From Ngannou to Lohoré, French MMA is part of BRAVE CF’s global story
When BRAVE Combat Federation celebrates its milestone BRAVE CF 100 event on Friday, November 7, it will not only mark a historic moment for the MMA promotion. This will also spotlight a nation that is woven into the DNA of BRAVE CF.
France’s influence in mixed martial arts is undeniable, and BRAVE CF has long been a testing ground for its top athletes. From the early days of global expansion to today’s modern stars, French fighters have carved their names into the BRAVE CF legacy; each of them proudly carries the tricolor flag.
The modern standard: the legacy of Alex Lohoré
Alex Lohoré’s career is characterized by movement – across promotions, continents and cultures. Having competed for the likes of KSW, Bellator, OKTAGON MMA and Cage Warriors, Lohoré’s evolution as a mixed martial artist reflects the global rise of the sport itself. But it is at BRAVE Combat Federation where he has found a platform that amplifies both his skills and his story.
In three BRAVE CF appearances, Lohoré has maintained a perfect record: three fights, three finishes, all via TKO. None of his opponents made it to the final bell. That level of dominance sets the stage for his biggest test yet: a showdown with Mohammad Fakhreddine, a BRAVE CF legend, Hall of Fame member and one of the Middle East’s most decorated fighters.
A French origin woven into the BRAVE CF history
France’s connection to the BRAVE Combat Federation even predates the rise of some of today’s biggest names. In May 2015, at the KHK National MMA Tryouts Finals: IMMAF 2015 Qualifiers, a powerful Cameroonian-French fighter named Francis ‘The Predator’ Ngannou headlined the event. Representing KHK MMA, Ngannou won by second-round submission and became one of the most dominant heavyweight fighters in the world, with stints in the UFC, PFL and now professional boxing. Although his time in the BRAVE CF ecosystem was short, his impact laid the foundation for future French and Francophone athletes to follow.
Then came Elias “Smile” Boudegzdame, the very first champion to be crowned in the history of the BRAVE Combat Federation. Representing both Algeria and France, Boudegzdame’s victory over Masio Fullen at BRAVE CF 4 in 2017 made him the inaugural BRAVE CF Featherweight World Champion, setting the tone for years of world-class competition. He became part of the promotion’s identity – a symbol of how BRAVE CF could elevate fighters from regions often overlooked by mainstream MMA.
The champions that followed
When “Lazy King” Abdoul Abdouraguimov joined BRAVE CF in 2018, few could have predicted how quickly he would rise. Fighting from France, Abdouraguimov captured the BRAVE CF Welterweight Championship the following year at BRAVE CF 23, further entrenching France’s dominance in the promotion. His calm, technical approach was in stark contrast to the wild intensity of many opponents – proof that French MMA could bring both flair and discipline.
Likewise, Amin “Fierceness” Ayoub brought a storm of energy into the BRAVE CF cage. After debuting at BRAVE CF 31 in late 2019, he captured the Lightweight World Championship at BRAVE CF 44 within a year. Ayoub embodied the fearlessness of a generation of French fighters who saw BRAVE Combat Federation not as an alternative, but as the international platform to prove themselves.
And then there is Axel Sola, who started his professional career under the banner of BRAVE CF. His first five fights (all wins) were fought in the BRAVE CF cage, demonstrating his well-rounded game and mental composure. Those performances led him to ARES FC gold and eventually to the UFC, where he now competes among the sport’s elite.
The current fighters
Although the French BRAVE CF story has deep roots, the branches continue to grow. Fighters like Mohamed “L’Ambiance” Said Maalem and Tahar ‘Fasthands’ Hadbi have each played their part in shaping the light heavyweight and welterweight scenes. Said Maalem, an Algerian-Swiss fighter based in France, remains one of the most recognizable names on the current roster, having shared the cage twice with none other than Lohoré’s upcoming opponent, Mohammad Fakhreddine.
Hadbi, meanwhile, has been part of the BRAVE CF family for six years, making his debut in 2017 and even claiming a victory over Fakhreddine in their second meeting. Together, these men have built the kind of competitive legacy that will ensure France will always have a place in BRAVE CF history.
From the tricolor to Ivory Coast
As the BRAVE CF 100 approaches, the eyes of the MMA world are on Alex Lohoré – a man who carries the pride of France, England and Ivory Coast in the cage. His rise reflects the global spirit upon which BRAVE CF was built: a federation designed to unite nations through martial arts.
Lohoré’s story is the culmination of everything French MMA stood for within BRAVE CF: passion, perseverance and purpose. He stands on the shoulders of greats like Ngannou, Boudegzdame, Abdouraguimov, Ayoub and Sola, but his mission is entirely his own. With every punch, every takedown and every finish, Lohoré represents a new era – one that bridges continents, cultures and communities under the banner of BRAVE Combat Federation.
At BRAVE CF 100, French fighting history continues – and Alex Lohoré is ready to make history again.
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