Calvin Kattar vs Giga Chikadze

Age 38

Height 5' 11"

Reach 72.0"

Weight 145 lbs.

Stance Orthodox

UFC SD

Age 37

Height 6' 0"

Reach 74.0"

Weight 145 lbs.

Stance Orthodox

UFC SD

Career Averages - Calvin Kattar

4.41 SLpM

37.0% Str. Acc.

6.55 SApM

54.0% Str. Def.

0.34 TD Avg

29.0% TD Acc.

77.0% TD Def.

0.1 Sub. Avg

Career Averages - Giga Chikadze

3.75 SLpM

42.0% Str. Acc.

3.47 SApM

59.0% Str. Def.

0.18 TD Avg

33.0% TD Acc.

65.0% TD Def.

0.2 Sub. Avg

Calvin Kattar - Fight History

LOSS vs Steve Garcia

Decision R3 5:00 · UFC on ESPN: Lewis vs. Teixeira · Jul 12, 2025

Totals

Fighter	KD	Sig. Str.	Sig. Str. %	Total Str.	TD	TD %	Sub. Att	Rev.	Ctrl
Calvin Kattar	0	26 of 123	21%	26 of 123	0 of 0	---	0	0	0:21
Steve Garcia	1	85 of 250	34%	85 of 250	0 of 0	---	0	0	0:03

Per Round

Rd	Fighter	KD	Sig. Str.	Sig. Str. %	Total Str.	TD	TD %	Ctrl
1	Calvin Kattar	0	8 of 26	30%	8 of 26	0 of 0	---	0:00
1	Steve Garcia	0	22 of 71	30%	22 of 71	0 of 0	---	0:00
2	Calvin Kattar	0	5 of 47	10%	5 of 47	0 of 0	---	0:00
2	Steve Garcia	0	32 of 87	36%	32 of 87	0 of 0	---	0:00
3	Calvin Kattar	0	13 of 50	26%	13 of 50	0 of 0	---	0:21
3	Steve Garcia	1	31 of 92	33%	31 of 92	0 of 0	---	0:03

Significant Strikes

Fighter	Sig. Str.	Sig. Str. %	Head	Body	Leg	Distance	Clinch	Ground
Calvin Kattar	26 of 123	21%	21 of 116	3 of 5	2 of 2	26 of 123	0 of 0	0 of 0
Steve Garcia	85 of 250	34%	52 of 208	23 of 29	10 of 13	85 of 249	0 of 0	0 of 1

Significant Strikes Per Round

Rd	Fighter	Sig. Str.	Sig. Str. %	Head	Body	Leg	Distance	Clinch	Ground
1	Calvin Kattar	8 of 26	30%	4 of 22	2 of 2	2 of 2	8 of 26	0 of 0	0 of 0
1	Steve Garcia	22 of 71	30%	11 of 53	5 of 10	6 of 8	22 of 71	0 of 0	0 of 0
2	Calvin Kattar	5 of 47	10%	5 of 47	0 of 0	0 of 0	5 of 47	0 of 0	0 of 0
2	Steve Garcia	32 of 87	36%	19 of 72	10 of 11	3 of 4	32 of 87	0 of 0	0 of 0
3	Calvin Kattar	13 of 50	26%	12 of 47	1 of 3	0 of 0	13 of 50	0 of 0	0 of 0
3	Steve Garcia	31 of 92	33%	22 of 83	8 of 8	1 of 1	31 of 91	0 of 0	0 of 1

Play-by-Play

View on Sherdog

Calvin Kattar vs. Steve Garcia
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Garcia (-120); Kattar (+100)

Round 1
On a career-long four-fight skid, Kattar (23-9, 7-7 UFC) has not gotten his hand raised since outdueling Giga Chikadze in 2022. Possibly in the later stages of his career at 37 years old, he is being matched up against a dangerous brawler in Garcia (17-5, 6-2 UFC) who is knocking on the door of ludicrous status should he clock “The Boston Finisher.” Referee Jason Herzog understands his assignment, and the fighters do too, as they touch gloves to engage.
The two featherweight strikers measure one another in the early going, with Garcia eventually leading the dance with a looping pair of punches and some awkward kicks to any target he can find. Kattar ducks and swings hard on an overhand right counter that zips right past the Jackson-Wink representative. Garcia is in the driver’s seat but his connect rate remains low a minute in. Garcia wraps a right around the guard, but his left goes wide. Woots, whoops and cries rain down throughout the Bridgestone Arena, and Garcia silences them with a long punch combination and three head kicks in a row. Kattar defends well but stumbles, and he gets back to his feet and takes a left hand on the jaw. Garcia scores with a left hand and kicks after it.
Katter misses with a huge left hand, and Garcia races through it and lands a combination on Kattar’s face. Kattar is stuck not hitting anything of note, while Garcia is scoring to the head, body and legs. Garcia spins with a sudden wheel kick, and Kattar shells up but his nose takes the brunt of it. Kattar steps in with an elbow on the chin after Garcia hits him a few times, and he partially connects with a lead hook. Garcia forces Kattar to constantly defend himself, and his power drives “The Boston Finisher” back a few steps. Kattar starts to put his jab together, and he is answered with a Jackson-Wink-style oblique kick to the knee. One more kick to the lead leg ends the tepid round.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Garcia
Dayne Fox scores the round: 10-9 Garcia
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Garcia

Round 2
Both featherweights trade right hands as the round begins, and Garcia stays in Kattar’s face but walks into a left hand on the jaw. Garcia shrugs it off and bounces around before settling down, planting a one-two on Kattar’s visage. Kattar’s looping punches continue to miss, as he is telegraphing his big right and Garcia is able to dodge or stay away from them. Garcia walks Kattar down, spinning with a clean back kick to the ribs, and he drives home several rib-roasters as well. This fires up Kattar, who cracks the favorite. Garcia gives it right back, happy to be getting the brawl he was seeking. Garcia beats Kattar to the jab time and time again.
Kattar employs a step-in elbow that graces Garcia’s melon, and Garcia gives him back several body shots to think about. Garcia dips and dodges the oncoming fire to crack Kattar with a huge left, smashing Kattar’s nose and forcing Kattar to paw at it. Garcia strikes the body when he sees an opening, and he skips forward to deliver two lefts on the chin. Garcia misses a right and left hook by a matter of inches, and he kicks the front of Kattar’s thigh to back him off. The body work from Garcia is getting Kattar to drop his hands, and he winds up with a bomb of a left that buzzes past the longtime vet. Garcia keeps doing work until the bell rings.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Garcia
Dayne Fox scores the round: 10-9 Garcia
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Garcia

Round 3
Garcia immediately engages to start the last round, putting hands in Kattar’s face early and often. A heavy left hand drives Kattar back a ways, and he times a head kick and a spinning back fist that Garcia is able to defend. Kattar hops back and forth switching stances, but he does not engage and is just backpedaling when Garcia comes at him. Garcia reaches him with a left hand, and he loads up a subsequent bomb that nearly separates Kattar from his senses. Kattar bounces off the fence to stay afloat, and he clinches Garcia to get his head right. Garcia breaks off and chases the wounded man down, stabbing body kicks and following with liver punches that draw reactions almost every time he connects. Garcia fearlessly walks “The Boston Finisher” down, hurling one-twos and any open strike he can lob. Garcia tries for two clubbing lefts that do not get through, and he parries a front kick and pushes a left hand down the pipe.
Kattar appears to have recovered, but Garcia is not about to let him of the hook and hacks at him with a tomahawk elbow. Garcia kicks Kattar’s leg out, and he lets him back up to swing heavy leather. Kattar bites down on his mouthpiece and walks into a left hand, and he spins with an elbow that bangs square into Garcia’s temple. Garcia, blood now streaking from the bridge of his nose, boots Kattar upside the head and follows him with a left hand. He pushes Kattar back and pops him with a front kick, staying up close and looping lefts. Kattar stands him up with a right hand, and he strikes with a knee and a spinning back fist that both get part of the betting favorite. Garcia tosses windmills, and he waits for Kattar to spin so he can blast him when he plants. Garcia lets loose with a head kick and a spinning wheel kick, and Kattar knocks him back with a fierce overhand right. The two trade last strikes until time expires, and Garcia’s knockout streak has officially ended. Despite that, he still has soundly beaten a legitimate force at featherweight, and has announced himself as a new contender.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Garcia (30-27 Garcia)
Dayne Fox scores the round: 10-9 Garcia (30-27 Garcia)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Garcia (30-27 Garcia)

The Official Result
Steve Garcia def. Calvin Kattar via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Angelo Bodetti Expert

Jul 6, 2025 (6 days before fight) Hesitant Steve Garcia

Angelo picks Steve Garcia but was initially not confident at higher odds. He notes Calvin Kattar is still a good striker with good takedown defense, but hasn't won in three years and is 37. At even money, he thinks Garcia is a decent play because he's younger and on a knockout streak, but he acknowledges Kattar has never been knocked out.

At even money, thinks Garcia is a decent play.

"Steve Garcia is the pick. I was never going to bet him at a minus 160, but at minus 110, which is unfortunately even money here, I think Steve Garcia could be a decent play."

We Want Picks - UPDATED: UFC Nashville: Lewis vs. Teixeira FULL CARD Predictions and Bets

Big Brady Expert

Jul 8, 2025 (4 days before fight) Confident Calvin Kattar

Big Brady is a fan of Steve Garcia but picks Calvin Kattar due to durability. He notes Garcia has been dropped multiple times, while Kattar has never been knocked out in over 30 fights. He expects a stand-up war and believes Kattar will finish what Charlie Ontiveros started, picking Kattar by first-round knockout.

first round knockout

"Calvin Kedar to win this fight by first round knockout."

