BRAVE CF 94’s co-main event is everything fight fans crave and more. On May 17 in Geneva, Switzerland, the Arena de Genève will play host to a featherweight war between France’s gritty veteran Damien “The Walking Dead” Lapilus (18-17-2) and Brazil’s debuting submission wizard Victor Hugo (25-5-0) in a battle that promises drama, danger, and a potential submission of the year.
Lapilus enters the cage with nearly 40 professional bouts under his belt, forged in the fires of Europe’s toughest promotions and sharpened at Paris’s famed MMA Factory. A former BAMMA champion and a jiu-jitsu black belt himself, Lapilus is no stranger to adversity or elite grappling threats. With eight career submissions, slick boxing, and a gas tank that just won’t quit, the 34-year-old Frenchman is determined to prove that veterans still have bite. This isn’t just another fight for Lapilus, but it’s a statement. A chance to derail a surging threat and remind the world why he once stood atop a major promotion.
But across the cage stands a different kind of beast. Victor Hugo isn’t just a Brazilian jiu-jitsu ace, he’s a submission institution. A fourth-degree black belt under the legendary Ribeiro brothers and a multiple-time IBJJF World Champion, Hugo has evolved from BJJ royalty to one of MMA’s most feared finishers. With 17 of his 25 wins coming by way of submissions, including heel hooks, brabo chokes, and arm triangles that look ripped from instructional tapes, Hugo is a nightmare once the fight hits the floor. “I’m a showman, you know,” Hugo said in a video message from his BRAVE CF prep camp. “I’m gonna finish him.”
After earning a UFC contract with a stunning submission win on Dana White’s Contender Series, Hugo has now brought his talent to the BRAVE CF stage. And he’s not here to play nice. With crisp striking sharpened by his kickboxer father, an iron will honed on the mats of Brazil, and the confidence of a man who’s tapped out the best, Hugo arrives in Geneva to make a point and possibly, make history.
Roberto Villa is the CEO, Founder, Executive Writer, Senior Editor of FightBook MMA. Has a passion for Combat Sports and also a podcast host for Sitting Ringside. He’s also a former MMA fighter and Kickboxer.
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