Giga Chikadze emerged as a serious player in the UFC’s featherweight division in 2021. Serving as a pivotal training partner for UFC lightweight contender Beneil Dariush at Kings MMA for years, Chikadze (14-2 MMA, 7-0 UFC) made a splash when he entered the UFC in 2019. The former GLORY kickboxer went 4-0 in 2020, but three decision wins and his first octagon finish over newcomer Jamey Simmons hardly had people screaming “future champion.” But the confident Georgian fighter always knew his potential and ended 2021 calling for a shot at UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski, who holds wins over Jose Aldo, Max Holloway twice and Brian Ortega, and hasn’t lost in almost nine years. In 2021, Chikadze finally got the big name he was looking for when he was matched up with perennial contender and fan favorite Cub Swanson at UFC on ESPN 23 in May. It would take him just over a minute to put Swanson away , delivering a brutal liver kick, also known as “The Giga Kick,” in the first round, which earned him the “Performance of the Night” bonus. It was exactly the kind of performance Chikadze needed to match his words, which earned him his first UFC main event against fellow striker Edson Barboza in August
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MMA Junkie’s 2021 Breakout Fighter of the Year: Giga Chikadze – MMA Junkie