New Brave CF super welterweight champion Marcin Bandel was given a rousing reception as he paraded his newly-won title on the pitch at his football team’s stadium.

Bandel defeated Ismail Naurdiev to capture the vacant Brave CF super welterweight title at Brave CF 63 in Bahrain. His first-round submission finish of “The Austrian Wonderboy” earned the former UFC and KSW veteran the title, but not until he’d had his jaw broken by Naurdiev earlier in the round.

His injury didn’t stop a proud Bandel from returning home to Lodz in Poland, where he attended a home game for the team he supports, LKS Lodz, who took on Arka Gdynia at Władysław Król Municipal Stadium, where he received a hero’s welcome from his fellow Lodz fans as he paraded his championship belt during the halftime interval.

Addressing the crowd, Bandel said, “I can’t talk too much following the surgery I had on my jaw, but I will say this, a big thank you to all of you for supporting me,” prompting the crowd to cheer, applaud and chant his name.

“I am really proud to stand before you as a Polish BRAVE CF champion and I am really happy to share this with you all,” he added.

To put the seal on a memorable day for Bandel, his team LKS Lodz defeated Arka Gdynia 3-1.