![\"Ring](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/4384.jpg\" "\\"4384")
<\/p>\nIt\u2019s fight week for 20 fighters who are scheduled to enter the cage in Atlantic City on Friday evening, December 5th at the Tropicana for Ring of Combat 88.<\/p>\n
Louis Neglia Jr, a NJ MMA Hall of Famer and pioneer of the sport, will conclude his 2025 season as he and his team host Ring of Combat 88: Ramirez vs Varricchio.\u00a0 Neglia has been as consistent as anyone in the fight promotion business and has continually provided a great forum for MMA fighters to display their skills and chase their dreams of getting to the UFC.\u00a0 ROC 88 very likely has some guys who will make it there.<\/p>\n
Main Event: 155 lb ROC Championship (vacant)\u00a0 John Ramirez vs Robert Varricchio<\/p>\n
John \u201cThe Honduras Assassin\u201d Ramirez (8-9) may not have the flashiest record, but he is a wealth of experience and has been in the cage with nothing but top competition.\u00a0 The 29-year-old fights out of Waterloo Iowa.\u00a0 In his career, he\u2019s faced 6 undefeated fighters, including giving former ROC champion and The Contender Series veteran, Dylan \u201cthe Quiet Man\u201d Mantello his first career loss.\u00a0 5 of his 8 wins are by submission.\u00a0 Standing across from him will be \u201cRuthless\u201d Robert Varricchio (7-1).\u00a0 Varricchio is another one of the deep talent pool at Tiger Schulmann MMA, who have 8 fighters on this card. Schulmann is rolling like a river right now as their roster is among the deepest anywhere.\u00a0 Both amateur and professionals are keeping him busy working corners and I\u2019m sure he\u2019s very pleased about it.<\/p>\n
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MyMMANews reached out to Robert Varricchio\u00a0to get a little background and a feel for his title fight. Ruthless says\u2026<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve been with Tiger Schulmann\u2019s since I was 7 years old. This is what I grew up doing and I\u2019m just so grateful for the coaches and training partners, many who are on this card. I spend a lot of time with Julio Arce, who is just an amazing coach and person.\u00a0 Shane Burgos is also another partner who helps me get better every day.\u00a0 As fa as my opponent\u2026he\u2019s been in there 17 times.\u00a0 He\u2019s seen it all and has not taken any easy fights. I watched them all.\u00a0 John is a well-rounded fighter and a savage.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
We also spoke with Tom \u201cBeethoven\u201d DiGennaro who will be making his return after a very impressive pro debut victory at ROC 87.\u00a0 DiGennaro is an elite wrestler and the rest of his game works well from that base. The 155 lb blue chip prospect is in good hands as his mentor and head coach is Matt Serra.\u00a0\u00a0Tom tells me\u2026<\/p>\n
\u201cI owe so much to the Serra family.\u00a0 Matt and his wife have allowed me to work and be in the gym full time.\u00a0 It\u2019s a huge difference from working in a trade like construction where you have to pick your battles with things like cardio, sparring and other aspects of training.\u00a0 I can attack my cardio multiple ways as well as my strength and conditioning.\u00a0 It\u2019s really been a game changer to be in this atmosphere every day and I\u2019m working hard every day to get better and I\u2019m bringing it to the cage on Friday.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Tom](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/4383.jpg\" "\\"4383")
<\/p>\n
Tom will be taking on John Hancock who lost his pro debut and will be looking to get his first win.<\/p>\n
I also grabbed a few minutes with Brooklyn MMA\u2018s leader Terry Gold.\u00a0 Gold will be in the corner of his fighter Firuz Nabiev who is making his pro debut.\u00a0 Terry tells us of Firuz..<\/p>\n
\u201cFiruz came to us about 7 years ago with a tae-kwon-do background.\u00a0 We had him for his first few fights, then he moved to Florida.\u00a0 Now he is back with us here in New York and we are excited for him to get to the next level.\u00a0 This is what he\u2019s been working so hard for and we felt it was time.\u00a0 Friday night he will show everyone what he is made of.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
The rest of the Ring of Combat 88 card is below:<\/p>\n
Main Event 155 lb title<\/p>\n
John Ramirez vs Robert Varricchio<\/p>\n
Co-main event 145 lb title<\/p>\n
Ricardo Fuentes vs Gilbert Patricino (champion)<\/p>\n
155 lb John Hancock Vs Tom DiGenarro<\/p>\n
135 lb Marcus Reid vs Zach Siemasko<\/p>\n
135 lb Tayvonne Thomas vs Juan Vides<\/p>\n
HWT Sonhubou Mbacke vs Kevin Wilkins<\/p>\n
145 lbs Firuz Nabiev vs Otto Musinov<\/p>\n
185 lb Connor Cullen vs Elijah Sampson<\/p>\n
155 lb (amateur) Dante Bazan vs Ryan Sipavicius<\/p>\n
135 lb (amateur) Jamal Sharifi vs Farrukh Sadulloev<\/p>\n
Fight card subject to change<\/p>\n
Doors open 8 pm first bell 9:30 pm<\/p>\n
I will host the pre-fight show and commentate alongside Professor Jay Regalbuto.<\/p>\n
This event will be streamed in multiple places for free.\u00a0 Keep tuned as I will provide an updated list of places to see ROC 88<\/p>\n
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\t\t\t![\"author](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/bob.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\t\t\tMore than 15 years experience in the PA\/NJ regional MMA circuit. Commentator\/post fight interviews\/pre-fight show host @ Art of War Cage Fighting and Ring of Combat
\nThe story of the fighter is what Bob loves about the sport. From the lowest level, to the highest, he only cares about the two warriors who do battle once the cage doors close. Everything else is secondary. Without their blood, sweat, and tears, he would not be here enjoying every minute.<\/p>\n
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