BRAVE CF returns to Slovenia on June 6 with two world title fights at Hala Tivoli BRAVE CF returns to Slovenia with two explosive world title fights in Ljubljana
LUBLANA, Slovenia — BRAVE Combat Federation returns to Slovenia with a championship show Saturday, June 6at Hala Tivoli in cooperation with World Freefight Challenge.
this groundbreaking event will take place two fights for the BRAVE CF world championshipand the heavyweight and airy heavyweight titles will be at stake in an event that promises to be one of the organization’s most significant European events in 2026.
Pavel Dailidko defends the heavyweight crown against Miha Frlic
In the main event, reigning BRAVE CF Heavyweight World Champion Pavel Dailidko will face undefeated No. 1 ranked contender Miha Frlic.
Known as “The Experiment”, Dailidko enters the fight in impressive style Record 11-2and each of his victories ended by knockout.
Since joining BRAVE CF in 2022, the Lithuanian powerhouse has disappeared 6-1winning the inaugural heavyweight championship at the event BRAVE CF 88 in September 2024 after stopping Patryk Dubiela in the first round.
He recently defended his title at the gala BRAVE CF 99 in Vilnius, stopping Grégory Robinet in less than one round.
“I have worked tirelessly to reach this level and I am still far from finished,” Dailidko declared.
Opposite him is a challenger from his hometown of Frlic, who brings an unblemished presence 7-0-1 record for the biggest fight of his career.
The Slovenian challenger deserved to fight for the title BRAVE CF 104 in February, knocking out Samuele Di Guardo in the first round.
“This is the moment I’ve been working for my entire career. Competing for the world title in front of my people is an incredible honor,” said Frlic.
Erko Jun vs. Mohamed Said Maalem main event main event
In the co-main event, Erko Jun will defend the BRAVE CF airy heavyweight world title in a rematch with Mohamed Said Maalem.
Their first meeting at BRAVE CF 81 in April 2024 ended quickly as Jun scored a quick knockout victory.
Now the competition resumes for the championship.
Said Maalem has been one of the most experienced BRAVE CF veterans since 2019, and previously took part in world title fights.
“This is more than just a rematch for me; it’s a chance to make amends for the past and prove that I belong to the top,” said Said Maalem.
Jun returns to defend his crown after failing to become a two-division champion in BRAVE CF 96 in June 2025, where he challenged Mohammad Fakhreddine for the vacant middleweight title.
Earlier, the Bosnian striker won the airy heavyweight belt BRAVE CF 88 with a dominant performance over Alexander Wesner.
“I’m not just defending my world title; I’m defending the standards I set in this division,” Jun said.
“On June 6, I intend to impose my rhythm, control the distance and show that my evolution as a fighter has only made me more perilous.”
BRAVE CF’s return to Slovenia carries huge stakes
With two world championships on the horizon, BRAVE CF’s return to Slovenia is more than just another fight card.
It’s a decisive night where champions defend their legacy and challengers chase history.
On June 6, only the elite will survive at Hala Tivoli in Ljubljana.
On Saturday, Fili scored possibly the best knockout of his career, knocking out Kai Kamaka III with a head kick on the main card of UFC Vegas 122. The finish was brutal, putting Kamaka out before he even hit the canvas, but as he rushed forward to finish the fight, Fili pulled up before landing any follow-up shots, realizing Kamaka was unconscious.
At his post-fight press conference afterward, Fili expounded on the moment.
“I say this all the time: I'm a criminal, but I'm not a piece of shit,†Fili said. “I don't litter. I treat people with respect. And when I knock someone out, there's no reason to land that extra shot. He's got kids, he's got a wife, he's got a future outside of fighting. It's just not necessary, man. I hope he's OK. I didn't even really want to watch the replay back.
“Hurting people is part of the sport. I like being good at fighting. I like winning fights. I like getting paid to win fights. I like being on TV. Hurting people is a byproduct of that; it's not a driving force for me. So I'm not gonna land that extra shot.â€
Widely seen as one of the “good guys†of MMA, Fili has been a UFC veteran since 2013, and seemed to be getting emotional during his post-fight scrum. When asked about why, Fili explained.
