The main event of Brave CF 62 delivered a “sliding doors” moment for the sport as two 31-year-old lightweights went their separate ways after a headline clash in Almaty.

The bout saw Kazakhstan’s own Olzhas Eskaraev defeat Filipino veteran Rolando Dy via second-round knockout as Eskaraev moved himself toward title contention, while Dy called time on his MMA career.

Eskaraev edged the stand-up exchanges and bossed the ground game through the opening round, then repeated the feat in Round 2 before knocking out his man with heavy ground strikes from top position.

After his defeat, Dy requested the mic and announced to the arena that he had just competed in his last fight in Brave CF.

“This is my retirement, thank you to God, thank you to my fans and thank you to my haters,” he said.

“I just want to tell my family that I love you so much.

“This sport is my life, but we know when we can’t do it anymore, and tonight I realised that it is my time.

“As a coach, I will do this till the day I die, but as a fighter, my time has come. I am an old lion. I officially announce my retirement. Olzhas, thank you for giving me my retirement.”

While Dy’s work inside the cage may now be over, Eskaraev still has plenty left on his to-do list, including a rematch with the interim lightweight champion, Abdisalam Kybanychbek, who defeated him via unanimous decision in their battle for the interim belt in June.

“First of all, I want to say a big thank you to all my fans who came out to support me, thank you Kazakhstan, thank you for your support Kazakh warriors!” he began.

“I feel great and I am ready for my rematch with the guy from Kyrgyzstan.”

Brave CF 62: Official Results

  • Olzhas Eskaraev def. Rolando Dy via knockout (punches) – Round 2, 3:40
  • Nurzhan Akishev def. Mehmosh Raza via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
  • Ilyar Askhanov def. Razul Tezekbaev via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
  • Akhmed Shervaniev def. Kamil Magomedov via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
  • Murtaza Talha def. Kirill Khomitsky via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 2:40
  • Ilyor Bakhtiyar Uulu def. Abdullah Al-Qahtani via split decision (30-27, 28-29, 30-27)
  • Anzor Abdulkhozhaev def. Sanjarbek Erkinov via submission (ninja choke) – Round 3, 0:49