Giga Chikadze

Overview

Seven straight UFC wins, then four straight losses. Giga Chikadze's run splits cleanly in two, and the break comes right after his only UFC main-event defeat.

"Ninja" is a Featherweight from Tbilisi, Georgia, with an 8-5 UFC record and a 15-7-0 professional record across all promotions. He debuted in September 2019 and won his first seven in the Octagon, finishing three of them. Since January 2022 he has gone 1-4.

That one win in the stretch is a decision over a strong opponent. The losses are the story: three were knockouts or stoppages in his last two years of fights, two were decisions.

UFC Career

His path to the UFC went through Dana White's Contender Series, where he lost by submission to Austin Springer in the third round, 4:10 in. That fight sits outside his UFC record.

The Octagon was kinder. Split decisions over Brandon Davis and Jamall Emmers opened his UFC run, followed by unanimous decisions over Irwin Rivera and Omar Morales. Then the finishes arrived: Jamey Simmons in the first round, and Cub Swanson, a strong opponent, in 1:03 of the first.

The peak was his first main event. He stopped Edson Barboza, another strong opponent, in the third round at 1:44, his seventh straight UFC win.

Calvin Kattar ended the streak. It was a five-round unanimous decision in another main event, and it was the start of the slide. A decision win over Alex Caceres in August 2023 is the only win since. Decision losses to Arnold Allen and David Onama followed, then two stoppages: Kevin Vallejos in the second round and Joanderson Brito in the first, at 1:57.

He carries a four-fight losing streak into his next fight.

Fighting Style

The career numbers describe a technical, hard-to-hit striker, not a volume brawler. His output and the damage he absorbs both sit around the UFC average, but his striking defense is better than average.

The grappling side is lopsided. He rarely shoots for takedowns and attempts almost no submissions, yet he is very difficult to take down. His fights are won and lost standing.

The finish pattern backs that up. All three UFC wins inside the distance were knockouts or TKOs, two of them in the first round and one in the third. The other five wins went to the judges. Five of his UFC losses have come the same way: two by KO/TKO, three by decision.

Notable Wins

• Edson Barboza — KO/TKO, round 3 (1:44), UFC Fight Night: Barboza vs. Chikadze (2021)
• Cub Swanson — KO/TKO, round 1 (1:03), UFC Fight Night: Reyes vs. Prochazka (2021)
• Alex Caceres — unanimous decision, UFC Fight Night: Holloway vs. The Korean Zombie (2023)

Quick Facts

• Division: Featherweight
• UFC record: 8-5
• Professional record (all promotions): 15-7-0
• UFC debut: September 27, 2019
• Stance: Orthodox
• Height / reach: 6'0" / 74"
• Born: Tbilisi, Georgia