A Syndicate MMA talent, Francesco Nuzzi enters this fight 9-1, with one no-contest. Six of his nine victories have come by way of a finish, all of which came in the first round. The former bantamweight champion of Italian Cage Fighting, Nuzzi earned a split decision over Bernardo Sopai in Brave CF before making his PFL debut last year. That fight, a PFL Europe qualifier, ended in a no-contest after Nuzzi was accidentally poked in the eye by opponent Mokhtar Benkaci.

 

Farbod Iran Nezhad started his career in 2012 and went 7-0-1 in his first eight fights. After dropping a pair of fights, Nezhad enters tonight’s bout off three straight victories, most recently defeating Darko Banovic at SLM 3 in June 2022. Nezhad, a boxing specialist, is the former SLMMA bantamweight champion.

 

The winner of this fight advances to the playoffs on September 30, where he will face Frans Mlambo, who defeated Rachid Haz earlier tonight in another bantamweight regular season bout.

 

 

Round 1

 

Nezhad goes in for a takedown right away, but Nuzzi easily sprawls and avoids it. Nuzzi goes for a front kick and Nezhad follows up with a couple of leg kicks. Nuzzi sprawls against another Nezhad level change. Nezhad goes in for another takedown and barely gets one on Nuzzi, who is showing plenty of resistance against the SmartCage. Nuzzi shoves off Nezhad, who misses a powerful overhand. Nuzzi lands a body kick.

 

Nuzzi works his jab and throws a left, which causes Nezhad to drop his head and set up perfectly for a powerful head kick by Nuzzi, which sleeps Nezhad and brings the fight to an end quickly!

 

 

 

OFFICIAL RESULT

 

Francesco Nuzzi def. Farbod Iran Nezhad via first-round KO (head kick, 1:52)

 

PFL Europe Bantamweight Playoffs:

Francesco Nuzzi vs. Frans Mlambo

Khurshed Kakhorov vs. Ali Taleb

 

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