“I poured everything I am, and everything I have into this performance, and I just really — I'm not scared of anybody in that cage,†Fili said. “Any apprehension or nerves or excitement or butterflies, it's all because I want to perform. I want to make my people proud, I want to make myself proud. I want to perform the way I know I can perform. And when it works out that way, it feels really good.
“And now I'm making enough money to where I can change the trajectory of my entire family. I come from violence and drug abuse and poverty. I live below the poverty line in America, which I know is different from being in some of these other countries, but it's below the poverty line nonetheless, and I'm here to break some generational curses. This shit's hard work.â€
Christian
Leroy Duncan believes a win over Brendan
Allen would warrant a shot at
Ultimate Fighting Championship gold or a matchup with a former
titleholder.
Duncan (15-2) is scheduled to headline
UFC Vegas 122 against Allen (27-7) on Saturday at Meta Apex in
Las Vegas. The Englishman has defeated Roman
Dolidze and Jared
Cannonier in his last two outings and hopes a victory over
Allen will earn him one of those opportunities.
Christian Leroy Duncan targets former champion as next step
after Brendan Allen
Duncan is 8-2 in the UFC and has won five straight fights. He
believes an impressive performance against Allen could propel him
past other middleweight contenders or put him one step closer to a
title shot.
‘I don't see why not [a title shot next],†Duncan told MMA
Fighting. “We get a good performance this weekend, I don't see why
not… Brendan Allen being Top 4, it puts us in that title contention
section where we've got Strickland and Imavov who are supposed to
be fighting next. We've got DDP amongst that mix of former
champions. It will be great to then put my hat in at the top level.
This year I fought Roman being a Top 15 fighter, Cannonier being a
Top 10 fighter and now Brendan Allen being a Top 5, so the natural
progression from that would be a former champion.â€
Middleweight champion Sean
Strickland has said compensation remains an obstacle to
finalizing the first title defense of his second reign, with
Nassourdine
Imavov his expected challenger. Former champions Khamzat
Chimaev and Dricus Du
Plessis are also seeking another fight with the 185-pound
titleholder. Chimaev lost the belt to Strickland earlier this year,
while du Plessis holds two wins over the American.
Christian
Leroy Duncan wants a No. 1 fight — or a straight title shot —
with a win at #UFCVegas122: “I fought Roman being a Top 15 fighter,
Cannonier being a Top 10 fight, and now Brendan
Allen being a Top 5, so the natural progression from that would
be a former champion.” (🎥 @guicruzzz)
Josh
Hokit believes Alexander
Volkov will never get a chance to fight him.
Hokit (10-0) is scheduled to challenge Ciryl Gane
(14-2, one no contest) for the
Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight title at UFC
334 on Nov. 14 at Madison Square Garden in New York. Volkov has
criticized Hokit since the title fight was announced, and the
American has responded.
Volkov considers Hokit an easy matchup and predicts that Gane will
defeat the unbeaten contender. In response, Hokit compared their
records, noting that he defeated Derrick
Lewis and Curtis
Blaydes, both of whom beat Volkov.
“Drago†has won consecutive decisions over Jailton
Almeida and Waldo
Cortes-Acosta and is scheduled to face Rizvan
Kuniev at
UFC 333 on Oct. 24 in Abu Dhabi. Hokit added that Blaydes
defeated both Almeida and Kuniev. “The Incredible Hok†claims he
will already be dominating the light heavyweight division by the
time Volkov earns a fight with him.
“Volkov saying he'd beat me easy is funny… He'll never get the
chance,†Hokit wrote on X. “I just beat Blaydes and Lewis. Volkov
lost to BOTH. Now he's fighting Kuniev (who Blaydes beat), after
squeaking by Almeida (who Blaydes dominated). I’m going to kill
Ciryl, who he lost to twice. Zero finishes, pure boring. By the
time you earn a fight with me, I'll already be dominating LH.â€
Volkov saying he'd beat me easy is
funny..he'll never get the chance. I just beat Blaydes and Lewis.
Volkov lost to BOTH. Now he's fighting Kuniev (who Blaydes beat),
after squeaking by Almeida (who Blaydes dominated). I’m going to
kill Ciryl, who he lost to twice. Zero finishes, pure boring. By
the time you earn a fight with me, I'll already be dominating
LH.
— The Incredible Hok (@Josh_HokitUFC)
October 8, 2026