Poland’s Gralak faces Blyden in the co-main event of BRAVE CF 87 in Alkmaar, Netherlands, where he plans to show the MMA world that Blyden’s top-level kickboxing skills won’t be enough to make a dent in his own quest to reach the top of BRAVE Combat Federation.
Blyden, who became an instant fan favourite with his outing at BRAVE CF 83 earlier this year, comes from a kickboxing background and was undefeated in the sport before he fully transitioned to MMA.
Currently on a four-fight winning streak in MMA, Blyden stopped Gralak’s fellow countryman Oskar Herczyk in the co-main event of BRAVE CF 83 and Gralak wants to show to the world that this win was a fluke.
“He is a kickboxer. MMA, this is my backyard, I want to show that,” Gralak said in a recent interview.
Gralak was originally booked to fight Blyden at BRAVE CF 83, but after falling ill during fight week, Herczyk stepped in. Blyden picked up the eye-catching victory with a first-round finish, and announced himself as an exciting new talent on the BRAVE CF roster.
Gralak, meanwhile, arrives at BRAVE CF 87 off the back of a first-round finish of his own. The five-year veteran trains alongside some of Poland’s top combat sports athletes, and plans to showcase his well-rounded skillset as he faces elite striker Blyden on September 22.
That’s not to say Gralak will simply look to wrestle the kickboxing ace. The Pole has a black belt in Taekwondo, meaning his own stand-up skills warrant respect, and he may fancy his chances in the striking department, as well as on the mat.
However the fight pans out, it should offer a stern test of Blyden’s MMA credentials, with a determined Gralak arriving to derail Blyden’s hype train before it gets out of control.
BRAVE CF 87 takes place on September 22 in Alkmaar, the Netherlands and will be the second event in the Netherlands for BRAVE Combat Federation. The event will be headlined by the lightweight title fight between Abdisalam Kubanychbek and Rauli Tutarauli and will be held in association with Enfusion’s ECE MMA.