DFS by the Numbers - UFC Nashville Full Card Breakdown & Predictions | Tallison Teixeira vs Derrick Lewis

Connor Ruebusch Expert

Jul 10, 2025 (2 days before fight) Hesitant Calvin Kattar

Connor picks Kattar despite his losing streak, reasoning that Kattar has fought only elite fighters and has an incredible chin that has never been cracked. He views Steve Garcia as a 'bad fighter' who closes his eyes and swings wildly, and believes Kattar's durability and experience will carry him. Connor admits he is tired of being wrong about Garcia but trusts the pattern of Kattar losing only to top-tier opponents.

"I'm going to pick Calvin Kattar. ... Steve Garcia, I think is a bad fighter."

MMA Vivisection - UFC on ESPN: Lewis vs. Teixeira: Derrick Lewis vs Tallison Teixeira Picks Odds Analysis |…

MMA Lock of the Night Expert

Jul 9, 2025 (3 days before fight) Confident Calvin Kattar

The host acknowledges recency bias making Garcia a slight favorite, but notes that Kattar has never been finished by knockout (except an injury). He believes this is a perfect stylistic matchup for Kattar to counter Garcia effectively and find a knockout, reminding people of his quality. The pick is based on Kattar's durability and counter-striking.

knockout

"Ton of recency bias here making Garcia a very slight favorite. And yes, he is very dangerous, especially with him coming off a fiveight winning streak with all of those wins coming by knockout. But Kater has never been finished by knockout besides that injury that he had to Arnold …"

MMA Lock of the Night - UFC Nashville Quick Picks | Lewis vs Teixeira Predictions

The MMA Guru Expert

Jul 10, 2025 (2 days before fight) Confident Steve Garcia

The MMA Guru picks Steve Garcia, citing his recent finishes (Chase Hooper, Shalan Nerd Beck) and his pressure style. He criticizes Calvin Kattar's recent performances, noting poor footwork and takedown defense since his leg injury. He expects Garcia to get in Kattar's face immediately, mix in wrestling, and finish him, though he acknowledges Kattar could win if he finds his rhythm late.

finish

"I'm going to go with Steve Garcia over Calvin Kater. ... I think he's actually gonna finish Calvin Kater here."

THE MMA GURU - UFC Fight Night Lewis vs Teixeira Predictions & Full Card Breakdown - UFC Nashville Betti…

Zane Simon Expert

Jul 10, 2025 (2 days before fight) Hesitant Steve Garcia

Zane picks Garcia, partly to avoid being mocked by a friend named Eddie for always picking against Garcia. He acknowledges that Garcia is a wild, unhinged fighter who frequently gets into trouble but has been winning. Zane notes that Kattar has slowed down and lost venom, and that Garcia's aggressive blitz could overwhelm him, similar to how Arnold Allen attacked Kattar. However, he admits Garcia is not a good technical fighter.

"I'm going to pick Steve Garcia. I'm going to say this is the day that it happens for Calvin Kattar that starting slow..."

MMA Vivisection - UFC on ESPN: Lewis vs. Teixeira: Derrick Lewis vs Tallison Teixeira Picks Odds Analysis |…

LOSS vs Youssef Zalal

Decision R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Cannonier vs. Rodrigues · Feb 15, 2025

Totals

Fighter	KD	Sig. Str.	Sig. Str. %	Total Str.	TD	TD %	Sub. Att	Rev.	Ctrl
Calvin Kattar	0	38 of 134	28%	38 of 134	0 of 0	---	0	0	0:00
Youssef Zalal	0	74 of 133	55%	75 of 134	0 of 8	0%	0	0	0:00

Per Round

Rd	Fighter	Sig. Str.	Sig. Str. %	Total Str.	TD	TD %	Ctrl
1	Calvin Kattar	8 of 23	34%	8 of 23	0 of 0	---	0:00
1	Youssef Zalal	26 of 46	56%	26 of 46	0 of 1	0%	0:00
2	Calvin Kattar	10 of 37	27%	10 of 37	0 of 0	---	0:00
2	Youssef Zalal	27 of 46	58%	28 of 47	0 of 3	0%	0:00
3	Calvin Kattar	20 of 74	27%	20 of 74	0 of 0	---	0:00
3	Youssef Zalal	21 of 41	51%	21 of 41	0 of 4	0%	0:00

Significant Strikes

Fighter	Sig. Str.	Sig. Str. %	Head	Body	Leg	Distance	Clinch	Ground
Calvin Kattar	38 of 134	28%	27 of 110	5 of 11	6 of 13	35 of 128	3 of 6	0 of 0
Youssef Zalal	74 of 133	55%	53 of 104	5 of 9	16 of 20	74 of 133	0 of 0	0 of 0

Significant Strikes Per Round

Rd	Fighter	Sig. Str.	Sig. Str. %	Head	Body	Leg	Distance	Clinch	Ground
1	Calvin Kattar	8 of 23	34%	7 of 20	1 of 2	0 of 1	8 of 23	0 of 0	0 of 0
1	Youssef Zalal	26 of 46	56%	16 of 33	2 of 2	8 of 11	26 of 46	0 of 0	0 of 0
2	Calvin Kattar	10 of 37	27%	5 of 27	2 of 3	3 of 7	10 of 37	0 of 0	0 of 0
2	Youssef Zalal	27 of 46	58%	20 of 35	2 of 5	5 of 6	27 of 46	0 of 0	0 of 0
3	Calvin Kattar	20 of 74	27%	15 of 63	2 of 6	3 of 5	17 of 68	3 of 6	0 of 0
3	Youssef Zalal	21 of 41	51%	17 of 36	1 of 2	3 of 3	21 of 41	0 of 0	0 of 0

Play-by-Play

View on Sherdog

Calvin Kattar vs. Youssef Zalal
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Zalal (-395), Kattar (+310)

Round 1
Records are meant to be broken, and torches are meant to be passed. It is not a guarantee of either, but rather that with enough time, everything moves forward. Itching to see if the featherweight division has passed him by entirely, 36-year-old striker Kattar (23-8, 7-6 UFC) had had a tough go of it since his fateful encounter with Max Holloway in 2021. On the other side of that metric is Zalal (16-5-1, 6-3-1 UFC), who bounced out and back into the UFC only to find himself on a solid run of three straight submissions. Whether Kattar can impose adequate resistance or be the fourth in that line, referee Dan Miragliotta will oversee it all from start to finish. Gloves are touched, and both men want to start fairly measured. Picking their shots with jabs and low kicks—a pace that has been consistent for many of the fights on this card—Zalal aims a few more times at the front leg before going up high. Zalal jabs and moves, with Kattar giving chase but not cutting him off or cornering him. Zalal is able to strafe to either side, poking with his strikes and not taking much back. They both flash jabs at the same time, and it is Zalal who follows up with a one-two. The Moroccan is comfortable at his own distance, outshooting the boxer and marking his face up with power punches. Zalal picks a jab to open up a step-in knee, and Kattar walks him down but is stuck in first gear. Zalal reaches his man with a long right hand, and they try to trip one another at the same time. Kattar buzzes the hair with a huge overhand right, and Zalal pecks at him with a left hook before zipping away. Zalal measures another knee up the middle, and Kattar’s chin has no trouble holding up. Kattar puts a little more mustard behind some punches, and Zalal is forced to book it to the side so he does not get hurt. Zalal keeps moving, Kattar keeps chasing and the round ends.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Zalal
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Zalal
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Zalal

Round 2
Fists are tapped together before they are traded in Round 2, and they let their jabs fly early. Zalal shoots in for a double, and Kattar easily stuffs it and turns to the side to break away. Zalal jabs the body and then the head, and his head movement keeps him from taking unnecessary shots. Zalal shifts to one direction, then pivots the other way, and he throws out a takedown to keep Kattar guessing. Zalal jabs Kattar up, and his leg kicks mixed in are repeatedly effective. Zalal steps in with a high knee that bounces off the eyebrow, and he checks a kick that flies his way. Zalal splits the guard with a jab and rips a kick to the ribs, and he does not slow “The Boston Finisher.” Kattar follows Zalal around the Octagon, with Zalal doing full rotations and then some while Kattar tries and fails to track him down. Kattar drops low to shoot a faked takedown, and Zalal just misses with an uppercut. “The Moroccan Devil” rifles off a kick to the side, and he chains a few jabs behind it. Kattar reaches him with his own body kick, but it is one-and-done as he is primarily headhunting with jabs. Kattar checks a kick and maintains Zalal’s respect with a scooping right hand over the shoulder, and he appears irritated that he cannot track and lock Zalal down. The horn sounds with Kattar lunging at air.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Zalal
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Zalal
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Zalal

Round 3
There is a presumptive final glove touch leading into the last round, and Kattar has listened to his corner and is pressing the action even harder than before. Kattar’s chases have turned into borderline jogging sessions, with Zalal rapidly springing from side to side to evade attack. Kattar tries to time an uppercut, and he gets his hands on Zalal at least once in a flurry before Zalal rushes away. Kattar scores a low kick, checks one back and drops to his knees to defend and crawl away from a takedown. Kattar gets up and sprints towards Zalal with looping left hands, and Zalal pecks back with jabs. Kattar sells out and marches through a few strikes to bash Zalal in the cheek with an elbow, and Zalal’s expression changes from light-hearted to one a bit more serious. Zalal keeps hurrying away to one side, and Kattar is tracking him and winding up with big power. Zalal senses danger and slides away, marking up Kattar’s face and swelling up his right eye. Kattar reaches and connects cleanly on Zalal, who stumbles to the side and is no worse for wear. Kattar is buzzing missiles past his intended target, with Zalal doing nothing but running away while Kattar is hellbent for leather. Zalal occasionally sticks out a jab, but over the last few minutes he has been backpedaling even more than usual—drawing boos and questions of what the rule of timidity is for, if a fighter can back away from engagements for minutes at a time without being called on it. Kattar cannot get the home run strike he is looking for, and when the fight wraps, he is understandably disappointed that he got outhustled.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Kattar (29-28 Zalal)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Kattar (29-28 Zalal)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Kattar (29-28 Zalal)

The Official Result
Youssef Zalal def. Calvin Kattar via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Angelo Bodetti Expert

Feb 9, 2025 (6 days before fight) Lock Youssef Zalal

Angelo is extremely confident in Youssef Zalal, calling him his 'most confident pick on this card.' He highlights Zalal's momentum, improved wrestling and submissions, and Calvin Kattar's inability to defend takedowns. He also notes that Kattar's team (New England Cartel) has not proven they can stop takedowns, so he fades them against any wrestler.

