User:IHeartGeorgius/sandbox

Giorgi Kokiashvili (Georgian: გიორგი ქოქიაშვილი, born 10 August 1999) is a Georgian sports journalist, known for his coverage of mixed martial arts (MMA). He is best known for his work at Setanta Sports.

Early life and education
Giorgi Kokiashvli was born in Tbilisi, Georgia. Kokiashvili is fluent in Georgian, English and understands Russian.

Kokiashvili grew up in Tbilisi and attended the 63th Public School, Parochial School named after the Iveria All-Holy Mother of God and 35th Public School. In 2017, Kokiashvili graduated from 35th Public School and went to Ilia State University. At the age of 5, Kokiashvili started his Football career and went to FC Norchi Dinamo Tbilisi. In 2008, he had trials with Italian scouts and was close to go in Italy, but in the summer of 2008, his biggest supporter, father, died from cancer and Kokiashvili was unable to go in Italy. In 2010, he moved to 35th Football School, where he played for 5 years and ended his Football career in 2015. While playing Football, in 2012, Kokiashvili found MMA interesting by watching Irish professional mixed martial artist Conor McGregor and decided to become a part of this Sport.

Career
Kokiashvili was interested in Sports journalism from teenage. From 2013 to 2019, he managed many social media pages on Facebook and Instagram as to get experience and knowledge in social marketing. In January 2020, Kokiashvili founded his own MMA related page on Facebook called "UFC in Georgia". He stated that he want to make MMA more popular in Georgia by having that page on Facebook. Later, Georgian mixed martial artists Giga Chikadze, Merab Dvalishvili, Roman Dolidze, Guram Kutateladze, Ilia Topuria and others show their support to Kokiashvili by sharing "UFC in Georgia" news on their profiles and giving him an interviews.

In March 2020, Kokiashvili joined the most popular Georgian Sports television and platform Adjarasport as MMA social media manager and reporter. In the same month, Kokiashvili decided to register on Twitter and start his activities outside the Georgian audience. His "Georgian MMA inside things" became popular day by day and he got recognition on Twitter by mixed martial arts commentators Jon Anik, John Gooden, combat sport analyst Luke Thomas and many other Mixed Martial Arts related person.

In Ferbuary 2021, adjarasport bought Setanta Sports and Kokiashvili moved to Setanta Sports with adjarasport team. Since then, he develops MMA news and covers Mixed Martial Arts for more than 150 million people in CIS countries and Philippines.

In October 2022, Kokiashvili became the first ever Georgian journalist to attend UFC press conference and live event at UFC 280 at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, and he asked questions to UFC superstars such as Charles Oliveira, Islam Makhachev, Sean O'Malley, Beneil Dariush, president Dana White and others.

Honors and awards
In December 2022, Kokiashvili served as a cornerman and assistant coach for his friend and professional mixed martial artist Mate Sanikidze at OKTAGON MMA event at Ostravar Arena in Ostrava, Czech Republic, where Sanikidze won OKTAGON MMA Featherweight title by defeating undefeated Czech fighter Jakub Tichota via split decision.