Tag: giga chikadze

How Close Really Is Giga Chikadze To A UFC Title Fight?

When Max Holloway was pulled from his title fight against Alexander Volkanovski, the MMA community suggested many names to step in and replace him. This included former bantamweight champ Henry Cejudo, The Korean Zombie (who ended up getting the title…

Giga Chikadze

When Max Holloway was pulled from his title fight against Alexander Volkanovski, the MMA community suggested many names to step in and replace him. This included former bantamweight champ Henry Cejudo, The Korean Zombie (who ended up getting the title fight), and Giga Chikadze. Wait. Chikadze, the guy who is set to fight Calvin Kattar in just a few days? Yes, him.

Amidst the need to find a new opponent for Volkanovski, many forgot—or likely chose to ignore—that Chikadze had a main event fight booked already. And it’s not that Calvin Kattar, his opponent, isn’t a good fighter. Instead, it’s that many believe Chikadze is a big name for the featherweight division that is already able to get a title shot.

That anecdote alone describes what people see in Chikadze. Still undefeated in the UFC, every win puts him closer to a title fight. This weekend, Chikadze is scheduled to compete in his second UFC “Fight Night” headlining bout when facing Kattar.

A win this weekend would give Chikadze an incredibly strong résumé. He has already won seven fights in the UFC, and his past three have all come via finish. The case could be made that it doesn’t even matter the method for how Chikadze wins this weekend. As long as he wins, he’d have the best background out of any potential contender at 145 pounds.

Kattar Provides Another Strong Challenge

Giga Chikadze, Calvin Kattar
Giga Chikadze, Calvin Kattar

It could certainly be argued that Chikadze shouldn’t get a title fight right now. Right now, the names ahead of him (Holloway and Zombie) still have a stronger case for a title shot. But a win this weekend could put him next in line.

Think of it this way: A win for Chikadze would likely put him up to the #5 spot in the division, where Kattar currently resides. This position would make him the highest-ranked fighter who has yet to get a title fight and yet to lose to someone else in the top five. Everyone else in the rankings at that point has either lost a title fight or lost to one of their neighboring featherweights in the rankings.

Chikadze had a solid opponent last time around in Edson Barboza. Kattar offers another good challenge for him. While Kattar is coming off an early 2021 loss against Holloway, he has notable wins against names like Dan Ige and Jeremy Stephens and is no stranger to a five-round fight. Saturday’s bout will mark the fourth time that Kattar has headlined a UFC card.

But Not So Fast…

Giga Chikadze
MMA Fighting

Unfortunately for Chikadze, a win this weekend doesn’t guarantee anything. No matter who wins in the Volkanovski and Zombie fight in April, the winner will likely get a fight with Holloway, as he was in the title picture before an injury got into the mix. Going off that assumption, Chikadze will have two options later this year. One option is he will take another fight, risking the chance of losing his position in the division. The other option is he will sit out, possibly benching himself for months upon end. It’s not unrealistic to say that Chikadze could have to fight one more time after this before a title shot. He may be in a tough position here, but it’s not the fault of anyone involved, really.

Everything is going the right way for Chikadze as a fighter. And as it stands currently, everything indicates that it will continue to be that way. It wouldn’t be a shock if a title shot is in his near future. However, how near that future really is, it’s quite hard to determine right now.

Where do you think Giga Chikadze would sit in the featherweight division if he wins this weekend?

Continue Reading How Close Really Is Giga Chikadze To A UFC Title Fight? at MMA News.

Calvin Kattar Explains Why He Hasn’t Tried To Replace Holloway At UFC 272

Calvin Kattar was one of the few featherweights who did not put his name in the hat to replace Max Holloway to fight Alexander Volkanovski for the belt.

Volkanovski was supposed to defend his belt in a trilogy match against Holloway at UFC 272 in M…

Calvin Kattar

Calvin Kattar was one of the few featherweights who did not put his name in the hat to replace Max Holloway to fight Alexander Volkanovski for the belt.

Volkanovski was supposed to defend his belt in a trilogy match against Holloway at UFC 272 in March. Unfortunately, the Hawaiian was forced out of the bout. After that, several featherweights like Giga Chikadze, Korean Zombie, Josh Emmett, and Yair Rodríguez all called for the fight.

For Kattar, however, he didn’t see a reason to call for the fight, especially when he has a scrap coming up.

“Yeah, man, talk is cheap,” Kattar said on BetQL Tapped Out. “I’m trying to go out next week and earn it…Him throwing his name in the hat, it’d be a shame if I went out and ruined his plans, you know?”

Calvin Kattar & Max Holloway
Calvin Kattar & Max Holloway (Image Credit: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)

Kattar is set to headline UFC Vegas 46 this Saturday against Giga Chikadze in a battle of top-10 featherweights. The winner could very well be in title contention, and that is all Kattar is focused on, not trying to call out the champ for a bout in March.