"yousef's going to be the pick I'm very he's my most confident pick on this card"

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Big Brady Expert

Feb 12, 2025 (3 days before fight) Confident Youssef Zalal

Big Brady picks Zalal by second-round submission, citing Zalal's recent finishing streak and improved aggression. Kattar is 36, on a losing streak, and had a terrible performance against Aljamain Sterling. Zalal has a grappling path and can also win on the feet with movement. He expects Zalal to take down Kattar and submit him.

submission in round 2

"give me AOW give me AOW by sub I'll say in the second round"

DFS by the Numbers - UFC Vegas 102 Full Card Breakdown & Predictions | Gregory Rodrigues vs Jared Cannonier

Connor Ruebusch Expert

Feb 13, 2025 (2 days before fight) Confident Youssef Zalal

Connor picks Youssef Zalal, emphasizing Zalal's newfound confidence and flexibility. He notes that Zalal has turned a corner, becoming a more dynamic fighter who can create and take advantage of openings. Connor compares Zalal's development to a sumo wrestler who has found his center, and believes Zalal's adaptability marks him as a potential elite fighter. He acknowledges Kattar's durability and slow-start style but thinks Zalal's improved wrestling and ability to recover from difficulty will be key.

Connor comments that the odds are too wide: Kattar opened at +296 and is now +366, Zalal opened at -438 and is now -427. He says he agrees the odds are too strongly in Zalal's favor, given Kattar's cold streak should be contextualized by the level of his opponents.

"I think he has basically come out the other side of the young veteran tunnel and realized that he has spent all this time developing this fantastically well-rounded game and at the only thing that was standing between him and being flexible enough to like actually create and take advantage …"

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Lucrative James Expert

Feb 13, 2025 (2 days before fight) Confident Youssef Zalal

Lucrative James is confident Youssef Zalal will win and cover the -400 price tag. He believes Zalal is the better striker, kickboxer, grappler, and wrestler everywhere except pure boxing, where Kattar has an edge. He highlights Zalal's elite footwork and defensive skills, noting that even Ilia Topuria struggled to land clean on him. He expects Zalal to outclass Kattar on the outside with jabs and leg kicks, and predicts a 30-27 decision. He dismisses the idea of betting Kattar as a value underdog, stating the narrative that Kattar is washed is correct.

"I believe that this week's narrative is correct and that yusf Sala is going to cover his minus 400 price tag"

Lucrative MMA - UFC Fight Night Predictions Jared Cannonier vs Gregory Rodrigues - Lucrative MMA Betting …

MMA Lock of the Night Expert

Feb 15, 2025 (fight day) Confident Youssef Zalal

Zalal is the better fighter with momentum. He will remain competitive on the feet and then get the fight to the ground, showcasing his aggressive submission approach. He is more aggressive than Sterling, who couldn't finish Kattar, and will find a submission.

Zalal by submission

"I think Zalal is the better fighter and obviously the momentum is in his corner... I see a lot of people leaning on the Sterling fight... but I believe Zalal is a little bit more aggressive than Sterling... the official prediction will be Zalal by sub."

MMA Lock of the Night - UFC Vegas 102 Quick Picks | Cannonier vs Rodrigues Predictions

The MMA Guru Expert

Feb 13, 2025 (2 days before fight) Confident Youssef Zalal

The MMA Guru picks Youssef Zalal over Calvin Kattar, citing Zalal's ability to mix it up with wrestling, low kicks, and boxing. He notes Kattar's recent losses, injuries, and susceptibility to leg kicks. He believes Zalal will chew up Kattar's legs, grapple, and win a decision, possibly with a 10-8 round.

decision

"I'm gonna go of Yousef zal over Calvin ker"

THE MMA GURU - UFC Fight Night Cannonier vs Rodrigues Predictions & Full Card Breakdown - UFC Vegas 102 …

Zane Simon Expert

Feb 13, 2025 (2 days before fight) Confident Youssef Zalal

Zane picks Youssef Zalal confidently, citing Zalal's transformation into a more confident, aggressive, and well-rounded fighter. He notes that Zalal has developed killer instinct, recovers well from difficulty, and has incorporated wrestling effectively into his flow. Zane contrasts this with Calvin Kattar's slow starts and recent losses to elite fighters, suggesting Kattar may have hit a wall stylistically. He believes Zalal is primed for a run and that this fight is a great opportunity for him to prove he's a top-10 fighter.

Zane comments that the odds are too wide: Kattar opened at +296 and is now +366, Zalal opened at -438 and is now -427. He says he agrees the odds are too strongly in Zalal's favor, given Kattar's cold streak should be contextualized by the level of his opponents.

"I'm willing to love it more for Zalalal than I don't like it for Cater because I want to see fighters in Zalalal."

MMA Vivisection - UFC Vegas 102 Main Card Vivi: Rodrigues, it's you!

LOSS vs Aljamain Sterling

Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27) R3 5:00 · UFC 300: Pereira vs. Hill · Apr 13, 2024

Totals

Fighter	KD	Sig. Str.	Sig. Str. %	Total Str.	TD	TD %	Sub. Att	Rev.	Ctrl
Aljamain Sterling	0	8 of 29	27%	19 of 40	0 of 0	---	0	0	0:05
Calvin Kattar	0	39 of 71	54%	89 of 128	8 of 13	61%	0	0	10:43

Per Round

Rd	Fighter	Sig. Str.	Sig. Str. %	Total Str.	TD	TD %	Ctrl
1	Aljamain Sterling	6 of 23	26%	10 of 27	0 of 0	---	0:00
1	Calvin Kattar	15 of 33	45%	16 of 35	4 of 7	57%	1:51
2	Aljamain Sterling	2 of 5	40%	4 of 7	0 of 0	---	0:00
2	Calvin Kattar	14 of 20	70%	30 of 37	2 of 3	66%	4:10
3	Aljamain Sterling	0 of 1	0%	5 of 6	0 of 0	---	0:05
3	Calvin Kattar	10 of 18	55%	43 of 56	2 of 3	66%	4:42

Significant Strikes

Fighter	Sig. Str.	Sig. Str. %	Head	Body	Leg	Distance	Clinch	Ground
Aljamain Sterling	8 of 29	27%	7 of 26	1 of 3	0 of 0	7 of 26	1 of 2	0 of 1
Calvin Kattar	39 of 71	54%	12 of 40	15 of 17	12 of 14	23 of 46	5 of 5	11 of 20

Significant Strikes Per Round

Rd	Fighter	Sig. Str.	Sig. Str. %	Head	Body	Leg	Distance	Clinch	Ground
1	Aljamain Sterling	6 of 23	26%	6 of 21	0 of 2	0 of 0	5 of 20	1 of 2	0 of 1
1	Calvin Kattar	15 of 33	45%	4 of 20	3 of 4	8 of 9	12 of 27	1 of 1	2 of 5
2	Aljamain Sterling	2 of 5	40%	1 of 4	1 of 1	0 of 0	2 of 5	0 of 0	0 of 0
2	Calvin Kattar	14 of 20	70%	4 of 9	7 of 8	3 of 3	9 of 15	4 of 4	1 of 1
3	Aljamain Sterling	0 of 1	0%	0 of 1	0 of 0	0 of 0	0 of 1	0 of 0	0 of 0
3	Calvin Kattar	10 of 18	55%	4 of 11	5 of 5	1 of 2	2 of 4	0 of 0	8 of 14

Play-by-Play

View on Sherdog

Calvin Kattar vs. Aljamain Sterling
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Sterling (-170), Kattar (+142)

Round 1
The storied rivalry of Boston vs. New York continues with a featherweight contest pitting “The Boston Finisher” Kattar (23-7, 7-5 UFC) against former bantamweight champ Sterling (23-9, 14-4 UFC). This will be a sink-or-swim moment for the New York-based funk-style wrestler, as he jumps into the deep end in his new weight class. The fighters will have 15 minutes or less to prove their case as contenders at 145 pounds, while referee Jason Herzog watches over every step of the way. Fists are not bumped, and instead Sterling wants to crowd forward and start attacking. Sterling reaches out with side kicks to the knee, and Kattar skirts out of the way a few times to take the sting out of them. Sterling wings a right hand that catches his foe on the side of the head, and Kattar stands form and moves away to check a low kick and push out his own jab. Kattar whips a head kick up and nearly clears the shoulder, but Sterling pushes past it and tries to tie him up. Kattar tosses him aside and slowly walks him down. Sterling fakes dropping down for a leg, and he fires off two wide hooks. A high kick from Sterling misses the mark, but several low kicks connect in succession. Sterling continues chipping away from afar with low kicks or the occasional one to the body, and he keeps Kattar from doing much. Sterling shoots in for a single, lifting Kattar’s leg up, but Kattar defends by scoring several punches up close. On Sterling’s second attempt, he leverages “The Boston Finisher” down to the canvas. Kattar pushes on the back of the head to stand back up, and Sterling lifts him off the ground to find a better angle to approach. Kattar leans with his back to the wall, and Sterling sneaks a single hook in as he methodically looks to take the back. Kattar muscles his way upright, and Sterling hits a quick mat return of sorts. Sterling wrenches Kattar all the way down to the ground, and he continues to set up his back take. Sterling ducks down, releasing the grip, so he can let loose a right hand over the top. Kattar sheds him, and he gets kicked in the ribs on the way out. Sterling pushes off his foe’s knee when Kattar advances, and he spins a spinning back fist as Kattar continues to walk him down. Sterling’s awkward movement and takedown efforts shut most of Kattar’s offense down, and Sterling manages to secure a single-leg takedown and climb on top to conclude the round.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Sterling
Christian Stein scores the round: 10-9 Sterling
James Mannino scores the round: 10-9 Sterling

