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BRAVE CF BRINGS MODERN COMBAT INTO HISTORY’S MOST ICONIC SETTINGS
Aug 19, 2026
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BRAVE Combat Federation will turn one of Europe’s most storied monuments into a stage for modern mixed martial arts when BRAVE CF 108 arrives at Croatia’s iconic Pula Arena on Saturday, September 5.
For the Bahrain-based organization, the occasion represents more than another stop on its international calendar. It extends a distinctive tradition of taking elite combat sports into places where architecture, heritage and spectacle converge.
Built during the height of the Roman Empire, Pula Arena once hosted gladiatorial contests and vast public gatherings. Its limestone structure has endured through the centuries, preserving one of antiquity’s most complete amphitheaters.
Now, those historic walls will witness a new generation of athletes competing under modern rules, bringing contemporary MMA into a setting that still carries the grandeur of the ancient world.
“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.
The extraordinary surroundings will be matched by compelling action inside the cage.
Hometown hero Andi “Highlight Machine” Vrta?i? will headline the evening against France’s Sofiane Bouafia in a three-round middleweight clash.
Sharing top billing is a high-stakes encounter between Filipino superstar Stephen “The Sniper” Loman and Georgian sensation Lasha Abramishvili, with the winner potentially earning an opportunity to vie for the vacant BRAVE CF Bantamweight World Championship.
The choice of Pula Arena also follows a blueprint the organization has established at other remarkable locations.
In Bahrain, the 15th-century Portuguese-era mud-brick Arad Fort became an open-air venue for the “Return to Kombat Kingdom” series in 2021. Four consecutive cards unfolded between March and April, building toward the promotion’s landmark 50th global event.
The promotion later took that concept abroad. At BRAVE CF 59 in June 2022, the Bukhara Amphitheatre in Uzbekistan provided another striking setting, further demonstrating its appetite for unconventional stages.
Pula Arena now becomes the latest addition to that history.
For BRAVE CF, however, the concept extends beyond visual grandeur. Its choice of destinations reflects an effort to connect sport with the cultural identity of each host country, allowing local heritage to become part of the international viewing experience.
“What awaits this September will elevate our vision even further. As we continue to expand into new territories in the region, we aim to deliver unforgettable moments for the global MMA community,” Shahid said.
That ambition has accompanied the organization’s rapid rise. In less than a decade, BRAVE CF has established the largest share of the European MMA market while extending its presence across 38 nations worldwide.
Croatia will become the 18th European country to stage a BRAVE CF event and the 39th nation overall, underscoring the remarkable breadth of its global footprint.
From a centuries-old fortress in Bahrain to an amphitheater in Uzbekistan and now a Roman landmark overlooking the Adriatic, the promotion continues to challenge conventional ideas about where major MMA events can unfold.
On September 5, Pula Arena will offer more than a glimpse into the past. It will provide the setting for a new chapter in combat sports history.
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