AFTER three years away from the sport, Stephen Loman is finally marking his return.
And the gladiator that he is, it’s only fitting that his comeback happens in a historic Coliseum.
Loman, 17-3, makes his comeback to the promotion which made him a household name as he takes on Georgian rising star Lasha Abramishvili in the co-main event of BRAVE CF 108 on September 5 at the iconic Pula Arena in Croatia.
Sniper Ready
For someone from the Cordilleras who grew up with a rich fighting culture, competing inside an amphitheater that was built for the bravest gladiators of the past lit a different fire inside him.
“I’m very excited to fight in Croatia for the first time. I’ve competed in many countries throughout my career, but this will be a completely different experience. Competing in a location with so much history makes this opportunity even more special,” Loman said.
Pula Arena is one of the best-preserved Roman amphitheaters in the world, with its limestone exterior, four side towers, and three classical architectural orders remarkably intact.
It remains one of Croatia’s most celebrated landmarks and a striking reminder of an era when gladiators entered the arena with thousands of eyes fixed upon them.
Its story stretches back nearly two millennia. A wooden structure first occupied the site during the reign of Emperor Augustus before the monumental stone amphitheater was developed during the Flavian dynasty in the first century CE under Emperors Vespasian and Titus.
The structure became a stage for gladiatorial contests and major public gatherings, drawing immense crowds to spectacles that would become part of Roman history.
“I know the history of Pula Arena, and that makes this fight even more meaningful. Warriors fought here centuries ago, and now I have the chance to compete in the same place in a different era,” Loman shared.
“I want to honor that history by giving the fans a performance they will remember.”
Hailing from the highlands where some of the bravest warriors in the Philippines were born, Loman knows that the Pula Arena would be the perfect backdrop for him as he announces his comeback in the sport.
“I’m proud to be a Cordilleran. Wherever I compete, I carry my people and my heritage with me. Our ancestors were fiercely independent, and they protected their land and way of life for generations,” he said.
“That determination is part of me, and I want to show the world what a Cordilleran warrior is all about.”
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