MONDAY, AUGUST 23, 2021 11 Kazakhstan shines at BRAVE CF 53 Tae Kyun Kim beats Nurzhan Akishev in Fight of the Year-contender main event

Vasiliy Takhtay beats• Roger Sampaio BETTER via submission KNOW TDT | Manama

t was a dream night for Ka- Taller and longer zakhstan. The biggest in- than his opponent, Iternational MMA event ever Tae Kyun Kim used held in the country, BRAVE CF 53 was the stage for the Kazakh his reach really well MMA to show the world its un- and started playing deniable talent. The icing on the the long-distance cake, though, was missing for the game, jabbing and home crowd, as Tae Kyun Kim following-up whenever stopped a five-win streak for Tae Kyun Kimin action during his bout against Nurzhan Akishev possible Tae Kyun Kimin reacts after his victory local fighters in the main card to remain undefeated and become posure, getting back in the zone At the end of the three rounds, evening, Vasiliy Takhtay dis- against Roger Sampaio with a it the official social media the number one contender in the and gradually shifting the fight’s Tae Kyun Kim was declared the played all his versatility and, second-round submission. accounts of BRAVE Combat division. control. winner by unanimous decision, after a strong performance For more results, highlights Federation on Twitter and It was a battle for the ages, ar- Taller and longer than his expanding his professional re- while striking, finished the job and videos of the finishes vis- Instagram. guably one of the best fights ever opponent, Tae Kyun Kim used cord to 9 wins and no losses. held inside the BRAVE CF Arena his reach really well and started The South Korean star said in and definitely one to be listed as playing the long-distance game, his post-fight interview exactly BRAVE CF president celebrates success in Kazakhstan a potential Fight of the Year by jabbing and following-up when- what he expects next. “I want TDT | Manama the history of the organization, the end of 2021. Tae Kyun Kim ever possible. In addition, he that Featherweight world title and one of the best fights we’ve and Nurzhan Akishev left it all used his clinch, with devastating next”, he stated. RAVE Combat Federation’s ever seen inside the BRAVE CF inside the cage and delivered 15 knees to the face, which caused But despite the setback in the B53rd edition was over for It was a night of pure Arena”, Campbell stated. memorable minutes of action to an absurd amount of damage to main event, Kazakh fighters just a few seconds and there entertainment, a full Phil Campbell’s partner dur- fans watching around the world. Akishev. emerged victorious in a hand- was in the air that feeling of MMA package, with a ing the TV broadcast, BRAVE The fight started with Aki - Between the second and third ful of important bouts. The success and a job well done. huge spectacle, great CF colour commentator Kirik shev willing to make this a short rounds, it appeared that Aki- most shocking one, without a The promotion landed in Al- Jenness couldn’t hide his ex- night of work. The hometown shev’s corner had thrown the doubt, was the second-round, maty for BRAVE CF 53 and the fight after great fight, citement with what had just hero unloaded a huge combo towel but the fighter stood up, rear-naked choke submission of fight night, with a mix of the it had it all. BRAVE occurred. “Kazakhstan is, with- and rocked Kim, who seemed to emerging from the ashes like the newcomer Olzhas Eskaraev biggest stars of international CF 53 was an MMA out, number one. This was the be about to quit at any moment. a phoenix, and came back for over the former world champion MMA and the best Kazakh fight- highlight from start to best BRAVE CF fight night ever But the South Korean showed, another back-and-forth, ac- Lucas “Mineiro” Martins. ers, delivered it in every way, finish. We promised and, honestly, one of the best once again, resilience and com- tion-packed, 5-minute war. In the co-main event of the shape, or form imaginable. Kazakhstan we would MMA events to be ever held”. The crowd was absolutely showcase their talent “The Roaring Lion” Carlos BRAVE CF 53 Results fantastic and got enough rea- Kremer, the BRAVE CF cage an- sons to cheer and celebrate with and what we saw was nouncer, emphasized the high Main Card the local fighters having a night the rise of superstars level of performances through Featherweight: Tae Kyun Kim def. Nurzhan Akishev via unanimous decision. to remember inside the BRAVE MOHAMMED SHAHID the entire event. “I don’t re - 73kg: Vasiliy Takhtay def. Roger Sampaio via submission (RNC) at 1:24 of R2 CF Arena. member seeing so many great BRAVE CF President Moham- time, he continued. “What I saw performances and insane fights : Asu Almabaev def. Aleksander Doskalchuk via submission (RNC) at 3:47 of R2 med Shahid acknowledged the from kids like Tae Kyun Kim, on a single night”, he said. Catchweight 74kg: Olzhas Eskaraev def. Lucas Martins via submission (RNC) at 2:49 of R2 special moments of BRAVE CF 53 for example. He’s going to be “From the Octagon Fight pre- Bantamweight: Brad Katona def. Bair Shtepin via unanimous decision and left his message after one of the biggest Korean MMA star lims to the main card we saw the greatest fight nights of 2021. out there, mark my words. It some of the most memorable Flyweight: Azat Maksum def. Flavio Queiroz via TKO at 3:00 of R1 “It was a night of pure enter- was fantastic, from the bottom fights in the history of BRAVE Catchweight 68kg: Akhmed Magomedov def. Ilyar Askhanov via unanimous decision tainment, a full MMA package, to the top”. CF. And that main event… What Octagon Prelims with a huge spectacle, great BRAVE CF play-by-play com- Tae Kyun Kim and Nurzhan fight after great fight, it had mentator Phil Campbell went Akishev did inside the cage was Catchweight 59kg: Damir Tolenov def. Nurbek Bolotbekov via submission (americana) at 3:25 of R2 it all”, Shahid said. “BRAVE CF even further. “This was not only unbelievable”. Flyweight: Aktore Batyrbek def. Ernis Abdilakim Uulu via submission (triangle choke) at 1:02 of R1 53 was an MMA highlight from the best fight night in the his- Light Heavyweight: Karim Ruzbakiev def. Kodirkhon Ganiev via unanimous decision start to finish. We promised Ka- tory of Kazakhstan’s MMA, I returns to action on Septem- zakhstan we would showcase would say that this was prob- ber 25, in Konin, Poland, with Welterweight: Bauyrzhan Kuanyshbayev def. Fakhriddin Mardiev TKO (medical stoppage) at 5:00 of R2 their talent and what we saw ably one of the best BRAVE CF BRAVE CF 54. The event will Catchweight 59kg: Alisher Gabdullin def. Bekzat Saparov via unanimous decision was the rise of superstars”. events ever. We had knock- be held in association with the Heavyweight: Zhasur Mirzamukhamedov def. Islambek Baktybekuulu via unanimous decision “Honestly, I hadn’t gotten this outs, submissions, a little bit local promoters of Galana Ex- excited about an event in a long of drama, the biggest upset in clusive Championship. Super Lightweight: Maksat Zholdosh def. Sanjarbek Erkinov via submission (triangle choke) at 1:30 of R2

