PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mario Rossi (ranked 207 p4p, 31 weight class) and Khaba Dagestanskiy (ranked 626 p4p, 87 weight class). Khaba Dagestanskiy has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Rossi
vs
Dagestanskiy

180 cm
27
186 lbs
13 - 7 - 0

175 cm
25
175 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

BuriedAlive// Fight Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mario Rossi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Khaba Dagestanskiy!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Tiny Johnson and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rossi misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Dagestanskiy looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Rossi misses with an uppercut. Dagestanskiy saw that one coming.
Dagestanskiy lands a really nice looking cross but Rossi seems unphased.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Dagestanskiy has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Rossi throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Dagestanskiy.
Dagestanskiy throws a body punch but Rossi moves out of range.
Mario Rossi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rossi misses with a leg kick.
Rossi moves away from the strike by Dagestanskiy.
Rossi throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Dagestanskiy misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rossi.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rossi misses with an uppercut.
Dagestanskiy throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Dagestanskiy throws a hook but Rossi blocks it.
Rossi was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Dagestanskiy is looking to clinch but Rossi is avoiding it.

Dagestanskiy shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Rossi's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dagestanskiy is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Dagestanskiy throws a big elbow that misses.
Dagestanskiy in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Dagestanskiy trying to control the position from guard on top but Rossi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dagestanskiy stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rossi swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Dagestanskiy postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Dagestanskiy prevents Rossi from getting back to his feet.
Rossi trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Dagestanskiy wants to control from the top but Rossi keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Dagestanskiy might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Rossi haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Rossi keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Rossi tries to counter by clinching up but Dagestanskiy breaks away and moves out of range.
Dagestanskiy lands with a nice combination. Rossi backs away looking to recover.
Dagestanskiy connects with the punch.
Dagestanskiy throws an off balance right hand
and Rossi counters with a stiff right hand.
Rossi will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Rossi wants to clinch up but Dagestanskiy keeps it at a distance.
A nice side step and Dagestanskiy releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Dagestanskiy cracks Rossi with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Rossi moves out of range of the strikes.
Rossi staying out of range there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dagestanskiy bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Rossi's head.
Dagestanskiy throws a lazy uppercut

and Rossi counters by moving into the clinch.
Dagestanskiy blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Dagestanskiy manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Rossi stands up and waves to Dagestanskiy to follow him.
Dagestanskiy tries for a takedown but Rossi circles away easily
and Rossi counters with a series of strikes. Dagestanskiy will be more careful next time no doubt.
Dagestanskiy darts in looking for a takedown but Rossi gets double underhooks and turns Dagestanskiy into the cage.
As Dagestanskiy tries to get set, Rossi tries to push him back and clinch up but Dagestanskiy manages to avoid the attempt.
Mario Rossi is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Dagestanskiy will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Rossi lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Mario Rossi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Khaba Dagestanskiy.
A cross from Dagestanskiy lands.
Rossi throws a leg kick but Dagestanskiy sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Dagestanskiy swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Rossi connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Dagestanskiy momentarily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rossi fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rossi lands with a kick to the temple. Dagestanskiy shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Dagestanskiy connects with a right hand. Rossi shakes it off.
Dagestanskiy throws a series of punches but Rossi avoids them all with ease.
Dagestanskiy shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Rossi sprawls well. Rossi wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Dagestanskiy gets slowly back to his feet.
Rossi tries to counter by clinching up but Dagestanskiy breaks away and moves out of range.
Rossi smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.

Rossi moves into the clinch.
Dagestanskiy lands a hook to the side of the head.
Rossi misses with a short punch on the inside.
Dagestanskiy is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Rossi pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Dagestanskiy tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Rossi's elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Khaba Dagestanskiy will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Rossi throws a right and a left that Dagestanskiy avoids nicely.
Rossi tries to land a body kick

so Dagestanskiy counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Dagestanskiy pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rossi is keeping the position for now.
Dagestanskiy stops Rossi from standing up.
Dagestanskiy keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Rossi's head.
Dagestanskiy is looking to work some ground and pound but Rossi has wrist control.

