After competing as a featherweight for nearly four years, unbeaten Austrian phenom Mochamed “The Beast” Machaev opted to switch things up as he makes his fourth appearance under the BRAVE Combat Federation banner.
The 21-year-old standout from Vienna, Austria is set to make his bantamweight debut at BRAVE CF 52: Bad Blood in Milan, Italy this Sunday, August 1 against Russian spitfire Gamzat Magomedov.
Machaev, the 2020 BRAVE CF Breakout Fighter of the Year awardee, has never had an issue making weight at the Featherweight division, however going down a weight-class increased the level of difficulty of his weight-cut journey. The Beast made several changes to his process, and admitted to going vegan, something he has always wanted to do, to make weight. “Plant-based food is better for you,” he said.
After what seemed like a daunting and frustrating weigh-ins process, Machaev was able to make weight as he tipped the scales at 61.6 kilograms. Meanwhile, his opponent, Gamzat Magomedov, checked in slightly heavier at 61.7 kilograms.
Holding a pristine professional record of 10-0 with five victories via knockout and one win by way of submission, Machaev bared that this is no one-off stint at bantamweight. “I’m planning to stay at bantamweight. Bantamweight is my division,” he said.
A decisive victory over a high-profile opponent such as Magomedov will further bolster Machaev’s stock in the division and could land him a chance to vie for the vacant BRAVE CF Bantamweight World Championship.
Machaev believes the striking aspect of the match-up against Magomedov can be the difference-maker.
“He’s a typical wrestler, that’s it. In technical striking, he’s not on my level. He comes from a wrestling background, so he has good wrestling. But we will see how good he really is’’, he stated.
“It’s actually easy. I will strike with him, I will defend his takedowns, and I will get the finish, as planned in the very first minute of the fight.”
Fight Game Asia 