Gerard Burns wants to make history for Ireland against Dagestan at BRAVE 100

Irish standout Gerard Burns is looking to write his name in mixed martial arts history in the co-main event of BRAVE 100 on Friday, November 7.

There, the 29-year-old is set to clash with Muhammad “The Punisher” Mokaev before the inauguration BRAVE CF Flyweight World Championship, a highly anticipated five-round encounter that will take place live from Khalifa Sports City in Isa Town, Bahrain.

This isn’t just a fight for “The Animal” Burns – it’s personal. The Dublin native carries the weight of an entire nation longing to see Ireland finally triumph in its long-standing MMA rivalry with Dagestan.

From the infamous clash between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor in 2018 to the two recent battles pitting Paul Hughes against Usman Nurmagomedov, the Irish have fallen short in their attempts to topple Dagestan’s elite.

Burns is determined to end that drought at next week’s BRAVE 100.

“No Irishman has beaten a Dagestani fighter in a world title fight, and that eats at me,” he declared. “That ends with me. I’ll take that win back to Ireland, there’s no doubt about that.”

For two years, one name has been etched in Burns’ memory: Mokaev.

The undefeated Dagestani-born sensation, raised in England, has long been seen as an unstoppable force in the flyweight division.

However, “The Animal” has charted his path to this moment, even making his intentions clear mid-fight during his dominant win over Santhiago “Galo Doido” Paiva at BRAVE CF 89 last year – calling out Mokaev while maintaining control.

“I’ve wanted Mokaev for a long time,” Burns said. “He’s the guy everyone says can’t be beat, and I want to prove that isn’t the case. This fight isn’t just any matchup; it’s the one I’ve been preparing for my entire career.”

BRAVE CF president Mohammed Shahid believes that if Burns can get the win over an undefeated phenom like Mokaev, it would send shockwaves through the global MMA scene and redefine Irish representation in the sport.

“No Irishman has overcome and defeated a Dagestani fighter in a world title fight of this calibre,” Shahid said in a recent podcast.

“If Gerard Burns comes to the Kingdom of Bahrain and achieves that victory in front of his friends and loved ones, I think Gerard Burns is going to be the new face of Irish mixed martial arts.”