Stephen Loman came back looking for a reminder of who he was. Instead, his return provided a sobering glimpse of where his career stands now.
The 31-year-old Ifugao native dropped a unanimous decision to Lasha Abramishvili in the co-main event of BRAVE CF 108, which aired live in the Philippines on Sunday morning, September 6, from the marvelous Pula Arena in Croatia.
After three years away from competition, the former BRAVE CF Bantamweight World Champion finally stepped back inside the cage.
Even before the opening bell, however, the comeback had already come with an added complication. Loman missed the 61.7 kilogram allowable limit for a non-title bantamweight bout by 300 grams and had to forfeit 15% of his guaranteed purse.
Then came 15 minutes against one of the division's rising contenders.
Loman showed flashes of the fighter who once ruled BRAVE Combat Federation's 135-pound ranks. What he could not consistently find was the rhythm that comes from regularly competing at this level.
Round 1: Familiar weapons, unfamiliar timing
Loman opened with urgency, immediately putting his kicking game to work. Pendulum kicks disrupted Abramishvili's stance, while his left straight repeatedly targeted the centerline. He also chopped away at the Georgian's lead leg, attempting to slow his movement and create cleaner lanes for his boxing.
It was an assertive beginning.
Abramishvili, however, did not give him much to chase. The Georgian remained patient, allowing Loman to initiate before looking for counters.
That approach produced the round's defining moment.
As Loman committed to another exchange, Abramishvili connected with a left hook that briefly dropped him.
Loman recovered quickly and finished the round on his feet, but the knockdown revealed an early problem. The Filipino was generating the action, yet Abramishvili was beginning to read the moments when he could strike back.
For a mixed martial artist returning after such a prolonged absence, those fractions of hesitation can become costly.
Round 2: Loman reminds everyone there is more to his game
Loman responded by changing the terms of engagement.
Instead of allowing the contest to remain a kickboxing match, he brought his grappling into play and secured a takedown. He briefly controlled Abramishvili before the Georgian managed to work his way upright.
It was arguably Loman's most encouraging sequence of the night.
His reputation has understandably been built around his precision striking, but his ability to mix in wrestling gave Abramishvili another problem to solve.
Back on the feet, though, the Georgian settled once again. A heavy head kick found its mark, while Loman answered with combinations and persistent forward movement.
The exchanges became increasingly cerebral.
Loman was generating more activity, but Abramishvili seemed to have a better grasp of the range. The Filipino was attempting to manufacture openings. His opponent was becoming adept at waiting for them to appear.
That subtle difference kept Loman from fully taking command.
Round 3: Searching for the moment that never came
The final five minutes demanded urgency from Loman.
The Lions Naton MMA representative needed to produce something substantial enough to alter the direction of the encounter, and he went back to his wrestling. Several takedown attempts followed, but Abramishvili's defensive work remained composed.
Every failed entry represented another lost chance to move the contest into territory where Loman could exert greater control.
The Georgian then switched to his natural southpaw stance, forcing Loman to adjust to new angles. A flying knee and a clean left straight followed as Abramishvili continued to find ways to disrupt his opponent's momentum.
Still, Loman refused to disappear. He advanced, threw combinations, and searched until the final horn.
Abramishvili even punctuated the closing seconds with a series of Stockton slaps, but the Filipino never lost his composure.
The judges were unanimous. All three awarded Abramishvili a 30-27 victory.
The Georgian improved to 13-2-1 and extended his winning streak to nine. Loman dropped to 17-4, suffered his second straight defeat after losing a decision to John Linker under the ONE Championship banner in September 2023, and absorbed his first setback in BRAVE CF.
The real questions begin now
It would be simplistic to reduce Loman's night to ring rust.
The three-year absence was certainly relevant, but so was everything surrounding his return. He entered the fight having already dealt with a weight miss, then faced an opponent who was active, confident, and capable of making adjustments as the contest progressed.
Still, there were reasons for optimism.
The left hand remains dangerous, while his kicking arsenal is intact. The wrestling provided a valuable alternative when his striking rhythm became difficult to establish.
Most importantly, Loman showed the resilience to recover after being hurt and the resolve to compete until the final second.
What appeared missing was the seamless connection between those weapons. That is something only competition can truly restore.
Abramishvili made that clear after the fight when he expressed his desire to pursue the vacant BRAVE CF Bantamweight World Championship, the intricately crafted belt Loman once held.
There is something poetic, and perhaps painful, about that image.
Loman once occupied the top of this division. Now, after three years away, he has returned to find another fighter positioning himself for the throne.
At 31, this is hardly the end for "The Sniper." But the path forward may require patience, more activity, and a willingness to rebuild rather than immediately chase the heights he once reached.
His comeback did not restore the past. It did something more important. It showed Loman exactly what he needs to recover.
