Francesco Nuzzi Demolishes Farbod Iran Nezhad in PFL Europe 2 Main Event

Francesco Nuzzi! ITS ALL OVER! HEAD KICK 🎯

Nuzzi advances to the Playoffs! #PFLBerlin pic.twitter.com/tcfFl9Xl65

— PFL Europe (@PFLEurope) July 8, 2023

Francesco Nuzzi is a man on a mission.

In the PFL Europe 2: 2023 Regular Season main event, Nuzzi clobbered Farbod Iran Nezhad to secure a place in the 135-pound semifinals. Nezhad (11-3-1, 0-1 PFL) attempted to move the action to the canvas earlier in the fight, but Nuzzi (10-1, 1 NC; 1-0, 1 NC PFL) was able to deny him and bounce back on the feet. The Italian fighter tested his foe’s reactions for a while before firing a head kick hidden by a left punch. The impact was devastating, and Nezhad collapsed immediately. Referee Rich Mitchell jumped to save Nezhad from Nuzzi’s subsequent punches as the official time indicated the 1:52 mark of Round 1. Nuzzi will now face Bellator MMA alum Frans Mlambo (14-5, 1-0 PFL), who overcame short-notice replacement Rachid El Hazoume Aamay (9-3, 0-1 PFL) via majority decision (29-27, 29-27, 28-28) in a 137-pound catchweight bout.

Khurshed Kakhorov is heading to the Playoffs to fight Ali Taleb at #PFLParis!#PFLBerlin LIVE NOW
Watch in over 50 international markets including the UK on DAZN pic.twitter.com/mEP2GOOCbZ

— PFL Europe (@PFLEurope) July 8, 2023

In the co-headliner, Khurshed Kakhorov secured a place in the semifinals of the bantamweight tournament after teaching Moktar Benkaci a striking lesson. Kakhorov (10-1, 1-0 PFL) made the most of his quick hands with shots to the head and body of his foe, finishing his combinations with leg kicks. Benkaci (20-8, 2 NC; 0-1, 1 NC PFL) — who missed weight the day before and started with a point deduction according to promotional rules — struggled to keep the pace and had no answer to contrast his opponent’s offensive. “Killer” stung from afar with his jab throughout the fight, exposing Benkaci’s defense. With 20 seconds left into the clash, Kakhorov attempted a last foray, but it wasn’t enough to finish “Le Kabyle.” After the bout went the distance, the cage announcer revealed 30-26, 30-26, and 30-25 scorecards for Kakhorov.

1st ROUND FINISH FOR ALI TALEB!!!

He is going to #PFLParis !#PFLBerlin LIVE NOW
Watch in over 50 international markets including the UK on DAZN pic.twitter.com/q2ORHL2Fz4

— PFL Europe (@PFLEurope) July 8, 2023

Elsewhere, Griet Eeckhout (7-4-1, 1-0 PFL) outpointed Lorena Cubero (3-1, 0-1 PFL) on all scorecards (30-27, 30-27, 30-25) en route to a unanimous decision at women’s flyweight; 135-pounder Ali Taleb (9-0, 2-0 PFL) wobbled Kenji Bortoluzzi (11-5, 0-1 PFL) with punches at 3:26 of Round 1; and John Mitchell (7-1, 1-0 PFL) upended Geisym Derouiche (6-3, 0-1 PFL) on all scorecards (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) en route to a unanimous decision victory at lightweight; in a 160-pound catchweight.

CLARIFICATION: The official MMA result for Alex Chizov vs. Acoidan Duque is: Acoidan Duque wins by Unanimous Decision (29-28 x3)

For league purposes, the fight resulted in a Unanimous Draw due to Duque missing weight (28-28x3). Per PFL Europe rules, Duque was deducted 1 point… pic.twitter.com/rm5N0iyA1t

— PFL Europe (@PFLEurope) July 8, 2023

In other action, Aleksandrs Chizovs (10-1-1, 1-0-1 PFL) vs. Acoidan Duque (16-4-1, 1 NC; 0-0-1 PFL) ended in a unanimous draw (28-28, 28-28, 28-28), with Duque being deducted a point after missing weight the day before; Lewis McGrillen-Evans (6-0, 2-0 PFL) knocked out Amrali Saidoshurov (8-6, 0-1 PFL) with a heavy punch 12 seconds into the second period of their 135-pound affair; 155-pounder Dylan Tuke (6-3, 1-0 PFL) handed Connor Hughes (7-1, 0-1 PFL) the first loss of his career via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28); Jakub Kaszuba (9-0, 1-0 PFL) forced Radu Maxim (10-2, 1-0 PFL) to tap to a tight rear-naked choke at 3:18 of the first stanza at lightweight; 155-pounder Anatolij Baal (10-3-1, 1NC; 1-0 PFL) smashed Sebastian Santana Guedes (8-6-1, 1NC; 0-1 PFL) with punches at 4:16 of the second period; in a women’s featherweight clash, Christina Breuer (1-0, 1-0 PFL) crushed Ruby Mesu (0-1, 0-1 PFL) with punches and knees at the 3:12 mark of Round 2.