Round 2
Sterling commences the round with a low kick, and he kicks the other side to trip Kattar up when Kattar tries to throw a punch. Sterling chains a head kick into a level change, and he backs Kattar to the wire and drives a knee to the chest. Sterling trips Kattar’s other leg up to sit him down, and the audience starts to boo Sterling’s efforts. Sterling has a single deep, and he appears to motion or nod to Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg, who is sitting cageside. Sterling gets Kattar all the way down, only for the Massachusetts native bounce back to his feet in short order. Sterling keeps after a single until there is no way in, and he opts to split Kattar’s legs far apart against the fence to disrupt his balance. When that too does not result in a change in position, Sterling knees the thigh several times and tries to impose his body weight to drag Kattar down. Sterling has a knee brush on the cup of his foe, but Kattar signals he is fine. Sterling clings to his man until he slides off the side, and he dodges a front kick and advances with a trio of punches. Sterling retreats, circling away from anything Kattar tries to reach him with, until he kicks low and aims body shots. The punches from Sterling lead to a level change, where he completes an easy double to rend Kattar to the floor. Sterling moves to side control and stays there, where he holds Kattar down and thwarts any potential offense coming back his way. Sterling continues to grind in the position until the horn blares.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Sterling
Christian Stein scores the round: 10-9 Sterling
James Mannino scores the round: 10-9 Sterling

Round 3
Sterling practically races out of his corner, throwing looping punches and a high kick until he closes in and grips hold of his adversary. Sterling chucks Kattar down to the mat without much effort, and Kattar posts off his arms to push himself back up. Sterling grapples him from behind, where he pushes Kattar to the wall with a hook in from behind. Kattar fights off the back take to turn himself to the fence, and Sterling switches up for a single. Kattar hangs on, and Sterling lowers him down to the ground comfortably. The crowd is not amused by Sterling’s strategy, and they let him have it as time ticks off the clock. Herzog asks Sterling to do more than hold in this position, and Sterling answers by lifting Kattar’s legs up to scoot him away from the cage wall and put him in a more horizontal position. Sterling keeps smothering until he sets up an arm-triangle choke, and he considers stepping over to one side but opts to go to the other instead to maintain control. Sterling knees the side a few times, and Kattar explodes to his knees and stands up. Sterling uses all of his might, lifting “The Boston Finisher” in the air and slamming him in the mat in a maneuver reminiscent of a pro wrestling powerbomb. The slam hurts Kattar, and Sterling recognizes this and tries to pound his damaged man out. Kattar manages to gather his thoughts as Sterling lays into him, and he grips hold of the waist to keep Sterling from landing anything especially harmful. Sterling attempts to posture up, and Kattar follows him by sitting up, ignoring any offense landing on his ribs. Sterling turns a potentially guillotine choke to a brabo choke, and Kattar sits out of it. Sterling drops hammers right until the end, putting a stamp on a clear-cut dominant performance.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Sterling (30-27 Sterling)
Christian Stein scores the round: 10-9 Sterling (30-27 Sterling)
James Mannino scores the round: 10-9 Sterling (30-27 Sterling)

The Official Result
Aljamain Sterling def. Calvin Kattar via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Angelo Bodetti Expert

Apr 7, 2024 (6 days before fight) Lean Aljamain Sterling

Angelo slightly leans Aljamain Sterling due to Kattar's 18-month layoff and knee surgery, which could cause ring rust. He notes Sterling's takedown accuracy is poor but his relentless wrestling may be enough. He acknowledges Kattar is the better striker and if he stuffs takedowns, he wins. He calls it razor thin at 51-49.

"Alaine very very very slight lean as the pick"

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Cody Saftic Expert

Apr 11, 2024 (2 days before fight) Confident Calvin Kattar

Cody sees this as a live underdog spot. He notes Sterling's wrestling may not translate to 145 lbs, as his grappling diminishes against bigger opponents. Sterling has been reluctant to shoot takedowns, as seen against Sean O'Malley, and was knocked out. Kattar has 91% takedown defense in the UFC, stuffing attempts from wrestlers like Dan Ige and Josh Emmett. Cody believes Kattar's volume and power advantage will be key, and if he stuffs takedowns, he can outpoint Sterling. He also mentions Sterling's mentality of wanting to grind out boring fights, which may not impress judges in a hot Vegas crowd.

"I'm going to back up with you on that one and uh take Calvin cater is dog number well we got Yuri peta's so to speak dog number one but you want a real dog we'll go with Calvin ker for dog number two."

Bookie Beatdown - UFC 300 Picks, Bets, Props | Pereira vs Hill 2 Fight Previews, Predictions

Connor Ruebusch Expert

Apr 12, 2024 (1 day before fight) Hesitant Calvin Kattar

Connor also picks Kattar with a cloud of question marks. He notes that Sterling is a creative takedown artist but moving up in weight against a big featherweight. Connor points out that wrestlers moving up rarely succeed, and Kattar's defensive wrestling has been solid. He also mentions that Kattar is a slow starter but has power and size advantages.

Odds: Sterling opened -115, now -167; Kattar opened -110, now +149. Connor notes the line movement.

"I'm going to take a Calvin cater as well with just a huge cloud of question marks floating around."

MMA Vivisection - UFC 300: Pereira vs. Hill: Alex Pereira vs Jamahal Hill Picks Odds Analysis | UFC 300: Pr…

Daniel Vreeland Expert

Apr 10, 2024 (3 days before fight) Lean Calvin Kattar

Daniel Vreeland leans toward Calvin Kattar as a dog, citing his boxing advantage and takedown defense. He acknowledges Sterling's grappling threat but believes Kattar's size and striking can keep the fight standing. Vreeland is concerned about Kattar's injury layoff and Sterling's experience, but sees value in the underdog.

"I'll lean with Kattar"

Half the Battle - UFC 300: PEREIRA VS HILL | BEST FIGHT PICKS | HALF THE BATTLE

Lucrative James Expert

Apr 10, 2024 (3 days before fight) No clear pick

Lucrative James does not make a pick for this fight. He says it's a really good fight and he is excited to see how Aljamain Sterling bounces back from losing his bantamweight title now fighting at featherweight. He does not give a prediction.

"Aljamain Sterling versus Calvin Kattar that's a really good fight I'm very excited to see how Aljo bounces back"

Lucrative MMA - UFC 300 Is NOT Terrible?

MMA Lock of the Night Expert

Apr 12, 2024 (1 day before fight) Confident Calvin Kattar

Kattar holds a striking advantage and will touch up Sterling from distance. He will shut down takedown attempts and batter Sterling on the feet, winning a decision. Sterling's featherweight debut will be tough.

decision

"I think we'll see Kar really touch up Alain Sterling from distance be able to Shu off off a couple of the takedown attempts and then really batter Sterling on the feet on route to a decision Victory"

MMA Lock of the Night - UFC 300 Quick Picks | Pereira vs Hill Predictions

Paul Shaughnessy Expert

Apr 11, 2024 (2 days before fight) Confident Calvin Kattar

Paul picks Kattar as a dog, citing the weight change for Sterling and Kattar's takedown defense. He notes that few have tried to wrestle Kattar, and those who did (Dan Ige, Josh Emmett) had little success. Paul thinks if Sterling can't get takedowns, it becomes a competitive standup fight where Kattar has more power. He also mentions Sterling's recent knockout loss and his apparent mental state, questioning his motivation. Paul believes Kattar can keep the fight standing and win a decision or even get a knockout.

"Calvin CER will be one for me."

Bookie Beatdown - UFC 300 Picks, Bets, Props | Pereira vs Hill 2 Fight Previews, Predictions

The MMA Guru Expert

Apr 8, 2024 (5 days before fight) Confident Aljamain Sterling

The MMA Guru picks Aljamain Sterling to win, citing Kattar's long layoff and leg injury. He believes Sterling's grappling will be too much for Kattar, especially targeting the injured rear leg with single legs. He expects Sterling to either finish or ride out a decision.

"Al Jamaine Sterling the Funk Master is going to get it done he's going to show these featherweights what real grappling is."

THE MMA GURU - UFC 300 Predictions Pereira vs Hill Full Card Betting Breakdown

Zane Simon Expert

Apr 12, 2024 (1 day before fight) Hesitant Calvin Kattar

Zane picks Kattar despite many question marks. He notes that Kattar is a big featherweight with power, and Sterling is moving up for the first time. Zane argues that wrestlers moving up rarely look their best, and Sterling's inefficient style may not translate well. He also points out that Kattar has faced few dedicated wrestlers, but Sterling's first fight at 145 could be a disadvantage.

Odds: Sterling opened -115, now -167; Kattar opened -110, now +149. Zane mentions the line movement.

"I am gonna, I'm gonna take Kater. I am he's the, the guys that have beat him tend to be bigger punching or more deft range strikers who can actually just handle him there."

