Former BRAVE CF bantamweight champion Stephen Loman will return to the organization after a five-year absence when he faces rising Georgian star Lasha Abramishvili in the co-main event of BRAVE CF 108 at the historic Pula Arena on Sept. 5.
The event marks Loman’s first fight in Croatia and makes him the first Cordilleran fighter to compete inside the 2,000-year-old Roman amphitheater.
Raised in Ifugao and now based in Baguio City, Loman carried his indigenous heritage through a record 1,179-day title reign that included four successful defenses as the organization’s inaugural bantamweight champion.
“I’m very excited to fight in Croatia for the first time. I’ve competed in many countries throughout my career, but this will be a completely different experience. Competing in a location with so much history makes this opportunity even more special,” Loman said.
Built during the first century under the Flavian dynasty, Pula Arena once hosted ancient gladiatorial contests and stands today as one of the best-preserved Roman amphitheaters in the world.
Loman views the iconic venue as a bridge between the ancient warriors of the Mediterranean and the resilient heritage of the Cordilleran people, who successfully resisted Spanish colonization for more than three centuries to preserve their ancestral lands.
“I know the history of Pula Arena, and that makes this fight even more meaningful. Warriors fought here centuries ago, and now I have the chance to compete in the same place in a different era. I want to honor that history by giving the fans a performance they will remember,” Loman added.
Having previously competed in major venues across Singapore, India, Northern Ireland, Bahrain, and the Philippines, Loman plans to bring the warrior ethos of his ancestors into modern mixed martial arts competition on the international stage.
“I’m proud to be a Cordilleran. Wherever I compete, I carry my people and my heritage with me. Our ancestors were fiercely independent, and they protected their land and way of life for generations. That determination is part of me, and I want to show the world what a Cordilleran warrior is all about,” Loman quipped. NLMonitor
