Brave Combat Federation has named Team Lakay’s Stephen “Sniper” Loman its “2019 Fighter of the Year” recipient for the second straight year following two successful defenses last year.
“The guys over at the Brave insider pod have decided the Sniper has been voted as the fighter of the year,” reads the announcement of the Bahrain-based mixed martial arts promotion.
The 24-year-old Loman defeated two top challengers for the Brave bantamweight world belt in March and November 2019.
He stopped challenger Elias Boudegzdame via fourth-round knockout with unanswered punches in the main card when Brave made its debut promotion in Manila in March 2019.
Loman defended anew his world belt against Louie Sanoudakis of Canada via unanimous decision in their exciting five five-minute championship bout in India in November 2019.
The successful defenses made the Igorot fighter the longest reigning world champion under the Brave CF promotion by defending his belt four times in a row.
Undefeated since 2016, Loman captured the Brave belt with a technical knockout of Gurdarshan Mangat in November 2017.
He defended the belt against Frans Mlambo, the sparring partner of MMA superstar Connor McGregor, via unanimous decision in June 2018. It is the second time that Loman defeated Mlambo after their first outing in a non-title fight in 2016.
Loman defended the belt against challenger Felipe Efrain via unanimous decision in November 2018.
Brave also named Loman its fighter of the year in 2018. – Harley F. Palangchao
April 27, 2024
