MIXED MARTIAL ARTS - IN one of the most jaw-dropping comebacks in BRAVE Combat Federation history, Serbia’s own Borislav Nikolic defied the odds and silenced the doubters by submitting reigning bantamweight world champion Nicholas Hwende from Zimbabwe in round four with a perfectly executed ninja choke at BRAVE CF 96 in Ljubljana, Slovenia.
For nearly three rounds, Nikolic was forced to weather a storm. Hwende, calm and clinical, looked every bit the dominant champion – mixing clean, technical striking with smothering top control. The damage piled up as the Zimbabwean swelled Nikolic’s right eye and seemed to cruise toward another successful title defense.
But where others may have crumbled, Nikolic dug deep. Even while bloodied and battered, the Serbian challenger showed the grit that had brought him to this stage. Late in round two, he nearly turned the tide with a tight guillotine attempt, and though Hwende escaped, the shift in energy was undeniable.
By the time the fourth round arrived, the fight had taken a toll on both men – but it was Nikolic who found another gear. Rallying from the brink, he landed a flurry that backed Hwende up and in a scramble, he seized his moment. Locking in a suffocating Ninja Choke, he rendered the champion unconscious, forcing the referee’s intervention and shocking the world.
With the win, Nikolic became Serbia’s first-ever BRAVE CF world champion – a trailblazing moment for his nation and a career-defining chapter in his own story. What began as another night of dominance for Hwende became an unforgettable showcase of Serbian heart and resilience.
BRAVE CF 96 will forever be remembered as the night Nikolic made history – not just by winning gold, but by showing the world what it truly means to never give up.
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