A striking specialist coming out of the MMA Factory in Paris, Laureano Staropoli has knockouts in seven of his 13 victories in professional MMA. Staropoli has won four straight, with his most recent victory coming in a Showcase bout at the 2023 PFL Europe playoffs in September, finishing Boundjou Baba Nadjombe. Staropoli, who has competed on MMA’s biggest stages, now has his sights set on gold in his first PFL season.

 

Fighting out of Dagestan, Murad Ramazanov has superior wrestling ability, training alongside the likes of Khabib Nurmagomedov, Usman Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev. The unbeaten Ramazanov made a name for himself in Asia before making his PFL debut tonight. Ramazanov most recently fought in December 2022; a fight with Roberto Soldic that ended in a no-contest due to an accidental groin shot.

 

Who’s momentum will continue and result in points toward the standings?

 

Note: Laureano Staropoli is deducted one point in the PFL standings due to missing weight for this fight.

 

 

Round 1

 

Low kick from Ramazanov to start. Right hand from Staropoli. Staropoli throws a flying knee. From the resulting clinch, Ramazanov goes behind Staropoli and looks for the takedown, with Staropoli against the PFL SmartCage. Ramazanov scores the takedown and gets to the back again. Ramazanov lands several left hands to the side of Staropoli’s head. Ramazanov gets two hooks in and gets into full mount. Staropoli gets warned for grabbing Ramazanov’s gloves. Ramazanov looks for an arm-triangle, but Staropoli avoids it. Staropoli eventually finds his way back into getting Ramazanov into half-guard.

 

Ramazanov tries to return to dominant action, landing a few punches to the head from the side. Ramazanov gets back into full mount and he is raining punches down relentlessly! Ramazanov isn’t stopping! Ramazanov locks in a choke, and he gets the first-round finish!

 

 

What a beautiful, dominant display on the ground by Murad Ramazanov!

 

 

OFFICIAL RESULTS

 

Murad Ramazanov defeats Laureano Staropoli by 1st Round Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) in a welterweight regular season bout