MMA Vivisection - UFC 300: Pereira vs. Hill: Alex Pereira vs Jamahal Hill Picks Odds Analysis | UFC 300: Pr…

LOSS vs Arnold Allen

TKO (knee injury) R2 0:08 · UFC Fight Night: Kattar vs. Allen · Oct 29, 2022

Totals

Fighter	KD	Sig. Str.	Sig. Str. %	Total Str.	TD	TD %	Sub. Att	Rev.	Ctrl
Arnold Allen	0	14 of 58	24%	14 of 58	0 of 0	---	0	0	0:00
Calvin Kattar	0	28 of 67	41%	28 of 67	0 of 0	---	0	0	0:23

Per Round

Rd	Fighter	Sig. Str.	Sig. Str. %	Total Str.	TD	TD %	Ctrl
1	Arnold Allen	14 of 57	24%	14 of 57	0 of 0	---	0:00
1	Calvin Kattar	27 of 65	41%	27 of 65	0 of 0	---	0:23
2	Arnold Allen	0 of 1	0%	0 of 1	0 of 0	---	0:00
2	Calvin Kattar	1 of 2	50%	1 of 2	0 of 0	---	0:00

Significant Strikes

Fighter	Sig. Str.	Sig. Str. %	Head	Body	Leg	Distance	Clinch	Ground
Arnold Allen	14 of 58	24%	5 of 47	6 of 8	3 of 3	14 of 58	0 of 0	0 of 0
Calvin Kattar	28 of 67	41%	21 of 55	2 of 5	5 of 7	27 of 62	0 of 0	1 of 5

Significant Strikes Per Round

Rd	Fighter	Sig. Str.	Sig. Str. %	Head	Body	Leg	Distance	Clinch	Ground
1	Arnold Allen	14 of 57	24%	5 of 46	6 of 8	3 of 3	14 of 57	0 of 0	0 of 0
1	Calvin Kattar	27 of 65	41%	21 of 54	2 of 5	4 of 6	26 of 60	0 of 0	1 of 5
2	Arnold Allen	0 of 1	0%	0 of 1	0 of 0	0 of 0	0 of 1	0 of 0	0 of 0
2	Calvin Kattar	1 of 2	50%	0 of 1	0 of 0	1 of 1	1 of 2	0 of 0	0 of 0

Play-by-Play

View on Sherdog

Calvin Kattar vs. Arnold Allen

Round 1
The two ranked fighters on this fight card – in terms of listings on Sherdog – come to blows in its main event, as impressive technical boxer Kattar (23-6, 7-4 UFC) throws down with the streaking Allen (18-1, 9-0 UFC), who has won all nine of his trips to the UFC cage. Whether he can go 10-0 and put himself on the shortlist for championship contention in the logjammed featherweight category, he will have to get through “The Boston Finisher” first. The stakes are high, and referee Herb Dean is bringing his A-game to the headliner. Gloves are gladly touched, and it’s on with the show. Both men hunt for their range as they face off in alternating stances, pushing out jabs that bump into the other. Allen scores first with a low kick, and he lands a second as Kattar skirts out of the way. Kattar splits the guard with a jab, and Allen ignores it to double down on the calf kick. The defenses are solid thus far, with low accuracy rates and very active blocks, and as a result, they do not sit down on anything of note. Allen scores a single straight left, and Kattar responds with a snapping jab. When Kattar looks to double up on his jab, Allen settles for two kicks including one to the side. Kattar rushes forward with a clean one-two, and Allen shakes it off and walks right into a low kick. Allen gives chase but hits nothing but air, and Kattar pokes with his toes on the midsection. Allen knocks his man a step back with a left hand, and when Kattar attempts to reply, he kicks the upper thigh. Allen has a left hand get around the guard, and he chains several punches together to shake Kattar up. As Kattar backs off, Allen picks it up briefly, but he lets go before Kattar can lean on heavy counters. Allen lands a one-two across the bow, and Kattar largely uses the jab to respond. Allen scores several left hands that get Kattar’s attention, and Kattar’s face has begun to turn red. Allen comfortably lands another left hand, and he stays moving and circles fast. Kattar leaps in the air with a kick and lands awkwardly, and his right knee blows out as he falls to the ground. Allen leaps on top to strike, and he moves to set up a brabo choke but cannot secure it before the round ends. It will be interesting to see if Kattar can make it out of his corner for the second frame given the obvious injury he suffered.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Allen
Noah Gagnon scores the round: 10-9 Allen
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Allen

Round 2
Dean calls in the doctor before the round begins, and Kattar states that he is good to go. Kattar walks around gingerly but he has his balance and can continue. Allen marches forward, knowing what his clear path to victory is, and he lashes out.
“Almighty” unleashes one almighty leg kick to the lead leg of his opponent, and as Kattar attempts to check it, his right knee buckles and gives out beneath him. Kattar falls to the ground in agony and Allen does not go in for the kill as he knows the fight is over. Dean steps between them just to make sure,
and the medical staff races in immediately after the stoppage to tend to the downed Kattar. This is an extremely unfortunate ending to this featherweight headliner, and a difficult pill to swallow for the Brit, who notches his 10th UFC win in a row. Allen is crestfallen, not just because his opponent suffered an injury, but because he states that he does not want to win like that. In his post-fight interview, Allen is put on the spot by commentator Michael Bisping, in which he calls for an interim title shot should champ Alexander Volkanovski move up in weight and be away from the division for a time. He does not call for a specific opponent, although potential options could include Josh Emmett or Yair Rodriguez. If that should come together, we will be here for it. We hope you are too.

The Official Result
Arnold Allen def. Calvin Kattar R2 0:08 via TKO (Knee Injury)

Big Brady Expert

Oct 25, 2022 (4 days before fight) Confident Calvin Kattar

Big Brady picks Calvin Kattar to win by decision. He argues that Kattar's volume and pressure will be too much for Allen, who has shown low output and cardio issues in three-round fights. He notes that Kattar has never been knocked down and has gone five rounds in his last four fights, while Allen has never seen a fourth round. He believes Allen will need to hurt Kattar to win, which is unlikely given Kattar's durability.

Kattar wins by decision

"give me catering to win here and I would not be shocked if he finished Arnold Allen late but I'll say decision win for Calvin kator"

DFS by the Numbers - UFC Vegas 63 Full Card Breakdown & Predictions | Kattar vs Allen

Cody Saftic Expert

Oct 26, 2022 (3 days before fight) Confident Calvin Kattar

Cody argues that Arnold Allen is a low-output fighter who has been carried by close decisions and flashy finishes against declining competition. He points to Allen's low significant strike totals in many fights and notes that Calvin Kattar has landed over 100 significant strikes in his last four fights, has a cast-iron chin, and superior technical boxing and work rate. Cody expects Kattar's volume and five-round experience to wear Allen down over the distance, likely resulting in a close decision win.

"I gotta go with kader I think that the strike accumulation is going to wear off down the end and again Arnold Allen good wins but when you look at them he's not competing at the same level as Calvin kater and he's is not showing the same results"

Bookie Beatdown - UFC Vegas 63 Picks, Bets, Props | Kattar vs Allen Fight Previews, Predictions

Daniel Levi Expert

Oct 26, 2022 (3 days before fight) Confident Arnold Allen

Daniel Levi picks Arnold Allen, citing his versatility, southpaw stance with an outside calf kick, and ability to win early rounds. He notes Allen's experience against tough competition and his own money train on Allen. He respects Kattar's durability and iron will but questions the cumulative damage from recent fights. He got Allen at +110 and is confident in the pick, though he acknowledges Kattar could win if Allen fatigues.

Bet at +110, 2 units. Would not bet at -125. Mentions Allen as one of his money trains.

"I'm betting on Arnold Allen firstly I got it at plus 110 it's currently minus 125. I did my job in terms of getting the best of the line."

Half the Battle - UFC VEGAS 63: KATTAR VS ALLEN | BEST FIGHT PICKS | HALF THE BATTLE

Jacob Lines Expert

Oct 25, 2022 (4 days before fight) Hesitant Arnold Allen

Jacob picks Arnold Allen but is scared to death. He notes Allen's counter-striking and wrestling should be key, but Kattar is a better boxer and can mix in wrestling. Jacob worries about Allen facing adversity for the first time. He calls it a coin flip.

"I'm going to pick Arnold out in this matchup but I'm scared to death"

We Want Picks - UFC Vegas 63 FULL CARD Predictions and Bets | Kattar vs Allen | QUICK PICKS | Jacob

MMA Lock of the Night Expert

Oct 27, 2022 (2 days before fight) Confident Calvin Kattar

Kattar's volume and combination striking will be too much for Allen, who tends to be low-volume and waits for moments. Allen's explosive win over Hooker was against a compromised opponent. Kattar has five-round experience and should outwork Allen over 25 minutes. The plus money on Kattar is excellent value.

Kattar by decision

"give me Calvin cater cater by decision but the fact that we can get him around plus 100 plus 105 his money line is fine here"

MMA Lock of the Night - Kattar vs Allen | UFC Vegas 63 full card breakdown | The MMA Lock-Cast #175

Paul Shaughnessy Expert

Oct 26, 2022 (3 days before fight) Confident Calvin Kattar

Paul agrees with Cody that volume is the deciding factor, noting that Kattar is obscenely durable and has five-round experience. He mentions a prop on Prize Picks for Arnold Allen over 0.5 takedowns, expecting Allen to mix in wrestling but not being a great wrestler. Paul says he'll probably end up with money on Calvin Kattar on Saturday, indicating a betting interest.

Prize Picks: Arnold Allen over 0.5 takedowns

"I'm total agreement that I think it really comes down to like you know who's throwing more over the course of five rounds and we've seen kater do it over the court like in five round fights"

Bookie Beatdown - UFC Vegas 63 Picks, Bets, Props | Kattar vs Allen Fight Previews, Predictions

The MMA Guru Expert

Oct 25, 2022 (4 days before fight) Confident Calvin Kattar

The MMA Guru picks Calvin Kattar over Arnold Allen, despite expecting Allen to look great early and possibly break Kattar's nose. He doubts Allen's finishing ability and notes Allen tends to slow down in later rounds, as seen against Sadiq Yusuff. He believes Kattar's experience fighting with a broken nose and his body work will pay off, predicting Kattar wins rounds 3-5 via decision or late TKO.

