Giga Chikadze
Chikadze in 2019
Born (1988-08-25) 25 August 1988
Tbilisi, Georgian SSR, Soviet Union
NicknameNinja
Height6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight145 lb (66 kg; 10.4 st)
DivisionFeatherweight (Kickboxing)[1]
Featherweight (MMA)
Reach74 in (190 cm)[2]
StyleKickboxing
Fighting out ofTbilisi, Georgia
TeamKings MMA
RankThird dan black belt in Goju-ryu Karate[3]
Kickboxing record
Total48
Wins38
By knockout22
Losses10
By knockout4
Mixed martial arts record
Total18
Wins15
By knockout9
By submission1
By decision5
Losses3
By submission1
By decision2
Other information
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Giga Chikadze (Georgian: გიგა ჭიკაძე, born 25 August 1988) is a Georgian professional mixed martial artist and former kickboxer. He currently competes in the Featherweight division in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Chikadze formerly competed in the Featherweight division for GLORY. As of 29 August 2023, he is #8 in the UFC featherweight rankings.[4]

Background

Giga Chikadze was born on 25 August 1988 in Tbilisi. Between ages 4 and 5, he began to train in Gōjū-ryū Karate.[3] As a child, he inspired to join after watching martial arts movies by Jet Li and Bruce Lee. His first introduction to MMA was watching the early UFC events (specifically UFC 1) on VHS tapes, he was very impressed with Royce Gracie with his capabilities of defeating opponents of larger size while wearing a keikogi.[5]

Chikadze started competing in Kickboxing, moving to the Netherlands for training[5] and in 2015 he joined GLORY, the world's largest kickboxing organization.[6]

Mixed martial arts career

World Series of Fighting

Chikadze made his mixed martial arts debut as a lightweight in the WSOF, facing Xtreme Couture fighter Gil Guardado. He lost the fight by unanimous decision.[7]

Gladiator Challenge

Chikadze would join a promotion known as the Gladiator Challenge, and would enjoy a five-fight win streak in which all fights were ended via first-round knockout.[2]

Dana White's Tuesday Night Contender Series

In mid-June, Chikadze would join UFC president Dana White's Dana White's Contender Series 10 in Las Vegas, Nevada to face former Ultimate Fighter contestant Austin Springer in a featherweight bout. Chikadze would receive his second professional loss in his MMA career after submitting to a rear-naked choke in the third round.[8]

Return to the Gladiator Challenge

After losing to Springer, Chikadze would return to the lightweight division of the Gladiator Challenge, earning a quick submission victory and a swift TKO after that.[2]

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Giga Chikadze would sign a four-fight contract with the UFC and would be scheduled to make his UFC debut against fellow Contender Series fighter Mike Davis at UFC Fight Night 160 in Copenhagen, Denmark. However, Davis would pull out of the fight due to health issues and would be replaced by Brandon Davis in a short-notice bout.[9] After three rounds passed, the fight would be declared a split draw, but due to a scoring error made by one of the judges of the bout, the outcome would be corrected to a split decision victory for Chikadze.[10]

Chikadze would make his next UFC appearance on the preliminary card of UFC 248 against featherweight Jamall Emmers. Chikadze would earn a razor-thin split decision victory over Emmers after the bout had ended.[11]

Chikadze, once again, would be scheduled to face Mike Davis on 16 May 2020 at UFC on ESPN 8. However, Davis would pull out of the bout due to a weight cut-related illness and would be replaced by promotional newcomer Irwin Rivera.[12] Chikadze would win the fight by unanimous decision.[13]

Chikadze was scheduled to face Alex Caceres on 29 August 2020 at UFC Fight Night 175.[14] However, Chikadze withdrew from the bout due to tested positive for COVID-19[15] and he was replaced by promotional newcomer Kevin Croom.[16]

Chikadze faced Omar Morales on 11 October 2020 at UFC Fight Night 179.[17] He won the fight via unanimous decision despite knocking Morales down in the final round.[18]

Chikadze faced promotional newcomer Jamey Simmons on 7 November 2020 at UFC on ESPN 17.[19] He won the fight via technical knockout in round one.[20] This win earned him the Performance of the Night award.[21]

Chikadze faced Cub Swanson on 1 May 2021 at UFC on ESPN 23.[22] He won the bout in the first round via technical knockout after catching Swanson with a kick to the liver.[23] This win earned him the Performance of the Night bonus award.[24]

Chikadze faced Edson Barboza on 28 August 2021 at UFC on ESPN 30.[25] He won the back-and-forth fight via technical knockout in round three.[26] This win earned him the Performance of the Night award.[27]

Chikadze faced Calvin Kattar in the main event on 15 January 2022 at UFC on ESPN 32.[28] He lost the fight via unanimous decision after being knocked down and almost finished in the final seconds of the fight.[29] This fight earned him the Fight of the Night award.[30]