Union’s in-form Awoniyi rescues point at Hoffenheim Ibrahimovic out until after international break, says Pioli AFP | Berlin AFP | Milan

ormer Liverpool striker latan Ibrahimovic will not FTaiwo Awoniyi scored his Zplay for AC Milan until after fourth goal in three games to the international window as seal a Bundesliga point for Un- he recovers from a knee injury, ion Berlin in their 2-2 draw at coach Stefano Pioli said yes- Hoffenheim yesterday. terday. The 24-year-old, who moved Veteran forward Ibrahimov- permanently from Merseyside ic, who will turn 40 in October, this summer after spending last has been out of action since season on loan in the German injuring his left knee during capital, equalised with a superb Milan’s 3-0 league win over Ju- strike early in the second half. ventus in May. “It was a good game for us, Pioli is hoping to have him Stefano Pioli (R) celebrates with Zlatan Ibrahimovic during a match (file photo) but with a bit of luck maybe we available when Serie A returns should have won,” said Awoni- in mid-September following the break for 2022 World Cup ing with us (the squad) during yi. qualifiers, which start at the the international break.” With Union 2-1 down, he Union Berlin striker Taiwo Awoniyi (R) in action during the match end of this month. Ibrahimovic’s injury also rescued a point two minutes for the Nigerian who scored er Leverkusen. “He is better physically. He meant that he missed Euro into the second-half by vol - twice and set up a third goal Union took the lead after 10 hasn’t yet rejoined the squad 2020 after coming out of inter- leying home at the second at- in Thursday’s 4-0 away drub- minutes in Hoffenheim when He is better physically. yet but next week will be very national retirement to play for tempt after his initial shot was bing of Finnish club Kuopion defender Niko Giesselmann He hasn’t yet rejoined important as there will be a lot Sweden in the tournament. parried. Palloseura in a first-leg quali- tapped home the rebound after the squad yet but of ball work,” Pioli told report- Pioli can count on another “When I saw the ‘keeper save fier for the Europa Conference his header was blocked. next week will be very ers ahead of Milan’s opening old hand in 34-year-old Olivier my shot, I kept on going, the League. The hosts roared back as de- match of the season at Samp- Giroud to lead the line against ball came back to my feet and it Awoniyi also scored the fender Kevin Akpoguma head- important as there will doria on Monday. Samp after the France forward went in,” Awoniyi added. opening goal in last Saturday’s ed in the equaliser four minutes be a lot of ball work “If everything goes as well as impressed in pre-season after It capped a golden week 1-1 league draw at home to Bay- later. STEFANO PIOLI I hope he could return to train- signing from Chelsea.