BRAVE CF president Mohammed Shahid anticipates electric Stark Arena for Serbian superstars’ homecoming fights

BRAVE Combat Federation President Mohammed “The Hawk” Shahid is excited about blessing the Serbian MMA fans with an unforgettable treat at BRAVE CF 69. February 18 will see two Serbian legends return home to fight in front of their beloved fans for the first time in years as Darko Stosic and Aleksandar “Joker” Ilic step into the BRAVE CF cage in the Stark Arena in Belgrade next month in the culmination of the BRAVE Serbia International Combat Week, the biggest combat sports festival in European history.

Darko Stosic takes on undefeated Bahraini Shamil Gaziev in an epic Heavyweight clash in the co-main event of the evening, while Serbian superstar Aleksandar “Joker” Ilid faces Poland’s Marcin Naruszczka in a Catchweight (90kg) feature bout. Both Serbian stars will make their BRAVE CF debut, and President Shahid feels honored that BRAVE CF could be responsible for bringing these stars back to their fans.

“We are looking at the biggest European event in Serbia, the BRAVE CF Serbia International Combat Week, the largest world championships, and the biggest fight card for BRAVE CF in European and Balkans history. It just makes it even better to have fighters like Darko Stosic and Aleksandar “Joker” Ilic make their homecoming fight,” says President Shahid. “When you look at Darko, he has not fought in Serbia since 2017, and Ilić has not fought in his country since 2018, and for them now being able to fight in their home country and have those fans cheering for them live, that is something I look forward to. All fans love to watch them on TV, but come February 18, BRAVE CF has made it possible for fans to see these legends of Serbian MMA live and be able to cheer for them inside the amazing Stark Arena,” added Shahid.

Holding a pro record of 17 wins and five losses, Darko Stosic has booked a top-3 place in the Eastern European and Polish rankings. One of the biggest stars in the Balkans, the Heavyweight Serbian superstar is a Judo black belt with heavy hands, considering that he has recorded eleven wins coming via KO thus far. He will rely on all his skill and the support of his home fans to open up his BRAVE CF account on a good note.

Ilic (14-5) secured a big win in his last MMA fight when he beat Russian veteran Alexander Shlemenko (62-15-1) via a knee and ground and pound in the first round. It is clear why the fans love “Joker” as he is a true entertainer with ten wins (71 percent) coming via KO/TKO. He is a well-rounded fighter with experience in Europe’s top promotions and will make his global debut in the fastest-growing organization in the world. Serbia loves Ilić, and there is no doubt he will have their backing when he walks out in front of the Belgrade crowd.

“When all these fans start cheering for Darko and Ilić, it will be an emotional moment for Serbia. It is moments like these that add so much value to what BRAVE CF is really all about, as we want to give the Serbian fans this gift,” concluded Shahid.

The week-long festival kicks off on February 11 as the IMMAF World Championships will host more than 500 athletes from 60+ nations in the capital in a pivotal moment for European MMA, with the highest-level government support, something never achieved before in the continent by any mixed martial arts event. 

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Roberto Villa is the CEO, Founder, Executive Writer, Senior Editor of FightBook MMA. Has a passion for Combat Sports and also a podcast host for Sitting Ringside. He’s also a former MMA fighter and Kickboxer.