PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between David Khinchegashvili (ranked 1334 p4p, 2060 weight class) and Roberto Rossi (ranked 185 p4p, 274 weight class). David Khinchegashvili has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Khinchegashvili
vs
Rossi

188 cm
21
213
3 - 2 - 0

176 cm
21
205
6 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Champion Apparel
Hoarse Pills

Arcticus University: London
Bondi MMA ðŸï¸

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, David Khinchegashvili!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Roberto Rossi!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Ben Zyskovitsi and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Khinchegashvili throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Rossi doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Roberto Rossi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rossi misses with a low kick as Khinchegashvili jumps back.
Rossi connects with a solid leg kick.
Rossi connects with a good right hand that stumbles Khinchegashvili. Khinchegashvili circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Khinchegashvili swings for the body but Rossi moves out of range.
Rossi checks a leg kick.
Rossi misses with a looping right.
Khinchegashvili on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Rossi loads up on a big right hand but Khinchegashvili slips the punch.
Rossi throws a lazy right hand but Khinchegashvili sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Khinchegashvili bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rossi throws a leg kick but Khinchegashvili sees it coming and moves out of range.
Rossi misses with a straight right.
Rossi swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Khinchegashvili fires out a quick counter leg kick but Rossi just manages to avoid it.
The crowd cheers as Rossi lands an impressive looking overhand right. Khinchegashvili doesn't seem phased though.
Khinchegashvili with a nice calf kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rossi throws a quick inside leg kick.
Khinchegashvili takes one to the chin there.
Rossi uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Khinchegashvili.
Khinchegashvili connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Rossi momentarily.

It looks like Roberto Rossi has been cut.
Rossi scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Rossi connects with a solid leg kick.
Rossi ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Rossi misses with a jab to the body
and Khinchegashvili connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Rossi feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Khinchegashvilis jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Rossi lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rossi just misses with a punch to the body.
Khinchegashvili half committed to a counter leg kick.
Khinchegashvili misses with an uppercut.
Rossi takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Rossi listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Khinchegashvili gets a clinch.
Rossi misses with a punch on the inside.
Khinchegashvili landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Rossi tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Rossi can't find room to land a body shot as Khinchegashvili controls the action.
Khinchegashvili has Rossi pressed against the cage, preventing Rossi from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Khinchegashvili prevents a body shot from Rossi.
Khinchegashvili with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Khinchegashvili goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Khinchegashvili tries to land a knee to the head but Rossi blocks with his arms.

Rossi pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Rossi takes a jab right on the kisser.
Rossi connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Khinchegashvili momentarily.
Khinchegashvili thows a left - swing and a miss!
Rossi checks a leg kick.
Rossi looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Khinchegashvili is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
A slow jab from Khinchegashvili misses its intended target.
Rossi connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khinchegashvili on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Rossi pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
It looked like Khinchegashvili wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Nice defenses there by Rossi.
Rossi lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Rossi uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Khinchegashvili.
Khinchegashvili misses with an attempted mid kick.
Khinchegashvili pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Good work by Rossi as he checks the leg kick.
Rossi throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Rossi is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Khinchegashvili had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into mush.
Rossi scores with a nice head shot.
Khinchegashvili takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Rossi slips a straight right by Khinchegashvili.
Khinchegashvili tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rossi swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Khinchegashvili takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rossi keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Khinchegashvili.
Rossi let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Khinchegashvili looks to score with a jab to the body but Rossi is just out of range.
Khinchegashvili backing away here, and Rossi unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
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 paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Khinchegashvili looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Rossi throws a leg kick but Khinchegashvili sees it coming and moves out of range.
Khinchegashvili on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Rossi thows a left - swing and a miss!
Khinchegashvili bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Khinchegashvili on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Khinchegashvili avoids a punch combination nicely.
Khinchegashvili throwing a counter right hand but Rossi manages to avoid it.
Rossi digs a good body shot into Khinchegashvili's ribs.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rossi tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Khinchegashvili is able to avoid easily.
Rossi fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Khinchegashvili checks it well.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Roberto Rossi dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Roberto Rossi's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Rossi throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Roberto Rossi seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Rossi punishes Khinchegashvili's body with a nice straight punch.
Rossi uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Khinchegashvili.
Rossi throws out a counter right but Khinchegashvili avoids it with no problem.
Khinchegashvili looks to score with a jab to the body but Rossi is just out of range.
Khinchegashvili staying out of range there.
Rossi ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Rossi bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Rossi uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Khinchegashvili.
Rossi throws a body shot but no joy.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Khinchegashvili checks a leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rossi motions for Khinchegashvili to come forward. Rossi throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Rossi has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Rossi throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Khinchegashvili on the side of the head.
Rossi scores with a leg kick.
Khinchegashvili looks to throw the jab but Rossi is out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rossi. Khinchegashvili does a little dance to reset his feet.
Rossi throws a leg kick but Khinchegashvili checks it.
Khinchegashvili swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Rossi throws a quick inside leg kick.
Rossi lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
A punch lands to the side of Rossi 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Rossi throws a lazy right hand but Khinchegashvili sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Khinchegashvili drops his hands momentarily and Rossi takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Rossi does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Rossi has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Rossi misses with a hook.
A big right from Rossi misses.
Rossi throws a leg kick but Khinchegashvili sees it coming and moves out of range.
Khinchegashvili swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Rossi misses with a hook
and Khinchegashvili counters with a nice uppercut.
Rossi swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Khinchegashvili counters with a good low kick that Rossi was not able to check.
Rossi throws a nice looking combination but Khinchegashvili bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Khinchegashvili moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Both fighters circling a little - Khinchegashvili finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Rossi is breathing heavily.
Khinchegashvili waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Rossi.
Rossi takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Khinchegashvili's corner calls for a 1-2. Khinchegashvili obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Khinchegashvili tries to clinch but Rossi is having none of it.
Rossi circles away from the clinch attempt.
Rossi throws a looping overhand right but Khinchegashvili ducks down to avoid it.
A little feinted left hand from Khinchegashvili on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Rossi throws a hook to the side of Khinchegashvili's head but Khinchegashvili sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
It looked like Khinchegashvili wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Khinchegashvili uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rossi.
An attempted straight right counter from Khinchegashvili misses the target.
A slapping leg kick lands for Khinchegashvili.
Khinchegashvili throws a looping overhand right but Rossi ducks down to avoid it.
Rossi misses with a leg kick
and Khinchegashvili counters with a nice leg kick.
Khinchegashvili defending well as Rossi loads up on a big left hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rossi misses with a looping left.
Khinchegashvili will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
It seemed like Rossi was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Rossi throws an off balance right hand
and Khinchegashvili counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That has opened up Roberto Rossi's cut even more.
Rossi tried to score with a low kick but Khinchegashvili checks it.
Rossi misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Khinchegashvili.
Khinchegashvili shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Rossi throws a low kick but it's checked well by Khinchegashvili.
A little feinted left hand from Khinchegashvili on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Khinchegashvili throws a lazy right hand but Rossi sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Khinchegashvili tests Rossi's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Khinchegashvili keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Rossi thows a leg kick but Khinchegashvili checks it
and Khinchegashvili counters with a nice body shot.
Khinchegashvili misses with a body shot.
A shot to the body from Rossi misses
and Khinchegashvili connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

