BRAVE CF Official YouTube Channel
Related Articles
.jpg)
Gerard Burns Vows To Make History For Ireland in High-Stakes Clash Vs Muhammad Mokaev At BRAVE 100
Oct 29, 2025
| Share:
Ireland’s Gerard “The Animal” Burns is on a mission that goes beyond personal glory.
When the 29-year-old steps inside the BRAVE Combat Federation cage on Friday, November 7, at Khalifa Sports City in Isa Town, Bahrain, he’ll be carrying the weight of a nation eager to end a long and painful drought against one of mixed martial arts’ most dominant regions — Dagestan.
Burns will square off with Muhammad “The Punisher” Mokaev for the inaugural BRAVE CF Flyweight World Championship in the co-main event of BRAVE 100, a monumental night that marks the organization’s historic 100th premium live show.
But for the fiery Irishman, this is about more than a World Title — it’s about redemption for Irish MMA.
The Ireland-Dagestan rivalry has produced unforgettable but heartbreaking moments for the Emerald Isle’s warriors.
From Conor McGregor’s defeat at the hands of Khabib Nurmagomedov in October 2018 to Paul Hughes’ twin setbacks against Usman Nurmagomedov earlier this year, Dagestan has held the upper hand in every marquee encounter.
At BRAVE 100, “The Animal” plans to rewrite that narrative once and for all.
“No Irishman has beaten a Dagestani fighter in a World Title fight, and that’s been eating at me,” Burns declared with conviction. “That ends with me. I’m bringing that win home for Ireland, no question about it.”
For the past two years, Mokaev — an unbeaten Dagestani-born, England-raised phenom — has been on Burns’ radar since 2023 when the Irish contender began carving his path through the promotion’s flyweight ranks.
During his dominant showing at BRAVE CF 89 against Santhiago “Galo Doido” Paiva in October 2024, Burns made his intentions crystal clear — calling out Mokaev in the middle of the fight while controlling his opponent’s back.
“I’ve wanted Mokaev for the longest time,” Burns said. “He’s the guy everyone says can’t be beaten, and I want to prove that wrong. This fight isn’t just another matchup; it’s the one I’ve been preparing for my whole career.”
While Mokaev remains one of the sport’s most talked-about rising stars, BRAVE CF President Mohammed Shahid believes that Burns’ hunger and self-belief could turn this rivalry upside down.
“No Irishman has overcome and beaten a Dagestani fighter in a World Title fight at this caliber,” Shahid stated in a recent podcast.
“If Gerard Burns comes to the Kingdom of Bahrain and gets that win in front of his friends and loved ones, I think Gerard Burns is going to be the new face of Irish mixed martial arts.”
Link Copied to Clipboard!
