Giga Chikadze is a well-known mixed martial artist in Europe, having fought for the first time at close to 30 years of age. Since then, he has gone on to win multiple titles and establish himself as one of the top fighters in his division.
While he is still relatively new to North America, he has been steadily working his way up the ranks with victories over solid opposition. He currently holds an interim title in the BellATOR middleweight division and looks ready to move up to heavyweight after defeating current champion Alexander Piskos at Bellator 176 earlier this year.
His opponent this time around is Ernie Orosco, a former MMA world champion who has recently moved up to light heavyweight. This will be an interesting fight put forth as both fighters are very strong but lack some striking ability against a taller opponent.
Chikadze wants to step in if Volkanovski or Ortega can’t fight
Chikadze wants the UFC to give him another chance at title contention.
He’s one of the top pound-for-pound fighters in the world and is set to defend his title against Volkan Oredoyu on November 23 in San Antonio, Texas.
Ortega has held the UFC featherweight title for less time than Chikadze has held an interim title, but he too has expressed desire to fight for a longer period of time.
Ortega (11-2) lost his belt to Chikadze (15-5) back in May 2017, but he still believes he is worthy of it. He says he can still fight and win major fights, and that is what matters most to him.
Ortega says if he could keep his belt for another year, then he would consider returning to fighting full time.
Experience will help me win world title, says Chikadze
Giga Chikadze, a 28-year-old veteran of the world bantamweight scene, is looking to regain his WBU belt at featherweight against Mexican Saúl Canelo Álvarez in October.
During his time as champion, he lost his first two title defenses by knockout, but has since won four in a row and five of his last six.
As an underdog against a big name, Chikadze is expecting a tough fight and is preparing himself for another long camp leading up to the bout. The goal is to remain active until October when the fight takes place and prove once again that he belongs at the top of the bantamweight division.
“I’m looking forward to it; I think it’s going to be an exciting fight,” said Chikadze. “He’s one of those fighters who always seem to be ready to go beyond the first round.
Heading into the fight, Chikadze is confident
Chikadze is a tough-minded veteran in the NABF, having finished his last four fights in the middleweight division. He brings that confidence to the ring, and knows he has to prove himself against Volkanovski-Ortega to earn another back-up role in the title fight.
There’s no chance of that happening, of course. He’ll have to wait his turn, but if he gets it, fans will be crazy about him for a different reason.
As we saw with Chael Sonnen at UFC 152, Chikadze is an excellent at using his strikes and submissions, and he’s proven he can win by putting his opponent on the edge of their seat with those techniques.
He believes he has the skills to defeat either fighter
Giga Chikadze is preparing for his title fight against Volkan Ologave in the UFC and he has plenty of praise for his opponent.
The senior at South River High School has a plan to take out Ologave, who is 5’9” and 190 pounds, with his wrestling tactics.
Ologave is a two-time NCAA Division I wrestling champion and a former national champion. He also won a bronze medal at the 2015 World Championships.
Chikadze believes he can win his second UFC title on November 2 in Las Vegas when he faces Ologave. He feels confident after meeting with him recently and knows he needs to stay away from the mat if he wants to win.
Stay tuned to Giga Chikadze Fighting on social media and follow us @UFCWarriors to learn more about this exciting fighter.
He is looking to make an impact in MMA and kickboxing
Giga Chikadze is an accomplished martial artist who has competed in a number of different genres. He is currently training jiu-jitsu and kickboxing legend Volkan Ortega in the title fight next month.
Ortega is a world champion in both jiu-jitsu and kickboxing and has never lost a fight, winning his last five title fights by way of submission or knockout.
Chikadze wants to make an impact in the MMA community as he trains hard for his debut on September 24 at The Ultimate Fighter 19 Finale in Las Vegas.
He plans to bring his signature back-punch to win the fan-favorite title bout against veteran Dennis Cortes.
His experience in martial arts will be vital on Saturday
Giga Chikadze is a decorated Muay Thai fighter who has fought on several high-level world Muay Thai circuits. He’s also an accomplished kickboxer with a boxing style.
While neither of these fighters are novices in martial arts, their experience will be crucial to the success of Volkanovski-Ortega on Saturday.
Chikadze can help Ortega control the distance and land his kicks, while Chikadze can help him take some hits and regain his composure under fire.
If either fighter is not feeling well or if they have difficulty maintaining composure, the fight may wind down quickly.
Has fought some of the best kickboxers in the world
Chikadze is one of the most experienced fighters in the UFC’s featherweight division, having fought some of the best kickboxers in the world.
His past fights include facing former WSO Lightweight champion Matteo Peereis, who is ranked #4 in Europe by World MMA Rankings and has fought at #1 for most of his career to date.
Peereis is not an easy fight and he proved that last year when he defeated Chikadze by decision. This time around, however, Peereis is back to his kickboxing roots and looking to remain standing against Volkanovski-Ortega.
If Peereis can get takedowns and keep Volkanovski-Ortega on his back, then he has a good chance at winning this fight. However, if he has to go to ground, then Chikadze will have an easier time with his takedowns and control of the mat.
Believes his experience will give him an edge over his opponent(s)
Chikadze is making his way into the UFC with a record of 1-1. His opponent(s) are veterans with years of experience in the UFC.
Ortega is no stranger to the octagon, having fought there a few times before. He is a veteran fighter with years of experience in the sport.
Bullet point: Wants to continue to use Volkanovski-Ortega as his launching pad for success in MMA
Both fighters are very active on social media and have very supportive fan bases that keep them informed of what happens inside the cage and off it. I believe both players will be very happy with this assignment.
