BRAVE CF MMA – BREAKOUTS in BRAVE Combat Federation are earned the hard way. In 2025, four athletes stepped into the cage with everything on the line and left with momentum that could not be ignored.
Each seized key matchups, delivered decisive finishes or authoritative wins, and turned opportunity into credibility on the international mixed martial arts (MMA) stage.
Their performances did more than fill highlight reels. They shifted perceptions and accelerated their climb within the organisation.
BRAVE CF have therefore named four nominees for Breakout Fighter of the Year. They include Owais Yaqoob, Youssef Boughanem, Mim Grubb, and Ismail Khan.
Few athletes burst onto the BRAVE CF scene with the authority shown by Yaqoob. The Indian standout embraced the pressure of the big stage and turned it into dominance. His promotional debut at BRAVE CF 98 became an instant talking point as he overwhelmed Filipino newcomer Ian Paul Lora, forcing a first-round submission after unleashing thunderous offense.
Yaqoob’s ascent did not slow as the calendar turned. At BRAVE CF 103 three months later, he delivered a statement that echoed far beyond the arena. Against Turkish debutant Mehmet Can Tasdoven, he imposed his will from the opening exchange, bullying the clinch, firing ruthless knees, and dragging the fight to the mat. The finish came swiftly via punishing ground strikes, sealing a year defined by control, composure, and unmistakable intent.
Boughanem entered 2025 as a promising force and exited it as an undefeated menace fully settled into the complexities of MMA.
The Moroccan-Belgian striker thrived under the BRAVE CF spotlight, extending his perfect run to 5-0 while showcasing refined mastery of the game. His campaign ignited at BRAVE CF 94 in May, where sustained pressure and precision forced Dimitris Moirotsos’s corner to halt the contest in round two.
Boughanem then elevated his profile even further at BRAVE CF 101 last November. One perfectly timed knee to the body folded Anthony Zeidan in the opening frame, delivering a highlight that will live long in promotional lore.
Grubb’s 2025 journey was defined by grit and composure. The English standout went unbeaten across two pivotal outings, cementing her status as one of the most dependable forces in the women’s strawweight ranks.
Grubb opened the year with a measured and commanding performance at BRAVE CF 97 last July, earning a unanimous decision win over Songul Karatorak. She followed that with another high-level display at the landmark BRAVE CF 100 event four months later, where she outworked and outmuscled former Shooto Brazil champion Fabiola Nascimento across three intense rounds.
Khan did not merely win in 2025. Stepping beyond familiar territory, the Pakistani prodigy maintained perfection under the BRAVE CF banner while dismantling opponents with surgical efficiency.
His first exploit came swiftly, as he needed less than a round to dispatch Azerbaijan’s Elmir Jafarov in a catchweight contest at BRAVE CF: Georgia vs the World in October. A rear-naked choke rendered the bout academic and announced Khan’s submission prowess.
Momentum followed him into his next outing at BRAVE CF 103 in December, where Kyrgyzstan’s Rayimbek Tazhibaev faced relentless pressure from the opening bell.
Khan’s suffocating top control paved the way for a second-round arm-triangle choke, closing the show in decisive fashion. Each finish reinforced his reputation as an emerging nightmare in the lighter weight classes.
Voting for the 2025 Breakout Fighter of the Year is officially open across BRAVE CF’s social media platforms, allowing supporters worldwide to choose which rising star made the strongest impact in 2025.
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