On 22 May 2022, it was announced that Chikadze will receive UFC 2022 Recipient of Forrest Griffin Community Award for his exceptional volunteer and charity work for his non-profit "Knockout Cancer Foundation" that assists individuals fighting cancer with financial support for medical bills.[31]

Chikadze was scheduled to face Sodiq Yusuff on September 17, 2022 at UFC Fight Night 210.[32] However, the week before the event, Chikadze withdrew due to injury and the bout was cancelled.[33]

Chikadze faced Alex Caceres on August 26, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 225.[34] He won the bout via unanimous decision.[35]

Chikadze was scheduled to face Josh Emmett on December 16, 2023, at UFC 296.[36] However, Chikadze withdrew due to an undisclosed injury,[37] and was replaced by Bryce Mitchell.[38]

Personal life

Chikadze has stated that he went to college and graduated with a degree in Business Management.[3]

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
18 matches 15 wins 3 losses
By knockout 9 0
By submission 1 1
By decision 5 2
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Win 15–3 Alex Caceres Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Holloway vs. The Korean Zombie 26 August 2023 3 5:00 Kallang, Singapore
Loss 14–3 Calvin Kattar Decision (unanimous) UFC on ESPN: Kattar vs. Chikadze 15 January 2022 5 5:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Fight of the Night.
Win 14–2 Edson Barboza TKO (punches) UFC on ESPN: Barboza vs. Chikadze 28 August 2021 3 1:44 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Performance of the Night.
Win 13–2 Cub Swanson TKO (body kick and punches) UFC on ESPN: Reyes vs. Procházka 1 May 2021 1 1:03 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Performance of the Night.
Win 12–2 Jamey Simmons TKO (head kick and punches) UFC on ESPN: Santos vs. Teixeira 7 November 2020 1 3:51 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Performance of the Night.
Win 11–2 Omar Morales Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Moraes vs. Sandhagen 11 October 2020 3 5:00 Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Win 10–2 Irwin Rivera Decision (unanimous) UFC on ESPN: Overeem vs. Harris 16 May 2020 3 5:00 Jacksonville, Florida, United States
Win 9–2 Jamall Emmers Decision (split) UFC 248 7 March 2020 3 5:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 8–2 Brandon Davis Decision (split) UFC Fight Night: Hermansson vs. Cannonier 28 September 2019 3 5:00 Copenhagen, Denmark
Win 7–2 Damien Manzanares TKO (submission to punches) Gladiator Challenge: MMA World Championships 23 March 2019 1 0:45 Whitney, California, United States
Win 6–2 C.J. Baines Submission (armbar) Gladiator Challenge: Summer Showdown 11 August 2018 1 0:12 Rancho Mirage, California, United States Lightweight bout.
Loss 5–2 Austin Springer Submission (rear-naked choke) Dana White's Contender Series 10 19 June 2018 3 4:10 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Featherweight debut.
Win 5–1 Kevin Ceron TKO (punch) Gladiator Challenge: MMA Fighting Championship 21 April 2018 1 2:37 Rancho Mirage, California, United States
Win 4–1 Kevin Gratts KO (punch) Gladiator Challenge: Season's Beatings 16 December 2017 1 1:17 Rancho Mirage, California, United States
Win 3–1 Julian Hernandez TKO (punch) Gladiator Challenge: Summer Feud 10 June 2017 1 0:49 Rancho Mirage, California, United States
Win 2–1 Anthony Ross TKO (punch) Gladiator Challenge: Absolute Beat Down 25 March 2017 1 0:10 San Jacinto, California, United States
Win 1–1 Joe Bear TKO (retirement) Gladiator Challenge: Season's Beatings 17 December 2016 1 1:50 San Jacinto, California, United States
Loss 0–1 Gil Guardado Decision (unanimous) World Series of Fighting 26: Palmer vs. Almeida 18 December 2015 3 5:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Lightweight debut.

[41]

Kickboxing record (incomplete)

