- Calvin Kattar and Giga Chikadze highlight the first UFC event in the 2022.
- Kattar looks to re-establish himself as the potential featherweight title contender.
- Meanwhile, this is a title-eliminator for Chikadze.
The featherweight division in the UFC is loaded with some high-octane fighters. Two of them are Calvin Kattar and Giga Chikadze, extraordinary boxers who always deliver a good brawl to the fans.
This is the first UFC event this year, and fans worldwide are anxious to see action after a pause.
Kattar vs. Chikadze Schedule
- Where: UFC Apex, Las Vegas, Nevada
- When: January 15, 10:30 pm ET
- How to Watch: ESPN
Kattar vs. Chikadze Odds
| Kattar | Chikadze |
|---|---|
| +260 | -210 |
Kattar Erasing Holloway Defeat
Calvin Kattar is the No.5 in the division, and a year ago, was considered a potential challenger. However, a devastating unanimous decision loss to Max Holloway pulled the 33-year old back to the midsection of the standings, leaving him waiting there.
Everyone is talking about 445 significant strikes Holloway inflicted upon Kattar in that one, setting e new UFC record. Absorbing that volume of punches is something remarkable, but just a few are going to give credit to Kattar for doing so.
He is a fast boxer, who uses his power and quickness very efficiently. Though, on the other side, takedowns and wrestling aren’t his primary area, and we all saw that in the past. Prior to losing to Holloway, Kattar beat Jeremy Stephens and Dan Ige, the first via elbows and the second via unanimous decision. His overall score is 21 wins and four defeats, three of them in the UFC.
Giga’s Rise
The Georgian won nine straight meetings, with the last loss coming to Austin Springer in 2018 at Dana White’s Contender Series 10. After that, Giga came back to the basics and very quickly ended up in the UFC.
The last three wins came via TKO vs. Jamey Simmons, Cub Swanson, and Edson Barboza, all of them earning the Fight of the Night bonus. His superb kickboxing background gives him an advantage over other rivals in the octagon, and Chikadze uses that in the best possible way. After all, he already has a trademark, a powerful hit to the liver, called “Giga kick.”
The Georgian didn’t have such a tough opponent before, but many predicted him a very bright future after seeing his seven triumphs in the UFC. Some weren’t so dominant, but still, Chikadze managed to claw his way out to the winning side.
Kattar vs. Chikadze Prediction and Pick
These guys are hard-hitters and have limited knowledge of fighting on the ground. That is why we expect a bombastic contest with thunders flying all over the octagon. We are pretty sure that it won’t reach the decisions and that the KO will be the reason for its stoppage. Regarding the winner, Chikdze has a slight edge in our analysis because of his ability to defend better and avoid rival’s significant strikes. We saw in the past that Kattar isn’t too skillful when it comes to that, which will cost him here.
Pick: Chikadze via KO +240
