Nicholas Hwende, 30, is a former bantamweight world champion of BRAVE Combat Federation, a mixed martial arts promotion based in Seef, Bahrain. Born and raised in Gokwe North District, Midlands, Zimbabwe, he is training out of Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa.
“BRAVE CF 105”
The global MMA spotlight returns to Central Asia as BRAVE CF prepares for its highly anticipated return to Kazakhstan. Scheduled for May 31, 2026, “BRAVE CF 105” will take over the iconic Baluan Sholak Sports Palace in Almaty. Organized in partnership with the Alash Pride League, this landmark event marks BRAVE CF’s fourth venture into the country since its inaugural visit in 2017, underscoring Kazakhstan’s vital role in the organization’s international expansion.
Following the success of “BRAVE CF 103” in Uzbekistan, this upcoming extravaganza aims to further bridge the gap between regional excellence and the global stage. While full fight cards will be unveiled in the coming weeks, fans can expect a stacked lineup featuring top-tier local talent. Among the high-profile homegrown athletes expected to electrify the passionate Almaty crowd are top-ranked flyweight contender Dias “Son of the Steppes” Yerengaipov and former world title challenger Rauan “Shymyr” Bekbolat.
By blending elite international title fights with a platform for regional heroes, “BRAVE CF 105” is shaping up to be a historic night that honors Kazakhstan’s deep-rooted combat sports culture while delivering world-class action inside the cage.
Omar Solomanov vs Nicholas Hwende
Headlining “BRAVE CF 105” are Hwende and BRAVE CF Interim Featherweight World Champion Omar Solomanov, 33, of Odessa, Ukraine. They will compete for the vacant featherweight championship title.
This is Hwende’s second chance to be a BRAVE CF champion again. On December 13, 2024, he dethroned then BRAVE CF Bantamweight World Champion Nkosi Ndebele of Diepsloot, Gauteng, South Africa via unanimous decision at “BRAVE CF 91” at the Khalifa Sports City Stadium in Isa Town, Bahrain, making the winner the second African MMA fighter to become a BRAVE CF champion.
But on June 7, 2025, Hwende lost the title after losing via technical submission to Borislav Nikolic of Belgrade, Serbia at “BRAVE CF 96” at Hala Tivoli in Ljubljana, Slovenia. On September 19, 2025, the Zimbabwean MMA fighter bounced back by beating Xie Bin of Shanghai, China via unanimous decision at “BRAVE CF 98” at the Henan TV Studio 8 in Zhengzhou, Henan, China.
Currently, Hwende holds a professional MMA record of 10 wins and 2 losses. Solomanov has 14 wins and 3 losses.
CONAN Daily 