PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Panagiotis Nikolau (ranked 642 p4p, 849 weight class) and David Khinchegashvili (ranked 97 p4p, 120 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Nikolau
vs
Khinchegashvili

190 cm
23
206
8 - 4 - 0

188 cm
23
213
6 - 3 - 1

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Lethal high kicks
Heavy handed

SynCity Fightwear
Conviction

Northern Zombie
Shadow Realm Apparel

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Panagiotis Nikolau!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 1, fighting out of New York, David Khinchegashvili!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, Jorge Garcia and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nikolau throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Khinchegashvili throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Khinchegashvili looks to throw the jab but Nikolau is out of range.
Khinchegashvili attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Nikolau walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Khinchegashvili checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Decent striking displayed by Khinchegashvili there.
Khinchegashvili missing with a left hand there. Nikolau was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
A nice inside leg kick there by Nikolau. That's going to slow Khinchegashvili down.

Nikolau instigates a clinch.
Nikolau throws a head punch that misses.

Khinchegashvili's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Khinchegashvili waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Nikolau.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nikolau takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

Khinchegashvili moves into range and clinches up with Nikolau.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Nikolau misses with a short punch on the inside.
Nikolau presses Khinchegashvili against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Nikolau lands with a short head shot on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khinchegashvili stalling in the clinch but Nikolau improves position.
Khinchegashvili blocking some punches.
Nikolau lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Khinchegashvili backwards.
Khinchegashvili is trying to maintain a safe position but Nikolau gets an underhook and turns Khinchegashvili into the cage.
Nice body punch from Nikolau.
Khinchegashvili looks winded!
Nikolau digs a right hand into Khinchegashvili's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Khinchegashvili's gas tank.
Nikolau throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Nikolau scores with a nice hook to the head.
A short right from Nikolau.
I was talking to Nikolau's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Nikolau works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
A nice left hand lands by Nikolau.
Nikolau scores with a shoulder strike.
Nikolau lands with a light punch inside.
Nikolau lands a shot to the body.
A short right from Nikolau on the inside.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nikolau scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Nikolau softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Nikolau presses Khinchegashvili against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Nikolau tries to throw a body punch but Khinchegashvili avoids it by throwing Nikolau back against the cage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nikolau lands a hook to the side of the head.
Nikolau stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Nikolau lands a right hand that snaps the head of Khinchegashvili backwards.
Nikolau lands a body shot.
Nikolau scores with a nice hook to the head.
Nikolau lands a hook that snaps the head of Khinchegashvili backwards.
Nikolau working some nice short punches in the clinch.
A short right from Nikolau on the inside.
Nikolau presses Khinchegashvili against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Nikolau gets through Khinchegashvili's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Nikolau scores with a shoulder strike.
A right hand to the body from Nikolau.
Nikolau lands a shoulder strike.

Khinchegashvili is rocked!
Nikolau lands a body shot in the clinch.
Nikolau lands a left hand.
Khinchegashvili is still on wobbly legs! Can Nikolau finish him?
Nikolau pushes Khinchegashvili against the cage. Nikolau is working some dirty boxing. Nikolau pushes off with a quick right hook! Khinchegashvili goes down! Khinchegashvili tries to stand but stumbles back to his kness! Nikolau moves in to finish and the ref steps in to prevent any more damage!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:54 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Panagiotis Nikolau!
A victorious Panagiotis Nikolau thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.