Rossi has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Dagestanskiy off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rossi looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Dagestanskiy shoots and misses
and Rossi counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
We've been told by Rossi's head coaches at Total Impact MMA/KT that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Dagestanskiy dives in and grabs Rossi's left leg, looking for a takedown. Rossi pushes down on Dagestanskiy's head and hops out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice cross by Dagestanskiy.
Rossi moves out of range as Dagestanskiy strikes.
A head kick misses from Rossi.
Dagestanskiy steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Rossi.
Rossi wants to land a leg kick but Dagestanskiy is out of range.
Khaba Dagestanskiy seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Dagestanskiy thuds his right hand into Rossi's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
A low kick from Rossi misses
and Dagestanskiy counters with a stiff right hand.
Dagestanskiy slips a straight right by Rossi.
Dagestanskiy cracks Rossi with a right hand to the side of the head.
Rossi scores with a punch to the head.
Dagestanskiy swats away the attempt to clinch by Rossi.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Dagestanskiy.
Dagestanskiy with a nice cross.
Rossi uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Dagestanskiy.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rossi displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Dagestanskiy throws out the jab.

Dagestanskiy looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Rossi!
Rossi is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Dagestanskiy off and has taken his back!
Rossi keeps control of the position as Dagestanskiy tries to break free.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Dagestanskiy looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Rossi has good solid back control here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rossi not allowing Dagestanskiy to control his hands.
I would not like to be Dagestanskiy right now.
Rossi has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Rossi continues to stall.
Dagestanskiy trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Dagestanskiy is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
Dagestanskiy breaks Rossi's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dagestanskiy wants to control from the top but Rossi keeps moving.
Dagestanskiy distracts Rossi with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Dagestanskiy throws a big right hand that misses.
Dagestanskiy keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Rossi's head.
Dagestanskiy keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Rossi's head.
Dagestanskiy won't allow Rossi to get back to his feet.
Dagestanskiy throwing strikes from guard but Rossi blocks nicely.
Dagestanskiy stands and throws Rossi's legs to the side, diving into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Khaba Dagestanskiy will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Rossi's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Dagestanskiy takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Dagestanskiy blocks a leg kick.
A leg kick checked by Dagestanskiy.
Dagestanskiy looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Dagestanskiy takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Dagestanskiy throws a series of punches but Rossi moves out of range.
Dagestanskiy shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Rossi but Rossi pushes him off and we're back to square one.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dagestanskiy scores with a sloppy right hand. Rossi should have avoided that one.
Dagestanskiy looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Rossi is fending him off so far but Dagestanskiy persists. Nope, Rossi circles away and we're back to standing.
Dagestanskiy misses with an uppercut.
Rossi is looking for a counter combo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dagestanskiy lands with an overhand left.
Rossi misses with a kick to the body.
Rossi swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Dagestanskiy cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Rossi fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Dagestanskiy looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.

Dagestanskiy scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Rossi is not content to let Dagestanskiy control the position.
Rossi is trying to stand up here but Dagestanskiy is controlling him well.
Dagestanskiy is trying to control the action in half guard but Rossi is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Rossi is trying to stand.
Dagestanskiy not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Mario Rossi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rossi is looking to escape.
Dagestanskiy working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Dagestanskiy is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Rossi is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Dagestanskiy scores with a couple of nice shots.

Rossi looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Rossi is refusing to be controlled, as Dagestanskiy sits in half guard.
Rossi avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Dagestanskiy.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Rossi is trying to stand back up but Dagestanskiy is controlling him

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rossi staying out of range there.
Rossi takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Dagestanskiy fails with a takedown attempt.
As Dagestanskiy looks to move away, Rossi throws a big counter combo but Dagestanskiy just gets out of the way.
Mario Rossi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Khaba Dagestanskiy.
Dagestanskiy misses with an uppercut.
Rossi throws a head kick that misses.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Dagestanskiy.
Rossi pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Dagestanskiy misses with a looping right.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rossi lands a head kick. Dagestanskiy smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

It looks like Khaba Dagestanskiy has been cut.
Decent striking displayed by Dagestanskiy there.
Khaba Dagestanskiy is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Dagestanskiy is looking to clinch.
Rossi takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Rossi misses with a wild body shot.
Rossi tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Dagestanskiy manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Dagestanskiy misses with a takedown attempt

and Rossi counters by clinching up.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rossi misses with a short punch on the inside.
Dagestanskiy working aggressively here.
Rossi throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Dagestanskiys head.
Rossi swings wildly with an uppercut but Dagestanskiy uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rossi misses with a punch on the inside.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Khaba Dagestanskiy.
I've got Dagestanskiy winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Khaba Dagestanskiy!
Khaba Dagestanskiy was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.