Loman keeps Brave bantamweight title

Loman keeps Brave bantamweight title

Loman keeps Brave bantamweight title
MMA

Loman keeps Brave bantamweight title

Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Share to Google Plus

Filipino Brave Combat world champion Stephen Loman pulled off a bell-beating knockout win against Elias ‘The Smile’ Boudegzdame of Bahrain and retained his bantamweight title in the Brave 22: Storm of Warriors – Brave Combat Federation’s debut in Manila -- Friday night at the MOA Arena in Pasay City.

Fighting in front of a highly partisan home crowd for the first time in more than three years of a professional career, Loman overcame mistakes in stand-up exchange during the first three rounds of the schedule five-round championship duel, before pulling off a performance that made him one of the Brave’s brightest stars.

As the crowd started chanting ‘Loman, Loman, Loman!’with 10 seconds left in the fourth round, the 27-year-old Ifugao native fighting for Team Lakay, floored  Boudegzdame with a left hook in the chin and the referee immediately stopped the fight with the official time of 2:59. 

“Natiyempuhan ko din. Nang marinig ko 'yung warning gooing to the final 10 seconds, ibinigay ko na nang todo, nang sumagsak, nirapido ko na, medyo parang nagulat pa 'yung referee kaya napatingin ako sa kanya, buti naman itinigil 'yung laban, before tumunog 'yung final bell,” said Loman, who defended the title for the third time. 

 “I would like to dedicate this fight to my family and teammates. But was also to my uncle, who passed away this month. This was for him, definitely,” said Loman, the only Filipino world champion in the Brave Combat Federation, the top MMA promotion in the Middle East and African continent. 

 
In the co-main event, Rolando Dy, son of former boxing world champion Rolando Navarette, shared the limelight with a ferocious knockout win against his erstwhile undefeated foe Mehmosh Raza of Bharain. 

“This is the first time I fought in front of my kababayans, that’s why I want them to witness a historic victory,” said the 26-year-old fighter out of General Santos City. 

Jeremy Pacatiw dominated and submitted fellow Pinoy Marc Alcoba, while Kiwi John Brewin took a close decision win over Irishman Cian Cowley in the other main event of the nine-match card. 

BRAVE 22 is held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa of Bahrain.