"I'm going with Calvin kater here I think he's gonna get busted up in the first round broken nose... but if Emmett can't KO you I don't think Arnold Allen can"

THE MMA GURU - UFC Fight Night Kattar vs Allen Predictions & Full Card Betting Breakdown UFC Vegas 63

LOSS vs Josh Emmett

Decision (split) (47–48, 48–47, 48–47) R5 5:00 · UFC on ESPN: Kattar vs. Emmett · Jun 18, 2022

Totals

Fighter	KD	Sig. Str.	Sig. Str. %	Total Str.	TD	TD %	Sub. Att	Rev.	Ctrl
Josh Emmett	0	130 of 375	34%	131 of 376	0 of 0	---	0	0	0:00
Calvin Kattar	0	107 of 332	32%	107 of 332	0 of 4	0%	0	0	0:04

Per Round

Rd	Fighter	Sig. Str.	Sig. Str. %	Total Str.	TD	TD %	Ctrl
1	Josh Emmett	14 of 39	35%	15 of 40	0 of 0	---	0:00
1	Calvin Kattar	11 of 35	31%	11 of 35	0 of 1	0%	0:02
2	Josh Emmett	22 of 78	28%	22 of 78	0 of 0	---	0:00
2	Calvin Kattar	26 of 73	35%	26 of 73	0 of 0	---	0:00
3	Josh Emmett	19 of 66	28%	19 of 66	0 of 0	---	0:00
3	Calvin Kattar	27 of 77	35%	27 of 77	0 of 0	---	0:00
4	Josh Emmett	41 of 106	38%	41 of 106	0 of 0	---	0:00
4	Calvin Kattar	21 of 80	26%	21 of 80	0 of 2	0%	0:02
5	Josh Emmett	34 of 86	39%	34 of 86	0 of 0	---	0:00
5	Calvin Kattar	22 of 67	32%	22 of 67	0 of 1	0%	0:00

Significant Strikes

Fighter	Sig. Str.	Sig. Str. %	Head	Body	Leg	Distance	Clinch	Ground
Josh Emmett	130 of 375	34%	114 of 351	15 of 23	1 of 1	130 of 375	0 of 0	0 of 0
Calvin Kattar	107 of 332	32%	73 of 286	26 of 37	8 of 9	106 of 330	1 of 2	0 of 0

Significant Strikes Per Round

Rd	Fighter	Sig. Str.	Sig. Str. %	Head	Body	Leg	Distance	Clinch	Ground
1	Josh Emmett	14 of 39	35%	12 of 36	1 of 2	1 of 1	14 of 39	0 of 0	0 of 0
1	Calvin Kattar	11 of 35	31%	8 of 32	1 of 1	2 of 2	10 of 33	1 of 2	0 of 0
2	Josh Emmett	22 of 78	28%	20 of 76	2 of 2	0 of 0	22 of 78	0 of 0	0 of 0
2	Calvin Kattar	26 of 73	35%	19 of 63	6 of 9	1 of 1	26 of 73	0 of 0	0 of 0
3	Josh Emmett	19 of 66	28%	18 of 62	1 of 4	0 of 0	19 of 66	0 of 0	0 of 0
3	Calvin Kattar	27 of 77	35%	18 of 65	8 of 11	1 of 1	27 of 77	0 of 0	0 of 0
4	Josh Emmett	41 of 106	38%	35 of 98	6 of 8	0 of 0	41 of 106	0 of 0	0 of 0
4	Calvin Kattar	21 of 80	26%	13 of 68	5 of 9	3 of 3	21 of 80	0 of 0	0 of 0
5	Josh Emmett	34 of 86	39%	29 of 79	5 of 7	0 of 0	34 of 86	0 of 0	0 of 0
5	Calvin Kattar	22 of 67	32%	15 of 58	6 of 7	1 of 2	22 of 67	0 of 0	0 of 0

Angelo Bodetti Expert

Jun 12, 2022 (6 days before fight) Confident Calvin Kattar

Angelo picks Calvin Kattar, citing his superior boxing, footwork, and technique. He notes Kattar's 90% takedown defense and believes he can avoid Emmett's power. He acknowledges the possibility of Emmett winning by power and damage (like Font vs Vera) but thinks Kattar's pressure and volume will win the decision.

"i do like calvin qatar to win with his footwork and his technique but it's not completely out of the question that calvin vs emmett looks like font vs vera"

We Want Picks - QUICK PICKS: UFC Austin: Kattar vs. Emmett FULL CARD Predictions and Bets

Big Brady Expert

Jun 15, 2022 (3 days before fight) Confident Calvin Kattar

Big Brady picks Calvin Kattar to win by fourth-round knockout. He notes Kattar is younger, taller, and has a reach advantage, and is the better striker with excellent boxing combinations. He acknowledges Emmett's power and seven-fight knockdown streak, but trusts Kattar's chin (never knocked down) and believes Kattar's volume and length will wear Emmett down for a late finish.

fourth round knockout

"I like calvin keator to win i like common cater i'll say to win bye i'll say fourth round knockout for calvin keator"

DFS by the Numbers - UFC Austin Full Card Breakdown & Predictions | Kattar vs Emmett

Cody Saftic Expert

Jun 15, 2022 (3 days before fight) Confident Calvin Kattar

Cody believes Calvin Kattar's volume and technical striking will overwhelm Josh Emmett over five rounds. He notes Emmett's power is dangerous but Kattar's durability and head movement are elite, and Emmett rarely uses his wrestling. He expects Kattar to pull away late and suggests Kattar by decision as a prop.

Calvin Kattar by decision

"i think calvin kater's just going to put volume on him all day and slowly start to pull away the longer the fight goes"

Bookie Beatdown - UFC Austin Picks, Bets, Predictions | Kattar vs Emmett Fight Previews & DraftKings Picks

Daniel Levi Expert

Jun 16, 2022 (2 days before fight) Lean Calvin Kattar

Daniel Levi leans Calvin Kattar as the minute winner, believing Kattar's jab and improved striking variety will keep him ahead on the scorecards. However, he emphasizes that Josh Emmett's one-punch power and ability to steal rounds make this a dog-or-pass betting situation, especially with Kattar at -230. He notes Kattar absorbs a lot of strikes and Emmett has knocked down every featherweight opponent, so a finish is possible either way. Levi ultimately sees it as a coin flip and prefers not to lay the heavy juice.

dog or pass situation; Kattar -230 is too high; Emmett +195 is tempting

"i lean cater it's just minus 250 odds are not indicative of a coin flip fight so i see this at the betting window being a dogger pass situation"

Half the Battle - UFC Austin: Kattar vs Emmett | Bets, Picks, Predictions | HALF THE BATTLE

Paul Shaughnessy Expert

Jun 15, 2022 (3 days before fight) Confident Calvin Kattar

Paul agrees with Cody, emphasizing Kattar's volume and technical superiority. He points out that Emmett's power is a threat but Kattar's durability and five-round experience favor him. He notes the over/under is set high, suggesting a decision is likely, and he picks Kattar as the rightful favorite.

"i think calvin kater's just going to put volume on him all day and slowly start to pull away the longer the fight goes"

Bookie Beatdown - UFC Austin Picks, Bets, Predictions | Kattar vs Emmett Fight Previews & DraftKings Picks

The MMA Guru Expert

Jun 13, 2022 (5 days before fight) Confident Calvin Kattar

The MMA Guru picks Calvin Kattar, trusting his technique and durability. He notes that Josh Emmett has power but has struggled against tough opponents like Jeremy Stephens and Dan Ige. He believes Kattar has better boxing, a good chin, and a front kick to keep Emmett at distance. He predicts Kattar will get hurt early but recover and finish Emmett in the third round via TKO.

third round tko

"i'm going with cater over emmett... i see calvin kater getting this one done by third round tko"

THE MMA GURU - UFC Fight Night Kattar vs Emmett Predictions & Full Card Betting Breakdown UFC Austin

WIN vs Giga Chikadze

Decision (unanimous) (50–45, 50–45, 50–44) R5 5:00 · UFC on ESPN: Kattar vs. Chikadze · Jan 15, 2022

Totals

Fighter	KD	Sig. Str.	Sig. Str. %	Total Str.	TD	TD %	Sub. Att	Rev.	Ctrl
Calvin Kattar	1	144 of 402	35%	157 of 418	2 of 7	28%	1	1	3:42
Giga Chikadze	0	128 of 347	36%	129 of 348	0 of 0	---	0	1	0:09

Per Round

Rd	Fighter	KD	Sig. Str.	Sig. Str. %	Total Str.	TD	TD %	Sub. Att	Rev.	Ctrl
1	Calvin Kattar	0	4 of 7	57%	17 of 23	1 of 1	100%	1	1	3:19
1	Giga Chikadze	0	8 of 19	42%	9 of 20	0 of 0	---	0	1	0:09
2	Calvin Kattar	0	28 of 81	34%	28 of 81	1 of 2	50%	0	0	0:08
2	Giga Chikadze	0	38 of 99	38%	38 of 99	0 of 0	---	0	0	0:00
3	Calvin Kattar	0	25 of 87	28%	25 of 87	0 of 1	0%	0	0	0:08
3	Giga Chikadze	0	22 of 67	32%	22 of 67	0 of 0	---	0	0	0:00
4	Calvin Kattar	0	36 of 102	35%	36 of 102	0 of 3	0%	0	0	0:02
4	Giga Chikadze	0	28 of 70	40%	28 of 70	0 of 0	---	0	0	0:00
5	Calvin Kattar	1	51 of 125	40%	51 of 125	0 of 0	---	0	0	0:05
5	Giga Chikadze	0	32 of 92	34%	32 of 92	0 of 0	---	0	0	0:00

Significant Strikes

Fighter	Sig. Str.	Sig. Str. %	Head	Body	Leg	Distance	Clinch	Ground
Calvin Kattar	144 of 402	35%	127 of 369	13 of 28	4 of 5	135 of 390	2 of 2	7 of 10
Giga Chikadze	128 of 347	36%	94 of 297	27 of 41	7 of 9	127 of 344	1 of 3	0 of 0

