Tag: giga chikadze

UFC featherweight Calvin Kattar has responded to former foe Giga Chikadze, saying that he would beat Kattar nine out of 10 times.

Last Saturday Kattar and Chikadze produced an entertaining fight that would kick off the 2022 UFC schedule. It would see the return of Kattar after he suffered a one-sided defeat against Max Holloway, take on the division’s hottest prospect in Chikadze.

Coming into the bout, the more proven and higher ranked Kattar was the betting underdog against Chikadze who had gained some hype following his recent performances which included stoppages wins over Cub Swanson and Edson Barboza.

The Georgian was highly confident going into the matchup, even calling for a fight with current divisional champion, Alexander Volkanovski following Holloway’s dropout. The fight however was all Kattar, who would win every single round on all of the scorecards including a 10-8

Even though Kattar produced a shut-out performance, Chikadze is still confident he is the better fighter.

“I feel like if I would fight with this guy 10 times, 9 I would win,” Chikadze said. “That would be the one I would lose and that was last night. It is what it is. I made mistake and I’m paying now with it. It’s all good. Guys, I’m unbreakable. Remember this shit, Georgians always unbreakable. This is how we fight, until the fucking end.”

Calvin Kattar Responds To Giga Chikadze

Calvin Kattar, who had no bad words to say about Chikadze following their bout, even posing for a photo in the hospital would have every right to be annoyed by these comments but the Bostonian always keeps in respectful.

When talking to Ariel Helwani on the latest episode of The MMA hour, Kattar was asked about the comments, answering how you’d expect, even wishing the Georgian well.

“No, no, it’s different when you hear people in person in interviews, but I don’t take it personal, man,” said Kattar. “It’s whatever, you know, wish him a speedy recovery, bounce back. I told him all you can do now is make the next guy pay. That’s exactly what I did. And hopefully, he responds to the loss well.

“It doesn’t sound like it’s going that way early, but hopefully he just understands that—honestly he can understand whatever he wants. For me, it helped me to just focus on the things that I can control and focus on the comeback but not so much really the last one.” (Transcribed by MMA NEWS)

What’s next for Calvin Kattar?

UFC featherweight contender Calvin Kattar has responded to Giga Chikadze’s claim that he’d beat “The Boston Finisher” nine times out of 10.

For Chikadze, the one exception came in the opening UFC main event of 2022 this past weekend. “Ninja” faced top-five 145lber Kattar in what was the Methuen native’s first appearance since his brutal defeat to Max Holloway last January.

Despite having a tough and proven name who represented the biggest challenge of his career to date in front of him, a lot of Chikadze’s focus and attention during fight week appeared to be elsewhere. After Alexander Volkanovski was left needing a challenger to his title after the withdrawal of Holloway, the Georgian threw his name into the hat and repeatedly accused the champion of running from him.

But on Saturday night, Kattar made him pay for looking past him, something he warned Chikadze he’d do beforehand. Across five rounds, “The Boston Finisher” bruised and bloodied the #8-ranked contender’s face on his way to a dominant unanimous decision triumph.

THAT's HOW YOU MAKE A STATEMENT ?

[ @CalvinKattar | #UFCVegas46 ] pic.twitter.com/yJciqlt9Dy

— UFC (@ufc) January 16, 2022

In the aftermath of the entertaining headliner, Chikadze turned heads on a Facebook Live when he suggested he’d be the one with his hand raised nine times out of 10 against Kattar.

“I feel like if I would fight with this guy 10 times, 9 I would win,” Chikadze said. “That would be the one I would lose and that was last night. It is what it is. I made mistake and I’m paying now with it. It’s all good. Guys, I’m unbreakable. Remember this shit, Georgians always unbreakable. This is how we fight, until the fucking end.”

Kattar Responds With Class

Hearing those comments from a man you’ve just beaten the face off for 25 minutes would understandably elicit a strong response from most members of the UFC roster. But for Kattar, the only response was class.

During an appearance on Ariel Helwani’s The MMA Hour, Kattar said he hadn’t taken Chikadze’s comments personally. Instead, the #5-ranked featherweight wished his fallen opponent a quick recovery and encouraged the Georgian to handle the loss well.

