Giga Chikadze

Giga Chikadze (; born 25 August 1988) is a Georgian professional mixed martial artist and former kickboxer. He currently competes in the Featherweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Chikadze formerly competed in the Featherweight division for GLORY.

Background

Giga Chikadze was born on 25 August 1988 in Tbilisi. Between ages 4 and 5, he began to train in Gōjū-ryū Karate.

Chikadze started competing in Kickboxing, moving to the Netherlands for training

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.

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.

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. 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.

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.

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. Chikadze would win the fight by unanimous decision.

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

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

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

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

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

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

On 22 May 2022, it was announced that Chikadze would receive the 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.

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

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

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

Chikadze faced Arnold Allen on 27 July 2024, at UFC 304. He lost the fight by unanimous decision.

Chikadze was scheduled to face David Onama on 5 April 2025 at UFC on ESPN 65. However, the bout was moved to on 26 April 2025 at UFC on ESPN 66 for unknown reasons. At the weigh-ins, Chikadze weighed in at 147 pounds, one pounds over the featherweight non-title fight limit. The bout proceeded at catchweight and he was fined 20 percent of his purse, which went to his opponent Onama. He lost the fight by unanimous decision.

Chikadze faced Kevin Vallejos on 13 December 2025 at UFC on ESPN 73. He lost the fight via knockout with spinning backfist and elbows in round two.

Chikadze was scheduled to face Vinicius Oliveira on June 20, 2026, at UFC Fight Night 279. However, Chikadze withdrew for undisclosed reasons.

Chikadze is scheduled to face Joanderson Brito on September 19, 2026 at UFC 331.

Personal life Chikadze has stated that he went to college and graduated with a degree in Business Management. MMA Junkie 2020 Under-the-Radar Fighter of the Year 2021 Breakout Fighter of the Year

Mixed martial arts record Loss

Kevin Vallejos KO (spinning backfist and elbows) UFC on ESPN: Royval vs. Kape

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

David Onama Decision (unanimous) UFC on ESPN: Machado Garry vs. Prates

Kansas City, Missouri, United States Loss

Arnold Allen Decision (unanimous) UFC 304

Manchester, England Win

Alex Caceres Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Holloway vs. The Korean Zombie

Kallang, Singapore Loss

Calvin Kattar Decision (unanimous) UFC on ESPN: Kattar vs. Chikadze

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Edson Barboza TKO (punches) UFC on ESPN: Barboza vs. Chikadze

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Cub Swanson TKO (body kick and punches) UFC on ESPN: Reyes vs. Procházka

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Jamey Simmons TKO (head kick and punches) UFC on ESPN: Santos vs. Teixeira

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Omar Morales Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Moraes vs. Sandhagen

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Win

Irwin Rivera Decision (unanimous) UFC on ESPN: Overeem vs. Harris

Jacksonville, Florida, United States Win

Jamall Emmers Decision (split) UFC 248

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Brandon Davis Decision (split) UFC Fight Night: Hermansson vs. Cannonier

Copenhagen, Denmark Win

Damien Manzanares TKO (submission to punches) Gladiator Challenge: MMA World Championships

Lincoln, California, United States Win

C.J. Baines Submission (armbar) Gladiator Challenge: Summer Showdown

Rancho Mirage, California, United States Loss

Austin Springer Submission (rear-naked choke) Dana White's Contender Series 10

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Kevin Ceron TKO (punch) Gladiator Challenge: MMA Fighting Championship

Rancho Mirage, California, United States Win

Kevin Gratts KO (punch) Gladiator Challenge: Season's Beatings

Rancho Mirage, California, United States Win

Julian Hernandez TKO (punch) Gladiator Challenge: Summer Feud

Rancho Mirage, California, United States Win

Anthony Ross TKO (punch) Gladiator Challenge: Absolute Beat Down

San Jacinto, California, United States Win

Joe Bear TKO (retirement) Gladiator Challenge: Season's Beatings

San Jacinto, California, United States Loss

Gil Guardado Decision (unanimous) WSOF 26

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Kickboxing record (incomplete)