Significant Strikes Per Round

Rd	Fighter	Sig. Str.	Sig. Str. %	Head	Body	Leg	Distance	Clinch	Ground
1	Calvin Kattar	4 of 7	57%	2 of 5	0 of 0	2 of 2	3 of 5	0 of 0	1 of 2
1	Giga Chikadze	8 of 19	42%	4 of 14	2 of 2	2 of 3	8 of 19	0 of 0	0 of 0
2	Calvin Kattar	28 of 81	34%	26 of 77	2 of 3	0 of 1	23 of 75	2 of 2	3 of 4
2	Giga Chikadze	38 of 99	38%	30 of 89	8 of 10	0 of 0	38 of 99	0 of 0	0 of 0
3	Calvin Kattar	25 of 87	28%	22 of 78	3 of 9	0 of 0	25 of 87	0 of 0	0 of 0
3	Giga Chikadze	22 of 67	32%	18 of 61	1 of 2	3 of 4	22 of 67	0 of 0	0 of 0
4	Calvin Kattar	36 of 102	35%	32 of 94	3 of 7	1 of 1	36 of 102	0 of 0	0 of 0
4	Giga Chikadze	28 of 70	40%	20 of 57	6 of 11	2 of 2	27 of 67	1 of 3	0 of 0
5	Calvin Kattar	51 of 125	40%	45 of 115	5 of 9	1 of 1	48 of 121	0 of 0	3 of 4
5	Giga Chikadze	32 of 92	34%	22 of 76	10 of 16	0 of 0	32 of 92	0 of 0	0 of 0

Play-by-Play

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Calvin Kattar vs. Giga Chikadze

Round 1
The main event kicks off, with referee Keith Peterson having banished all vestiges of nonsense from the premises by means of ancient, arcane and forbidden magic. The first strike of the fight is a right outside leg kick by Chikadze. He lands another, then a front kick to the chin. Kattar is coming forward, switching stances and throwing jabs from both sides. Chikadze is backpedaling and using lateral movement to avoid being backed into the fence. Chikadze lands a low kick, followed by a kick to the body. Kattar times the next one and explodes forward for a huge takedown. Kattar lands in half guard. Two minutes gone in the round, and Kattar is heavy on top, denying a hip escape. Kattar looking to pass to side control, but can’t. Chikadze stuffs him back to a deep half guard. Kattar briefly contemplates isolating the far arm, but Chikadze is active with his hips and Kattar is forced to hold him down. Chikadze grabs a guillotine, but Kattar hops to the opposite side. Chikadze sweeps to top, but Kattar has an arm-triangle from the bottom and moves to the back. Kattar is working with a body triangle from the back, throwing punches as the round ends.

Sherdog Scores
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Kattar
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Kattar
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Kattar

Round 2
Chikadze lands a solid body kick. Kattar comes into punching range and Chikadze lands a pair of hooks to the body, followed by a left kick. Kattar counters a body kick with a sharp left hand. Kattar is still coming forward relentlessly, switching stances frequently, and Chikadze is having trouble adjusting, even as he lands. Kattar lands a hard right hook that hurts Chikadze. Kattar tries dropping for a single leg, but Chikadze evades it easily. Kattar lands a two-punch combination, followed by a step-in elbow. Chikadze retreats, and Kattar keeps the pressure on. Under a minute left, and “The Boston Finisher” has all the momentum. Chikadze lands a pair of punches, and Kattar responds with a spinning back elbow that lands flush. Kattar lands a takedown at the 10-second clapper and nails Chikadze with a couple of punches before he can stand. The horn sounds.

Sherdog Scores
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Kattar
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Kattar
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Kattar

Round 3
Kattar continues to come forward, pressuring Chikadze, and lands a one-two. Kattar is in control, and Chikadze is starting to look tired, discouraged or both. Chikadze lands an outside calf kick, then another. Kattar lands a right cross, and Chikadze whiffs on a counter. Kattar drops for a single-leg and chases Chikadze all the way across the Octagon with it, where the Georgian uses a fence grab to steady himself, lets it go quickly, but not before it succeeds in foiling the takedown. Under two minutes left and they’re standing in the center of the cage again. Kattar’s jab is busting Chikadze up. Chikadze lands a pair of hard punches, but stumbles afterward, off-balance or just fatigued. Kattar comes forward with 30 seconds left and throws a one-two and a body kick. Chikadze catches Kattar with a flush right and takes another back elbow for his trouble, right before the horn.

Sherdog Scores
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Kattar
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Kattar
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Kattar

Round 4
The main event rounds open up with both men’s face showing wear, but Chikadze’s more so. Kattar walks him down and lands a jab. And another. Chikadze denies a takedown attempt against the cage. Kattar’s jab is once again right in Chikadze’s face as the Bostonian moves forward. Kattar throws another step-in elbow. Chikadze throws a body kick, but Kattar punishes him with a three-punch combo. Halfway through the round, Kattar catches a kick and marches forward, throwing punches while holding the leg. Chikadze lands a solid straight left, but the volume advantage is definitely with Kattar. They land simultaneous jabs. Kattar has busted the right eye of Chikadze badly, cuts above as well as below. The horn sounds on another easy Kattar round.

Sherdog Scores
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Kattar
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Kattar
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Kattar

Round 5
The final round begins as the other four did, with Kattar marching forward and cutting off the cage, but Chikadze explodes forward and tags him with a flurry of punches. Kattar keeps coming, though, and lands his own relentless volley of jabs. Chikadze lands a body kick, but Kattar is just overwhelming him. Kattar lands a high kick of his own. Chikadze comes forward, and Kattar counters with elbow strikes from both sides, then throws a kick up the middle. The round hits its halfway point, and Chikadze is still doing his best to find the finish he clearly knows he needs, but Kattar is far fresher and answering everything with two or more strikes to one. Kattar begins looking for bigger single shots on the flagging Chikadze, and lands a couple, leaving the Georgian stumbling backward. Kattar lands another spinning back elbow. Chikadze throws a kick up the middle. Under 30 seconds left and both men are still looking for the knockout. Kattar drops Chikadze with an elbow strike with under 10 seconds left, and referee Peterson looks on closely as he follows up with punches, but the round expires. Complete bell-to-bell performance by Calvin Kattar.

Sherdog Scores
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Kattar (50-45 Kattar)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Kattar (50-45 Kattar)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Kattar (50-45 Kattar)

The Official Result
Calvin Kattar def. Giga Chikadze via Unanimous Decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-44)

Angelo Bodetti Expert

Jan 13, 2022 (2 days before fight) Confident Giga Chikadze

Angelo picks Chikadze as the safe pick, citing his phenomenal striking, kicks, and range management. He notes Kattar is a live underdog with excellent boxing and a wrestling background that could pose problems if he pressures. He mentions possibly sprinkling a bet on Kattar.

May sprinkle a bet on Kattar as underdog.

"geek is the pick but that's a safe pick calvin qatar is very live here"

We Want Picks - QUICK PICKS: UFC Vegas 46: Kattar vs. Chikadze FULL CARD Predictions and Bets

Big Brady Expert

Jan 10, 2022 (5 days before fight) Hesitant Giga Chikadze

Big Brady admits he has been a Giga Chikadze hater but acknowledges Giga's improvements, especially his cardio in the Omar Morales fight. He notes Giga has never seen the fourth or fifth round and has slowed down in the past, while Calvin Kattar has a steel chin and absorbs strikes. Brady expects Giga to win the first three rounds and take a decision, but is hesitant due to the five-round distance and Kattar's durability. He does not like the moneyline at -233 and would not bet it.

"I'm going to say giga chicago does win this fight i'm going to say he does win a decision"

DFS by the Numbers - UFC Vegas 46 Full Card Breakdown & Predictions | Chikadze vs Kattar

Cody Saftic Expert

Jan 12, 2022 (3 days before fight) Confident Giga Chikadze

Cody picks Giga Chikadze, emphasizing his clean kickboxing and ability to dictate range with kicks. He notes Kattar struggles against longer opponents and that Giga's cardio looked solid in recent fights. He worries about Giga's takedown defense but doubts Kattar will wrestle. He suggests betting Kattar live after the second or third round if he survives the early onslaught.

Consider hedging on Kattar after round 2 or 3 if he survives

"as far as striker versus striker goes gotta go with the better striker better striker is giga just don't love the price tag"

Bookie Beatdown - UFC Vegas 46 Picks, Bets, Predictions | Chikadze vs Kattar Fight Previews & DraftKings Pi…

Daniel Levi Expert

Jan 13, 2022 (2 days before fight) Confident Giga Chikadze

Daniel Levi picks Giga Chikadze to win and be the first to finish Calvin Kattar via strikes. He argues that Kattar is a one-dimensional boxer with a negative strike differential, and that Giga's diverse striking—especially body kicks and head kicks—will be too much. He notes Giga has improved his cardio and grappling, citing his anaconda attempt on Barboza and brown belt in jiu-jitsu. Levi acknowledges Kattar's toughness and right hand but believes Giga's precision and power will prevail. He placed 5 units on Giga at -215.

5 units at -215

"I think giga chikazi is going to be the first man in mma history to finish calvin kater via strikes and i think he's going to open a lot of eyes so yeah give me giga chikazi i put five units on him at 2 15."

Half the Battle - Kattar vs Chikadze: Bets, Picks, Predictions | UFC Vegas 46 | HALF THE BATTLE

MMA Lock of the Night Expert

Jan 9, 2022 (6 days before fight) Confident Giga Chikadze

The host believes Giga Chikadze's kick-heavy game plan will be the key to victory, targeting Calvin Kattar's legs which have historically been a weakness. He notes that Kattar is the better technical boxer, but Chikadze's diverse kicking attacks (leg, body, head) and ability to switch targets will slow Kattar down. The host is confident Chikadze can implement this strategy effectively, though he acknowledges the fight could go the distance if Kattar absorbs the kicks and keeps moving forward. He ultimately picks Chikadze by decision, but also considers an inside-the-distance finish possible.

Decision prop at +325, over 2.5 rounds at -135 mentioned as possible bets.

