Pula : BRAVE Combat Federation’s latest event in Croatia marked three milestones beyond the nine bouts held at BRAVE CF 108, highlighting the Bahrain-born promotion’s international expansion, historic setting and digital innovation.
Held on September 5 at Pula Arena, the event brought mixed martial arts (MMA) to one of the world’s oldest surviving sporting structures, while introducing a new vertical live-broadcast format for mobile audiences.
Croatia became the 18th European nation and the 39th country overall to host a BRAVE CF event, further expanding the promotion’s international presence.
BRAVE CF President Mohammed Shahid said the organisation remains committed to entering new markets and supporting the development of the sport.
“Our commitment is to keep entering new markets and helping them grow with us,” he said.
“We want to create one ecosystem where every nation can thrive, develop its athletes, and contribute to the progress of MMA. When one market becomes stronger, the entire sport moves forward.”
The event also marked a milestone in the use of historic venues for international MMA, with Pula Arena providing the setting for a show themed around “Modern Gladiators”.
Dating back nearly 2,000 years, the Roman amphitheatre hosted the event under the open night sky, bringing together the heritage of ancient combat and modern MMA.
BRAVE CF said it became the first truly global MMA organisation to stage a major international event in a Roman amphitheatre.
The event featured the highly anticipated return of former BRAVE CF Bantamweight World Champion Stephen “The Sniper” Loman in the co-main event.
Shahid said the venue reflected the organisation’s commitment to enhancing the live sports experience while honouring history.
“Pula Arena allowed us to connect the heritage of combat with modern MMA and give fans an experience that could not be replicated in a conventional venue,” he said.
BRAVE CF 108 also introduced dedicated 9:16 live broadcasts across YouTube, Facebook and X, providing a viewing format designed specifically for mobile screens.
Shahid said the initiative reflects the organisation’s efforts to adapt to changing audience habits and enhance the viewing experience.
“The way people consume sport is changing rapidly, so we have to evolve with them. This vertical broadcast is another example of BRAVE CF pushing forward and creating an experience that feels natural to the modern audience,” he said.
The event’s milestones reflect BRAVE CF’s continued efforts to expand its international reach, explore new settings for live competition and adopt digital formats to engage audiences.