“No, no, it’s different when you hear people in person in interviews, but I don’t take it personal, man,” said Kattar. “It’s whatever, you know, wish him a speedy recovery, bounce back. I told him all you can do now is make the next guy pay. That’s exactly what I did. And hopefully, he responds to the loss well. It doesn’t sound like it’s going that way early, but hopefully  he just understand that—honestly he can understand whatever he wants. For me, it helped me to just focus on the things that I can control and focus on the comeback but not so much really the last one.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/CYrkHx7PerX/

Having rebounded in style following a year away from the Octagon, Kattar will now look to continue his charge to the title, which was stalled by Holloway in 2021. Next up on his road to the top will likely be either Yair Rodriguez or Brian Ortega, who are coming off losses to the top-two featherweights in the division.

What did you make of Giga Chikadze’s comments after his loss to Calvin Kattar?

Continue Reading Kattar Responds To Chikadze Saying He’d Beat Him 9 Times Out Of 10 at MMA News.

At UFC Vegas 46, Calvin Kattar decimated Giga Chikadze and spoiled any hopes the Georgian had of fighting for the title next.

Prior to and during fight week, much of the talk had surrounded Chikadze’s calls for a championship opportunity. After Max Holloway withdrew from his scheduled trilogy clash with Alexander Volkanovski, “Ninja” was one of the first to throw his name into the hat to replace “Blessed.”

When “The Korean Zombie” was touted as the likely candidate to face the champion next, Chikadze claimed he’d lost respect for the champion and even suggested Volkanovksi would be his easiest opponent inside the 145-pound top 10. But through all that talk, one man is being forgotten: Calvin Kattar.

This past weekend, “The Boston Finisher” brutally beat and bust open Chikadze’s face across five rounds. With vicious elbows and clinical boxing, Kattar won every round on the judges’ scorecards and made amends for his own beating at the hands of Holloway last January.

Nothing but respect between warriors ?

[ @CalvinKattar @Giga_Chikadze | #UFCVegas46 ] pic.twitter.com/VqvZCV5e37

— UFC (@ufc) January 16, 2022

Don’t Overlook Kattar

With the result, Kattar shot back towards contention and stalled the surging rise of Chikadze, who was previously riding high off the back of a main event win against Edson Barboza.

But while many had expected “Ninja” to move past Kattar and stake his claim for a title shot, the message from fans and pundits since Saturday’s headliner has been: Don’t look past what’s in front of you. That message had already been said loud and clear at UFC Vegas 46 media day last Wednesday.

After asserting that Chikadze’s focus on gold and exchanges with the titleholder had no effect on him, Kattar warned the #8-ranked contender that setting his sights on anyone other than him would be a “big mistake.”

“No, not one bit man. I can’t really control that, so I try not to put too much energy into it. Only thing I can control is me and my opponent Saturday night. For him to be focusing on anybody else would be a big mistake,” Kattar said.

Given the state of Chikadze’s face after 25 minutes of action, it’s safe to say Kattar’s warning was well placed…

Back like he never left ?

Who do you want to see @CalvinKattar face next? ? #UFCVegas46 pic.twitter.com/rbulSmiM92

— UFC (@ufc) January 16, 2022

While his toughness has never been in doubt, Kattar certainly had his title credentials and place among the featherweight elite questioned following his defeat on Fight Island last year. But at UFC Vegas 46, “The Boston Finisher” answered those questions with sharp elbows and crisp punches.

With a relieving rebound win after a year away from action, Kattar will now look to carry his momentum into another big fight, perhaps this time against a fellow top-five contender. Two men currently stand out as possible next opponents.

Brian Ortega was the last man to challenge for the title and could provide a thrilling matchup with Kattar. While he’d be looking to rebound and stay in the title conversation, the Methuen native would hope to book a date with the champ by defeating the two-time title challenger

Yair Rodriguez is also in a similar situation. He returned last November and despite performing well against Holloway, he missed out on the chance to challenge Volkanovski after a narrow defeat on the scorecards. With both losing to Holloway in 2021, a clash between Kattar and Rodriguez makes sense.

Who would you like to see Calvin Kattar face next?

Continue Reading Kattar Warned Chikadze About Overlooking Him Prior To UFC Vegas 46 at MMA News.