As a veteran medalist of the IMMAF platform, Giacomo Santoro (pictured, at the 2018 IMMAF European Open) is the latest European standout to win a domestic MMA title in the UK.
The charismatic 24-year-old fighter kicked off his professional career on the evening of February 8 with a rear-naked-choke submission triumph that saw him claim the Fusion Fighting Championships’ pro flyweight title. Santoro bested Elliot Hoye, an English up-and-comer of notable experience.
In 2017 and 2018 Santoro qualified for the Italian amateur MMA team via the national circuit under FIGMMA, Italy’s MMA regulatory body. He represented Italy at the 2017 IMMAF World Championships where he reached the quarter-final stage in Bahrain. In 2018 he earned the men’s flyweight silver medal at the IMMAF European Open Championships in Bucharest.
Santoro is the latest in a trend of European talent and veterans of the international IMMAF platform, finding success within the UK’s regional promotions.
Santoro follows the likes of former IMMAF world champion and multi-time European gold medalists, Alexandra Toncheva, showcasing Bulgarian MMA talent in Ireland and the UK, plus Robin Roos, Tobias Harila and Andreas Gustafson Berg, the prominent Swedish trio now making a name for themselves as professionals.
Who will be the next international talent to test themselves on the busy UK MMA circuit?
By IMMAF.org lead writer: Jorden Curran
