MMA – NICHOLAS ‘The Saint’ Hwende authored another defining chapter into BRAVE Combat Federation history nearly two weeks ago.
At BRAVE CF 105 in Almaty, Kazakhstan at the end of May, the Zimbabwean standout submitted interim title-holder Omar ‘Cobra’ Solomanov in the fifth round to become the undisputed BRAVE CF featherweight world champion.
With that triumph, Hwende joined an exclusive class of athletes who have captured world titles in two different divisions under the promotion’s banner.
For many athletes, such an achievement would represent the peak of their career. But for Hwende, it appears to signal the beginning of an even more ambitious stretch.
The former bantamweight ruler has looked revitalised since his move to featherweight, consistently highlighting the advantages of competing without the punishing weight cuts that once defined his earlier run.
Now fully settled at 145 pounds, ‘The Saint’ stands at a crossroads filled with opportunity.
From legacy-defining defenses and renewed rivalries to super-fights and even a bold leap into uncharted territory, the possibilities are vast.
As BRAVE CF 105 fades into history, attention turns toward what comes next for one of Africa’s most accomplished mixed martial artists.
Rauan ‘Shymyr’ Bekbolat has quietly built one of the strongest cases for a world title opportunity in the featherweight division.
The number two-ranked bantamweight contender entered BRAVE CF 105 with a point to prove, and he did emphatically by submitting Sardor ‘Tiger’ Khudoyberdiev with a first-round triangle choke in front of his home supporters.
The timing was impossible to ignore. Moments after Hwende’s coronation, the two men met inside the BRAVE CF cage, instantly fueling speculation about a collision course for the divisional crown.
Rivalries rarely conclude with a single encounter, and the story between Hwende and Solomanov already carries the weight of unfinished business.
Solomanov came to BRAVE CF 105 as the BRAVE CF interim featherweight world champion, having previously defeated Bekbolat at BRAVE CF 98 in September of 2025 to earn the right to vie for undisputed supremacy.
The Ukrainian brought momentum, confidence, and a growing reputation as one of the division’s most complete fighters. However, Hwende crashed the party and claimed the intricately crafted hardware.
Despite the setback, Solomanov’s standing in the weight class ensures he remains a constant presence near the top.
Another strong performance from him could easily reopen the door to a sequel, especially in a division where elite challengers are never far from contention.
Few potential matchups carry as much intrigue as a showdown between Hwende and former BRAVE CF featherweight world champion Nemat ‘Eagle’ Abdrashitov.
The Kyrgyz dynamo captured the coveted strap at BRAVE CF 72 in June of 2023 and established himself as one of the division’s most influential figures.
Although he no longer occupies the throne, Abdrashitov never lost it inside the cage, a detail that continues to shape how his legacy is viewed.
Hwende now sits atop the division, but a clash with the last reigning champion would offer clarity to a lingering debate about lineage and supremacy.
Every championship journey carries a defining setback, and for Nicholas Hwende, that moment came against Borislav ‘Zombee’ Nikolic.
At BRAVE CF 96 in June of 2025, the Serbian shocked the world by submitting Hwende with a fourth-round ninja choke to claim the BRAVE CF bantamweight world championship. The defeat ended Hwende’s reign at 135 pounds and remains one of the most significant victories of Nikolić’s career.
Since then, Hwende has rebuilt himself into a two-division world champion, while Nikolic continues his own run as the bantamweight king.
The history between them remains unresolved, with their initial duel still standing as a pivotal turning point in Hwende’s evolution.
Perhaps the most ambitious path available to Hwende lies one division above.
Immediately after capturing undisputed featherweight gold, the Zimbabwean hinted at the possibility of moving to lightweight, a suggestion that quickly captured attention across the BRAVE CF landscape. While it may have been delivered with a hint of humour, the idea carries serious historical implications.
Hwende has already become only the second fighter in BRAVE CF history to win world titles in two separate weight classes. A successful move to 155 pounds would place him on the brink of an unprecedented achievement – the possibility of becoming the first three-division BRAVE CF world champion.
The lightweight division presents a daunting challenge, led by divisional king Abdisalam ‘Omok’ Kubanychbek and interim titlist Rauli Tutarauli, alongside a deep roster that includes Ramazan Gitinov and Owais Yaqoobi.
Yet that level of difficulty may be precisely what attracts a fighter whose career has been defined by constant elevation beyond expectations.
&uuid=(email))