Kickboxing record (Incomplete)
38 wins, 10 losses, 0 draws
Date Result OpponentEventLocation MethodRoundTime
2017-12-23LossFrance Dylan SalvadorGlory of Heroes: Jinan – GOH 65 kg Championship Tournament, Semi-FinalsJinan, ChinaEx. R Decision (Unanimous)43:00
2017-07-14LossUnited States Kevin VanNostrandGlory 43: New York – Featherweight Championship Tournament, FinalNew York City, New York, USDecision (unanimous)[42]33:00
2017-07-14WinRussia Aleksei UlianovGlory 43: New York – Featherweight Championship Tournament, Semi-FinalsNew York City, New York, USDecision (split)33:00
2017-01-20WinFrance Victor PintoGlory 37: Los AngelesLos Angeles, California, USKO (liver kick)12:03
2016-09-09LossCanada Matthew EmbreeGlory 33: New Jersey – Featherweight Contender Tournament, FinalTrenton, New Jersey, USTKO (punch)21:28
2016-09-09WinUkraine Serhiy AdamchukGlory 33: New Jersey – Featherweight Contender Tournament, Semi-FinalsTrenton, New Jersey, USDecision (Split)[43]33:00
2016-07-22WinUnited States Chris MauceriGlory 32: VirginiaNorfolk, Virginia, USKO (liver kick)12:20
2016-02-26WinUnited States Kevin VanNostrandGlory 27: ChicagoHoffman Estates, Illinois, USDecision (unanimous)33:00
2015-08-07LossUzbekistan Anvar BoynazarovGlory 23: Las VegasLas Vegas, Nevada, USDecision (split)33:00
2015-05-08WinCanada Ken TranGlory 21: San DiegoSan Diego, California, USKO32:19
2014-10-04WinRussia Armen ZakyanFight FansKO (Head kick)20:35
2014-02-08LossAngola Christian BayaFight Fans VIIINetherlandsDecision33:00
2014-01-12LossTurkey Tayfun ÖzcanEnfusion Live 12Alkmaar, NetherlandsDecision (Unanimous)33:00
2013-10-12LossGermany Ashkan GoharThai Boxing GalaEmmen, NetherlandsTKO (Doctor stoppage)1
2013-02-03LossSpain Abraham RoqueñiStreet Culture Fight Night 2Tenerife, SpainKO (Back kick)1
2012-12-28WinRepublic of Ireland Anthony KaneSoema Na BasiParamaribo, SurinameDecision33:00
2012-12-01WinNetherlands Hicham BoubkariDecision33:00
2012-05-27WinMorocco Otman AllachMuay Thai event Slamm 7Stedenwijk AlmereDecision33:00
2012-03-06LossAlbania Shkodran VeseliWFC Challengers 3Vienna, AustriaKO (Punches)2
2011-05-21WinRussia Evgeniy KurovskoyFightclub presents: It's Showtime 2011Amsterdam, NetherlandsDecision (unanimous)33:00
2011-04-10WinNetherlands Nordin KassriouiTKO (Doctor Stoppage)1
2009-12-19LossAlbania Shemsi BeqiriWFC Fight NightZürich, SwitzerlandDecision53:00
For the WFC World Middleweight (-72.5 kg/160 lb) Muay Thai Championship.
2008Win Domino RossKO (Punch)
Legend:   Win   Loss   Draw/No contest   Notes

