MANILA – Ilonggo Jenel Lausa aims for a triumphant mixed martial arts (MMA) return when he faces Ryskulbek Ibraimov of Kyrgyzstan in the BRAVE Combat Federation 47: Asian Domination card tonight at the Bahrain National Stadium in Riffa, Bahrain.
The Concepcion, Iloilo-native Lausa said he is excited with his first MMA fight in three years. He is determined to make an impressive debut under the Middle East-based promotional outfit.
“I aim to win my debut fight and the next fights after that. I dream to continue winning and bounce back from the setbacks that I experienced,” said Lausa, who signed a promotional deal with BRAVE CF last month.
The 32-year-old Lausa, who has a 7-5 win-loss record, plans to use the lessons from his defeats in the Ultimate Fighting Championship to make a name for himself in the talent-rich flyweight division of BRAVE CF.
“I believe this is my second chance to prove myself in the mixed martial arts industry. This is also a chance for me to substantiate that I have definitely learned from my shortcomings in my past MMA fights,” Lausa said.
Ibraimov was a last-minute opponent for Lausa after his original foe Rahmatullah Yousufzai of Afghanistan withdrew from his three-round flyweight contest on Tuesday night.
Despite that, the 29-year-old Ibraimov is not a pushover of a foe as he is one of top flyweights to emerge from Kyrgyzstan. Possessing an 18-8 slate with six submissions and three knockouts, he has steamrolled through the competition in his home country.
Ibraimov was originally scheduled to face Kazakhstan’s Asu Almabaev on the same card before he was announced to face Ilonggo Lausa instead.
The BRAVE CF 47: Asian Domination fightcard is headlined by a Lightweight World Title eliminator between Filipino superstar Rolando Dy and Kyrgyzstan’s Abdisalam Kubanychbek. The event will be broadcasted live and for free on BRAVE CF TV./PN