“All I know is a W gets me that much closer,” Kattar said. “You only get closer off wins. And some of these guys calling for the title shot off losses, it doesn’t really make sense to me. Yeah, it happens every now and then, but go out and win some shit and then talk.”

Calvin Kattar is currently ranked fifth at featherweight and is coming off a beatdown loss to Max Holloway in January last year. The loss dropped him to 22-5 as a pro and he’s 6-3 in the UFC with wins over Shane Burgos, Dan Ige, Jeremy Stephens, Andre Fili, and Ricardo Lamas among others.

Do you think Calvin Kattar will beat Giga Chikadze in the main event of UFC Vegas 46?

Continue Reading Calvin Kattar Explains Why He Hasn’t Tried To Replace Holloway At UFC 272 at MMA News.

Chikadze Shares How White Boosted His Motivation Ahead Of Kattar Fight

Giga Chikadze is using some words from the boss as motivation.

This Saturday night, Giga Chikadze will be facing arguably the toughest test yet of his UFC career when he fights Calvin Kattar in the main event of UFC Vegas 46. Coming into this matc…

Giga Chikadze Dana White

Giga Chikadze is using some words from the boss as motivation.

This Saturday night, Giga Chikadze will be facing arguably the toughest test yet of his UFC career when he fights Calvin Kattar in the main event of UFC Vegas 46. Coming into this match-up, Chikadze feels he is close to a title shot and, with a win, will surely be campaigning for one. And he will be walking into the Octagon with some motivation he received from UFC President Dana White.

“I even had a quick chat with Dana since I was at the P.I.,” Chikadze told MMA Junkie. “We had some interactions there. He said, ‘You’re right there. Handle your business and then we’ll talk after.’ (I have) even more motivation from that, I guess.”

Chikadze is coming into this bout with Kattar having won every fight he has had in the UFC. He made his promotional debut in Sept. 2019 and has been working his way up to the top. His last three wins were all TKO victories, and each earned him a performance bonus. He is now ranked eighth in the division. And with a victory over Kattar this Saturday, he should find himself ranked in the top five.

“I just want to warn everybody that I have a fight this weekend,” Chikadze said. “I’ll be knocking out people that no one would believe I was going to knock them out – in a minute, in a striking way, in this, in that. I just want them to open their eyes and watch this weekend very well, and after this make a decision. I’m just concentrating to perform the best I’ve ever been.”

Kattar is not an easy opponent for anyone. He is coming off a loss against former champion Max Holloway in a Fight of the Night performance. Prior to that, he had two straight wins over top opponents and is currently sitting in the number five spot in the rankings. This bout between Kattar and Chikadze could hold title implications now that Holloway is out of his title shot against Alexader Volkanovski.

Do you think Giga Chikadze has what it takes to beat Calvin Kattar and fight for a title?

Continue Reading Chikadze Shares How White Boosted His Motivation Ahead Of Kattar Fight at MMA News.

Giga Chikadze Blasts ‘Chump’ Alexander Volkanovski In Twitter Rampage

Giga Chikadze isn’t happy with Alexander Volkanovski after the featherweight champion alluded to ‘The Korean Zombie’ getting the next title shot.

Volkanovski was originally supposed to fight Max Holloway in their trilogy at UFC 272 before Holloway …

Giga Chikadze

Giga Chikadze isn’t happy with Alexander Volkanovski after the featherweight champion alluded to ‘The Korean Zombie’ getting the next title shot.

Volkanovski was originally supposed to fight Max Holloway in their trilogy at UFC 272 before Holloway reaggravated an injury in recent days. Chikadze is slated to face Calvin Kattar in a UFC Fight Night main event on Jan. 15 and could potentially get a title shot if he wins.

After Holloway pulled out, the UFC and Volkanovski immediately began looking for potential replacements. Chan Sung Jung, otherwise known as ‘The Korean Zombie’, is reportedly at the top of the list, along with possibly Yair Rodriguez.

This appeared to irk Chikadze, who is coming off a dominant win over Edson Barboza. He aired his frustration in a recent Twitter rant.

Giga Chikadze Roasted Alexander Volkanovski On Twitter

Many believe that it’s only a matter of time until Chikadze gets a featherweight title shot, but he may be impatient.

Volkanovski most recently defeated Brian Ortega at UFC 266 via unanimous decision, in one of the most gritty performances of 2021. Before that, he had earned back-to-back wins over Holloway inside the Octagon.

It’s still unknown who will get the short-notice bout at UFC 272, but Chikadze appears ready and willing to step up if he can get past Kattar.