The cut above Roberto Rossi's eye is starting to cause him problems now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A big right from Rossi misses.
An inside leg kick from Rossi misses.
Rossi tries to land a leg kick but Khinchegashvili saw it coming and moves away.
Rossi pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Khinchegashvili looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Rossi looks to score with a jab to the body but Khinchegashvili is just out of range.
As Rossi backs away, Khinchegashvili returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rossi fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
A shot to the body from Rossi misses
and Khinchegashvili counters with a stiff right hand.
Rossi swings widly with a right hand
and Khinchegashvili counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Khinchegashvili takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Khinchegashvili takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Rossi lands with a thumping leg kick.
Rossi cracks Khinchegashvili with an open hand slap.
Khinchegashvili is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Rossi's corner calls for a 1-2. Rossi obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Rossi throws a low kick but Khinchegashvili moves out of range easily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Roberto Rossi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Roberto Rossi's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Rossi lands a leg kick that knocks Khinchegashvili off balance momentarily.
Nice body punch from Rossi.
Rossi lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Khinchegashvili checks a leg kick nicely.
Khinchegashvili moves out of range as Rossi strikes.
Rossi throws a leg kick that misses.
Rossi throws an off balance right hand
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Rossi misses with a wild body shot.
Rossi ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rossi ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Khinchegashvili throws a low kick but Rossi avoids it.
Good shot there by Rossi.
Rossi lands a head kick. Khinchegashvili smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
A jab from Rossi misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rossi throws a hook but Khinchegashvili blocks it.
Khinchegashvili is looking to counter punch.
Rossi misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Khinchegashvili.
Khinchegashvili bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Rossi takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Khinchegashvili lands with a shot to the body.
Khinchegashvili waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Rossi.
Khinchegashvili stuns Rossi with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Rossi misses with a hook
and Khinchegashvili cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Rossi scores with a leg kick.
Khinchegashvili throws a lazy right hand but Rossi sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Khinchegashvili staying out of range there.
Rossi misses with an uppercut
and Khinchegashvili counters with a lovely straight right hand!
A bone on bone clash there as Rossi blocks the leg kick.
Khinchegashvili ducks under a wild hook from Rossi.
Khinchegashvili is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
David Khinchegashvili has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Khinchegashvili drops his hands momentarily and Rossi takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rossi throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Khinchegashvili swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
A swing and a miss from Rossi.
Khinchegashvili waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Rossi.
Rossi lands with a hook. Khinchegashvili tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Khinchegashvili cracks a nice hook into Rossi's ribs.
Khinchegashvili wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Rossi avoids a kick to the body.
Rossi only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Rossi moves away from the strike by Khinchegashvili.
Khinchegashvili looks to land a body kick but Rossi moved away.
Rossi only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Khinchegashvili's jab looks to have found its range, popping Rossi under the eye.

Roberto Rossi's cut is absolute horrible now. This looks like something out of a horror film with blood covering both fighters.
Rossi connects with a looping right hand.
Khinchegashvili throws a nice outside leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khinchegashvili displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Rossi throws out the jab.
Khinchegashvili connects with the punch.
Rossi keeps the fight on the outside.
The crowd cheers as Rossi lands an impressive looking overhand right. Khinchegashvili doesn't seem phased though.
Rossi blocks a low kick nicely.
Rossi throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Khinchegashvili makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Rossi lands a jab.
Khinchegashvili takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Rossi walks forward, straight into a front kick from Khinchegashvili.
Rossi throws a hook but Khinchegashvili avoids it easily.
Rossi throws a solid leg kick but Khinchegashvili takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Rossi.
Rossi tries to move into range but Khinchegashvili moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Roberto Rossi's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:09 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). David Khinchegashvili!
David Khinchegashvili retains his light heavyweight title!