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Giga Chikadze". GLORY. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 "Giga Chikadze". Tapology. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  3. 1 2 3 "Giga Chikadze | UFC". UFC.com. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  4. ↑ "Rankings | UFC". www.ufc.com. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  5. 1 2 Karim, Saiyed Adeem (25 July 2020). "Giga Chikadze names Royce Gracie as one reason for getting into MMA". Media Referee. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
  6. ↑ "Giga Chikadze". Glory Kickboxing. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
  7. ↑ Danny Segura (18 December 2015). "WSOF 26 Results: Palmer vs. Almeida". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  8. ↑ Alexander Lee (23 June 2018). "UFC Copenhagen results: Austin Springer on the outside looking in after not receiving Contender Series contract". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  9. ↑ Eddie Mercado (18 September 2019). "Former GLORY kickboxer Giga Chikadze talks UFC debut against Brandon Davis". Bloody Elbow. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  10. ↑ Alexander Lee (28 September 2019). "UFC Copenhagen results: Giga Chikadze sees draw changed to win after scoring gaffe corrected". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  11. ↑ Shawn Bitter (7 March 2020). "UFC 248 Results: Giga Chikadze Edges Out Jamall Emmers". Cageside Press. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  12. ↑ Jay Pettry (15 May 2020). "Irwin Rivera replaces Mike Davis Against Giga Chikadze at UFC Fight Night 172". Sherdog. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  13. ↑ MMA Junkie Staff (16 May 2020). "Giga Chikadze def. Irwin Rivera at UFC on ESPN 8: Best photos". MMA Junkie. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  14. ↑ Marcel Dorff (17 July 2020). ""Bruce Leeroy" treft Giga Chikadze tijdens UFC evenement op 8 augustus". MMA DNA (in Dutch). Retrieved 30 January 2022.
  15. ↑ Lee, Alexander K. (28 August 2020). "Giga Chikadze withdrawal from UFC Vegas 8 was due to positive COVID-19 test". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
  16. ↑ Jamal Boussenaf (26 August 2020). "Alex Caceres has new opponent in Kevin Croom" (in Dutch). mmadna.com. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
  17. ↑ Marcel Dorff (2 September 2020). "Omar Morales vs. Giga Chikadze added to UFC event on October 10". mmadna.nl. Retrieved 30 January 2021. (in Dutch)
  18. ↑ Dan Doherty (10 October 2020). "UFC Fight Island 5 Results: Giga Chikadze Overwhelms Omar Morales With Striking". cagesidepress.com.
  19. ↑ Alexander K. Lee and Mike Heck (2 November 2020). "Giga Chikadze vs. Jamey Simmons added to UFC Vegas 13". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  20. ↑ Doherty, Dan (7 November 2020). "UFC Vegas 13 Results: Giga Chikadze Head Kicks Debuting Jamey Simmons". Cageside Press. Retrieved 8 November 2020.
  21. 1 2 Hiergesell, Dan (8 November 2020). "UFC Vegas 13 Bonuses! 'King Kong' Banks $50K For Insane Forearm Submission". MMAmania.com. Retrieved 8 November 2020.
  22. ↑ Farah Hannoun (3 March 2021). "Cub Swanson set to face Giga Chikadze at UFC Fight Night on May 1". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
  23. ↑ "UFC on ESPN 23 results: Giga Chikadze crushes Cub Swanson, calls out Max Holloway". MMA Junkie. 2 May 2021. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
  24. 1 2 Staff (2 May 2021). "UFC on ESPN 23 bonuses: Jiri Prochazka double-dips for $100,000". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
  25. ↑ "UFC finalizing Edson Barboza vs. Giga Chikadze headliner for Aug. 28 event". MMA Junkie. 6 July 2021. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  26. ↑ Doherty, Dan (29 August 2021). "UFC Vegas 35 Results: Giga Chikadze Wins Battle of Strikers with Knockout of Edson Barboza". Cageside Press. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
  27. 1 2 Hiergesell, Dan (29 August 2021). "UFC Vegas 35 Bonuses! Meerschaert Banks $50K For Comeback Submission". MMAmania.com. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
  28. ↑ Marcel Dorff (8 October 2021). "UFC opent 2022 met Main Event tussen Calvin Kattar en Giga Chikadze". MMA DNA (in Dutch). Retrieved 30 January 2022.
  29. ↑ Richardson, Andrew (15 January 2022). "Kattar Vs. Chikadze Live Fight Stream!". MMAmania.com. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  30. 1 2 Newswire, MMA Fighting (15 January 2022). "UFC Vegas 46 bonuses: Calvin Kattar vs. Giga Chikadze easy call for 'Fight of the Night'". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  31. 1 2 Anderson, Jay (21 May 2022). "UFC Names Giga Chikadze As 2022 Recipient of Forrest Griffin Community Award". Cageside Press. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  32. ↑ "Giga Chikadze vs. Sodiq Yusuff added to UFC Fight Night on Sept. 17". MMA Junkie. 10 July 2022. Retrieved 10 July 2022.
  33. ↑ Tkaczuk, Michał (14 September 2022). "Po wycofaniu się Gigi Chikadze, Sodiq Yusuff zmierzy się z nowym rywalem na UFC Vegas 61 | MMAROCKS". MMA Rocks! (in Polish). Retrieved 14 September 2022.
  34. ↑ "UFC books Alex Caceres vs. Giga Chikadze for Singapore". MMA Junkie. 27 July 2023. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
  35. ↑ Law, Eddie (26 August 2023). "Giga Chikadze Declares The Return Of The "Giga Show", Earns Decision Victory Over Caceres". Cageside Press. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  36. ↑ "Cody Garbrandt, Brian Kelleher return from injury against each other at UFC 296". MMA Junkie. 18 October 2023. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  37. ↑ Simon Samano and Farah Hannoun (4 December 2023). "Giga Chikadze injured, out of UFC 296 fight vs. Josh Emmett". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 4 December 2023.
  38. ↑ Nolan King (6 December 2023). "Bryce Mitchell steps into UFC 296 vs. Josh Emmett on short notice". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
  39. ↑ Danny Segura (7 January 2021). "MMA Junkie's 2020 'Under the Radar Fighter of the Year': Giga Chikadze a rising force at 145". MMAjunkie.com.
  40. ↑ Farah Hannoun (4 January 2022). "MMA Junkie's 2021 Breakout Fighter of the Year: Giga Chikadze". MMAjunkie.com.
  41. ↑ Sherdog.com. "Giga Chikadze MMA Stats, Pictures, News, Videos, Biography – Sherdog.com". Sherdog. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  42. ↑ GLORY Kickboxing (15 September 2017). "FULL MATCH – Giga Chikadze vs. Kevin Vannostrand – Tournament Finals: GLORY 43 New York". Retrieved 24 May 2020 – via YouTube.
  43. ↑ GLORY Kickboxing (23 December 2016). "GLORY 33 New Jersey: Serhiy Adamchuk vs. Giga Chikadze (Tournament Semi-Finals)". Retrieved 24 May 2020 – via YouTube.
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