How close is Giga Chikadze to a title shot?

Continue Reading Giga Chikadze Blasts ‘Chump’ Alexander Volkanovski In Twitter Rampage at MMA News.

Giga Chikadze Issues Warning To Alexander Volkanovski: ‘I’m Gonna Kick Your Midget Head’

Giga ChikadzeSurging promotional-perfect featherweight contender, Giga Chikadze appears to be gunning for an eventual title shot against reigning champion, Alexander Volkanovski – claiming he would high kick the titleholder, whom he labelled a “midget” after Volkanovski dismissed a short-notice UFC 272 title defense against him. Chikadze, who headlines UFC Vegas 46 next weekend, meets New England […]

Giga Chikadze

Surging promotional-perfect featherweight contender, Giga Chikadze appears to be gunning for an eventual title shot against reigning champion, Alexander Volkanovski – claiming he would high kick the titleholder, whom he labelled a “midget” after Volkanovski dismissed a short-notice UFC 272 title defense against him.

Chikadze, who headlines UFC Vegas 46 next weekend, meets New England Cartel standout, Calvin Kattar. And despite finding himself already preoccupied with that matchup, offered to replace an injury-stricken Max Holloway regardless and fight Volkanovski on March 5. at UFC 272.

Giga Chikadze is undefeated in his seven UFC outings, most recently finishing Edson Barboza with strikes

Despite Chikadze’s call, Volkanovski openly dismissed the Georgian’s challenge for UFC 272, as one-time title chaser, Chan Sung Jung sits as the current frontrunner to meet with the defending champion in March in place of former gold holder, Holloway.

“@gigachikadze @KoreanZombieMMA All respect bro but your (sic) fighting for rank #5 next week. … See you soon!!” Alexander Volkanovski tweeted at Giga Chikadze.

With Jung widely expected to score a short notice title fight against Volkanovski on March 5. – Tbilisi striker, Chikadze claimed the defending featherweight champion was picking easy fights, before claiming he would high kick him when they eventually share the Octagon in the future.

“@alexvolkanovski The chump picking up all the easiest link in the division Zombie (The Korean Zombie) and specially (especially) (Yair) Rodriguez he’s suck I will handle my business on Saturday and I’m gonna kick your midget head ass back (to) Singapore or Ireland whatever (sic) you from @danawhite @seanshelby,” Giga Chikadze tweeted.

In the midst of an impressive seven-fight winning run since his UFC debut back in September 2019, Chikadze most recently stopped Brazilian Muay Thai striker, Edson Barboza in the main event of UFC Vegas 35 back in August – earning him the #8 rank at featherweight. 

For Volkanovski, the New South Wales native headlined UFC 266 in September last, taking home his second consecutive featherweight title defense courtesy of a unanimous decision win over Brian Ortega in a Fight of the Year contender.

Calvin Kattar vs Giga Chikadze In Talks To Headline On January 15

Calvin KattarCalvin Kattar and Giga Chikadze are rumored to be headlining the first event of the new year in the featherweight division. The two featherweight contenders seem to be headlining the Jan.15 card and it has the makings of a barn-burner. The UFC is currently working to schedule the fight, but contracts have still yet to […]

Calvin Kattar

Calvin Kattar and Giga Chikadze are rumored to be headlining the first event of the new year in the featherweight division.

The two featherweight contenders seem to be headlining the Jan.15 card and it has the makings of a barn-burner. The UFC is currently working to schedule the fight, but contracts have still yet to be signed according to Brett Okamoto of ESPN.

Kattar (22-5) is coming off a devastating loss to the former featherweight champ Max Holloway. The fight earned the pair a ‘Fight of the Night’ bonus. Holloway looked phenomenal and put on one of the best boxing outings we’ve ever seen inside the Octagon that night. Kattar still had his moments in that fight, and also showed how big his heart and desire.

Kattar, over his last six fights, is 4-2 in the UFC. His only other loss being to Zabit Magomedsharipov by decision as well. He also had a really impressive win over Dan ’50k’ Ige, on another ‘Fight Night’ he headlined. If the UFC gets the contract signed, this will be Kattar’s fourth ‘Fight Night’ main event in five fights.

Chikadze (14-2) is coming in with a ton of hype to this fight if they get the contract signed. It would be Chikadze’s biggest test yet and could increase the likeliness of a future championship fight for him. He proved the hype was real when he finished Edson Barboza in the 3rd round of the ‘Fight Night’ he hosted. It pushed Chikadze’s record to a perfect 7-0 and propelled him up the featherweight rankings. The featherweight division continues to be one of the most exciting divisions in the entire sport, as they keep making fantastic fights in that loaded division.

Who do you think will win the fight between Giga Chikadze and Calvin Kattar?