Weightclass: Lightweight
Record: 5-0
Age: 28
Height: 5’11”
Born in: Russia
Training out of: KHK MMA Team
Combined opponents’ record (at the time they fought): 12-4
Key wins: Omar Tugarev, Axel Sola (amateur fights)
Lightweight prospect Ramazan Gitinov will look to continue an undefeated start to his pro career this weekend when he takes on Nursultan Asker at BRAVE CF 101.
A member of Bahrain’s KHK MMA Team, Gitinov began his amateur career with the IMMAF in 2017 and won his first bout via submission before being stopped with strikes in his next two outings. Returning in 2019 to defeat current UFC fighter Axel Sola, Gitinov proceeded to win 30-straight amateur fights and win multiple IMMAF welterweight titles before he dropped down to lightweight for his professional debut in mid-2023.
A 34-second finish of Artem Rzheusskiy at BFC 71 signaled his arrival to the ranks of pro MMA, and Gitinov managed to go 4-0 before the year was over thanks to first-round submissions of Abderrahman Errachidy and Artem Buloychik before his meeting with Beknazar Zhanybekov ended after just 8 seconds due to an unfortunate leg injury.
The 28-year-old submitted the formerly-undefeated Prince Lolia in his only outing of 2024, which brought his pro record to 5-0 with three of those wins coming under the BRAVE CF banner.
Gitinov’s striking game is largely built around setting up opportunities for him to bring the fight to the ground. He’ll frequently feint level changes in order to keep his opponent guessing on when a takedown attempt is coming, and he’ll also compliment his jab and low kicks with occasional right straights or hooks from both hands.
When Gitinov does decide to shoot for a takedown, he’s absolutely relentless in his efforts to get an opponent off their feet. He’ll immediately try to jump around to the back if his initial shot comes up short, and if he’s able to establish a rear body lock it usually precedes a big slam.
Fighters that manage to end up on the fence while defending Gitinov’s takedowns will find no safety, as the 28-year-old is more than happy to keep an opponent pressed up along the cage while landing punches with his free hand. He’s also stifling from top position and will unload with punches to both the head and body, and as evidenced during his young pro career he’s a threat to end fights with a variety of different submissions.
Gitinov had already established himself as a must-watch prospect during his stellar amatuer career, and that experience and his overall talent have both translated into five first-round finishes out of five pro outings. He’ll meet Nursultan Asker this weekend in the co-main event of BRAVE CF 101, and hopefully the 28-year-old will be in a line for a higher-profile challenge if he gets his hand raised once again on Sunday.