CF event as the Bahrain-based promotion continues its international expansion.
Pula Arena also continues BRAVE CF's history of staging MMA in distinctive historic venues.
The promotion previously held its "Return to Kombat Kingdom" series at Bahrain's Arad Fort in 2021 before staging BRAVE CF 59 at the Bukhara Amphitheatre in Uzbekistan the following year.
"Bringing BRAVE CF to Pula Arena is a tremendous honor. This ancient amphitheater has stood the test of time, and hosting a modern combat sports event inside its walls is a privilege we share with the people of Croatia," BRAVE CF president Mohammed Shahid said.
This weekend, attention turns to a card headlined by a Croatian contender looking to make an immediate impact on his BRAVE CF debut.
Who is fighting in the BRAVE CF 108 main event?
Andi Vrtačić faces Sofiane Bouafia in the BRAVE CF 108 main event, with the pair meeting in a three-round middleweight contest.
Vrtačić will have home advantage as the Croatian makes his promotional debut in Pula.
The "Highlight Machine" has established himself as a dangerous finisher on the regional circuit, recording six knockouts among his nine professional MMA victories.
He now has the opportunity to announce himself in the BRAVE CF middleweight division in front of his home crowd.
Bouafia will be tasked with spoiling the occasion.
The French veteran has been competing professionally since 2012 and has recorded seven finishes among his career victories, as well as winning regional championships.
Stephen Loman vs Lasha Abramishvili: BRAVE CF title shot at stake
The BRAVE CF 108 co-main event could have major implications for the vacant BRAVE CF Bantamweight World Championship.
Former champion Stephen Loman returns to the promotion to face Georgian contender Lasha Abramishvili, with the winner potentially earning an opportunity to fight for the vacant belt.
Loman is one of the most significant fighters in BRAVE CF history.
"The Sniper" competed on the promotion's inaugural card in September 2016 and went on to build a perfect 6-0 BRAVE CF record.
He defeated Gurdarshan Mangat by first-round TKO at BRAVE CF 9 in November 2017 to become the inaugural BRAVE CF Bantamweight World Champion.
Loman then made four successful title defences and held the championship for 1,179 days, the longest reign in the division's history.
However, Abramishvili enters BRAVE CF 108 with considerable momentum of his own.
The Georgian has a 12-2-1 professional record and is unbeaten across four BRAVE CF appearances, with three of those victories coming inside the distance.
His latest victory came at BRAVE CF 106 in June, when he defeated Brice Picaud by unanimous decision.
Beating one of the division's most decorated former champions would give Abramishvili an even stronger claim to compete for the vacant championship.
BRAVE CF 108 full fight card
Middleweight – Main event: Andi Vrtačić vs. Sofiane Bouafia
Bantamweight – Co-main event: Stephen Loman vs. Lasha Abramishvili
Featherweight: Mathias Prehofer vs. Walter Cogliandro
Lightweight: Domen Drnovsek vs. Erik Pletikos
Super welterweight: Amil Tutić vs. Ivan Kiš
Flyweight: Maja Drnovšek Povšnar vs. Aleksandra Sokołowska
Middleweight: Luka Vrtačić vs. Ali Hodeib
Lightweight: Patrick Pereša vs. Filip Vidak
Super welterweight: Roni Pavlovic vs. Nejc Rupreht
When and where is BRAVE CF 108?
BRAVE CF 108 takes place on Saturday, September 5 at Pula Arena in Pula, Croatia.
The event will be BRAVE Combat Federation's first show in Croatia and will see the country become the 18th European nation to host the promotion.
The setting also provides BRAVE CF with another distinctive backdrop, with the Pula Arena joining Arad Fort and the Bukhara Amphitheatre among the historic venues to have staged the promotion.
How to watch BRAVE CF 108 on DAZN
BRAVE CF 108 will be available to watch live on DAZN on Saturday, September 5.
Fans can search "BRAVE CF" on DAZN to find the event and the latest BRAVE Combat Federation action.
BRAVE CF is available globally on DAZN, excluding France, Monaco, French overseas territories and Russia.
