BRAVE CF announced Sunday that Borislav Nikolić has signed with the UFC and vacated the BRAVE CF bantamweight title, which means another champion is walking out of the regional shark tank and into the big lights. It also keeps the BRAVE CF pipeline humming, because the promotion has been sneaky good at turning rough international names into fighters the UFC eventually wants to test.
Nikolić, known as “Zombee,” leaves as the promotion’s former bantamweight king after a run that was not exactly soft matchmaking and souvenir belt photos. BRAVE said he joined the organization in 2021, fought eight times under its banner, and went 6-2 while climbing into the title picture.
The important bit is simple enough. Nikolić is not leaving after losing the throne. He is leaving because the UFC came calling, and that is the kind of career fork fighters spend years trying to force open.
BRAVE CF Bantamweight Champion Borislav Nikolic signs with @ufc 🇷🇸🔥 All the best, Champ! pic.twitter.com/A1jLUnEN79
— BRAVE Combat Federation (@bravemmaf) July 25, 2026
Nikolić Leaves BRAVE CF With The Belt Vacant And A UFC Door Open
The belt now sits vacant, but Nikolić did not exactly sneak out the back door. His title win came at BRAVE CF 96 in June 2025, when he submitted Nicholas “The Saint” Hwende with a fourth-round ninja choke. That is a filthy way to win a world title, and yes, the name of the choke still sounds like something your friend claims works in open mat until everyone starts laughing.
He then defended the title at BRAVE CF 100, stopping Hamza “The Pride of Bahrain” Kooheji by fourth-round TKO in the main event. His final BRAVE appearance came at BRAVE CF 104, where he stopped Matheus Malta in a 64-kilogram catchweight bout.
BRAVE CF president Mohammed “The Hawk” Shahid framed the exit like a graduation instead of a divorce. “Borislav Nikolić’s story is one that everyone at BRAVE Combat Federation is immensely proud of. He embraced every challenge, became a World Champion, and represented our promotion with honor throughout his time here,” Shahid stated.
Shahid added, “We congratulate him on this opportunity and thank him for the unforgettable moments he created inside our cage. While this chapter comes to a close, he should always know that BRAVE CF will forever be his home. We wish him nothing but success.”
Nikolić also gave the promotion its flowers before the UFC jump. “My time with BRAVE Combat Federation has been nothing short of incredible. Winning the Bantamweight World Title is something I will always cherish, and I would not be in this position without the opportunities this organization gave me,” Nikolić said.
He continued, “I am thankful to everyone at BRAVE CF and the fans who supported me throughout the years. This promotion will always have a special place in my heart.”
The timing is good for the UFC, too. Bantamweight is one of those divisions where the speed limit feels illegal, and new blood gets exposed quickly if it is not real. Nikolić arrives with championship rounds in his pocket, recent finishes, and enough international reps to avoid looking like a deer in the cage lights.
BRAVE also pointed to its alumni list as part of the bigger flex, with names such as Ilia Topuria, Khamzat Chimaev, Benoit Saint Denis, Jarrah Al-Silawi, Bubba Jenkins, and Brad Katona all tied to the promotion’s history. MiddleEasy readers already know how loud that path can get once a fighter catches fire, whether it is Khamzat Chimaev making headlines outside the cage or Muhammad Mokaev turning a BRAVE CF return into another loud reminder that regional belts can still move real career heat.
No UFC debut opponent or date was announced in the release, so now comes the fun part. The matchmakers get to decide whether Nikolić gets a measuring-stick debut, a fellow newcomer, or some mean little bantamweight welcome package that proves there are levels to this game in about seven minutes.
Either way, BRAVE CF has a vacant belt to sort out and Nikolić has a new office. The regional title run is over. The UFC audition starts now.