"i'll go to kaze... i'm stuck between decision and inside the distance honestly... i'm gonna go chicago just staying methodical staying cerebral as well and just staying on the outside letting those leg kicks go"

MMA Lock of the Night - UFC Vegas 46: Kattar vs Chikadze Predictions & Betting Tips | The MMA Lock-Cast Ep #147

Paul Shaughnessy Expert

Jan 12, 2022 (3 days before fight) Confident Giga Chikadze

Paul leans toward Giga Chikadze as the better striker, noting that if the fight stays at kicking range, Kattar will get torn up. He acknowledges Kattar's boxing and pressure but believes Giga's kicks and range control are decisive. He mentions the line is close to accurate but doesn't love the -235 price. He suggests Kattar might have a path via wrestling, but considers it unlikely.

"if this fight takes place at kicking range uh you got to imagine that calvin kater is going to get torn up completely"

Bookie Beatdown - UFC Vegas 46 Picks, Bets, Predictions | Chikadze vs Kattar Fight Previews & DraftKings Pi…

The MMA Guru Expert

Jan 10, 2022 (5 days before fight) Confident Giga Chikadze

The MMA Guru picks Giga Chikadze to win by decision, citing Chikadze's superior kicking game and Kattar's well-known vulnerability to leg kicks, as exposed by Renato Moicano. He notes that Kattar is a slow starter who struggles with kicks, and coming off a year-long layoff after taking massive damage against Max Holloway, he expects Kattar to be even more hesitant early. Chikadze's activity (three fights in the past year) and improved takedown defense are also factors, as Kattar is unlikely to wrestle. However, he acknowledges Kattar is a good underdog and could pull off an upset if he survives the early kicking onslaught.

Kattar is a good underdog at nearly 2-to-1 odds; Chikadze is a 2-to-1 favorite. Prediction: Chikadze by decision (49-46).

"i'm gonna go with the gigachicken but don't be surprised if qatar gets the upset man"

THE MMA GURU - UFC Fight Night Kattar vs Chikadze Predictions & Full Card Betting Breakdown UFC Vegas 46

LOSS vs Max Holloway

Decision (unanimous) (50–43, 50–43, 50–42) R5 5:00 · UFC on ABC: Holloway vs. Kattar · Jan 16, 2021

Totals

Fighter	KD	Sig. Str.	Sig. Str. %	Total Str.	TD	TD %	Sub. Att	Rev.	Ctrl
Max Holloway	0	445 of 744	59%	447 of 746	0 of 1	0%	0	0	0:27
Calvin Kattar	0	133 of 283	47%	134 of 284	0 of 2	0%	0	0	0:05

Per Round

Rd	Fighter	Sig. Str.	Sig. Str. %	Total Str.	TD	TD %	Ctrl
1	Max Holloway	56 of 108	51%	56 of 108	0 of 0	---	0:00
1	Calvin Kattar	24 of 47	51%	24 of 47	0 of 0	---	0:00
2	Max Holloway	89 of 164	54%	89 of 164	0 of 0	---	0:00
2	Calvin Kattar	20 of 48	41%	20 of 48	0 of 1	0%	0:03
3	Max Holloway	75 of 139	53%	77 of 141	0 of 0	---	0:13
3	Calvin Kattar	29 of 59	49%	30 of 60	0 of 1	0%	0:00
4	Max Holloway	141 of 191	73%	141 of 191	0 of 1	0%	0:14
4	Calvin Kattar	34 of 71	47%	34 of 71	0 of 0	---	0:02
5	Max Holloway	84 of 142	59%	84 of 142	0 of 0	---	0:00
5	Calvin Kattar	26 of 58	44%	26 of 58	0 of 0	---	0:00

Significant Strikes

Fighter	Sig. Str.	Sig. Str. %	Head	Body	Leg	Distance	Clinch	Ground
Max Holloway	445 of 744	59%	274 of 553	117 of 133	54 of 58	439 of 737	6 of 7	0 of 0
Calvin Kattar	133 of 283	47%	99 of 237	16 of 23	18 of 23	129 of 279	4 of 4	0 of 0

Significant Strikes Per Round

Rd	Fighter	Sig. Str.	Sig. Str. %	Head	Body	Leg	Distance	Clinch	Ground
1	Max Holloway	56 of 108	51%	30 of 75	15 of 20	11 of 13	56 of 108	0 of 0	0 of 0
1	Calvin Kattar	24 of 47	51%	13 of 34	2 of 2	9 of 11	24 of 47	0 of 0	0 of 0
2	Max Holloway	89 of 164	54%	53 of 127	25 of 25	11 of 12	87 of 161	2 of 3	0 of 0
2	Calvin Kattar	20 of 48	41%	14 of 41	4 of 5	2 of 2	19 of 47	1 of 1	0 of 0
3	Max Holloway	75 of 139	53%	53 of 111	13 of 19	9 of 9	73 of 137	2 of 2	0 of 0
3	Calvin Kattar	29 of 59	49%	25 of 51	3 of 5	1 of 3	28 of 58	1 of 1	0 of 0
4	Max Holloway	141 of 191	73%	89 of 135	45 of 48	7 of 8	139 of 189	2 of 2	0 of 0
4	Calvin Kattar	34 of 71	47%	27 of 63	5 of 6	2 of 2	32 of 69	2 of 2	0 of 0
5	Max Holloway	84 of 142	59%	49 of 105	19 of 21	16 of 16	84 of 142	0 of 0	0 of 0
5	Calvin Kattar	26 of 58	44%	20 of 48	2 of 5	4 of 5	26 of 58	0 of 0	0 of 0

Play-by-Play

View on Sherdog

Max Holloway vs. Calvin Kattar

Round 1
The main event of the UFC’s first ABC card should be a stellar one, when former champion “Blessed” Holloway (21-6, 17-6 UFC) looks to get back to his winning ways against heavy-handed boxer “The Boston Finisher” Kattar (22-4, 6-2 UFC). These two featherweights need no more introduction, and referee Herb Dean will handle the particulars as they touch ‘em up to begin the final fight of the night. Holloway sticks out a few jabs, and doubles up on his left hand. Kattar nails Holloway’s lead leg with a kick, but it is one-and-done as Holloway walks forward with a few left hands. Kattar plants his left hand in Holloway’s face and lands a leg kick, and the two trade heavy jabs. The former champ lands low kicks, and he targets the body and head with impunity with long, powerful strikes. Holloway scores another leg kick, and he chains several punches together to the body and head. Kattar lands a leg kick, but Holloway is in his face with punches and a stomp kick to the knee. Kattar lands an effective jab that marks up Holloway’s face, but Holloway comes back at him with at trio of punches ending with a solid right hand. Kattar swings and misses with a big hook, allowing Holloway to tee off on him with five or six punches to the body and head. Both men land left hands at the same time, and Holloway kicks the lead leg twice to decent effect. Holloway rushes in with a stream of punches, and Kattar can only sit back and absorb them, but Kattar cracks Holloway twice with right hands. Holloway marches in with a few long punches that have how marked up Kattar’s face, and a one-two snaps Kattar’s head back. The ex-champ strides in with a knee up the middle, and follows the knee that lands with a few punches. Holloway absorbs a leg kick to land a few punches, and a right hand makes Kattar retreat. Holloway is unafraid to take shots to eat them, as he starts to load up on his punches while Kattar throws with reckless abandon. Holloway fakes high, low, and drills Kattar in the body with a spinning back kick. “Blessed” blesses Kattar with another, and he follows it with a few punches. Holloway gets off a third of these kicks, and a front kick from the former champ ends the round.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Holloway
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Holloway
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Holloway

Round 2
The featherweights do not touch gloves, as they would rather start trading early. Holloway tattoos his fist on Kattar’s face a few times, and Kattar backs away and blocks. Holloway dances out of the way of a front kick to land a barrage of punches, and he is out of the way from a counter. Kattar lands one single punch to the body, and Holloway may have started showboating or he could be reacting to an eye poke. Holloway gets back down to it with punches to the body and head, never throwing single shots as he rips the liver with a left hand. Holloway comes back with a knee up the middle, and then two punches over the top catch Kattar standing still. Kattar slings heavy leather, and some land, but Holloway forces the issue and puts Kattar down with a right hand. Kattar treats it like a slip as he pops back up with no ill effect, and “The Boston Finisher” bites down on his mouthpiece to nail Holloway with a right hand that stuns Holloway momentarily. Kattar lands another, and Holloway wears it well but his pace wanes briefly after absorbing those heavy shots. The former champ spins with another back kick to the body, and he steps in and lands several quick punches in rapid succession. Kattar cracks Holloway with a right hand, and he lands a leg kick to disrupt a responding Holloway. Both men trade ferocious leather, and Holloway works the body fearlessly with knees and punches. Kattar aims for more home run punches, while Holloway is content to touch Kattar repeatedly. A few punches from Holloway have opened up a cut on Kattar’s right eye, which is also showing some swelling fast. Holloway kicks and punches repeatedly, before hurting Kattar with an elbow. The Boston native backs into the cage, and Holloway attacks him ferociously with punches in bunches. Holloway slices open Kattar’s head with another vicious elbow, and he works the body relentlessly while Kattar is reeling. Kattar tries to tie him up and take the fight down, but Holloway stops him and elbows him hard to make Kattar go on rubber legs. Holloway keeps the pace with strike after strike, and slips up a head kick that makes Kattar do the chicken dance. As Holloway looks to finish the fight, the time runs out and both men laugh and high five one another.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-8 Holloway
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-8 Holloway
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-8 Holloway

Round 3
Holloway starts off assaulting the knee with a few kicks, and he switches it up to land a few punches over the top. Kattar tries to wing a left hand, and Holloway comes right back to sting him with a right hand. Holloway puts together a stream of punches as Kattar is hurt again, but the Bostonian grabs hold of Holloway to consider a takedown. Holloway stays in the clinch to get off a few knees, and Kattar elbows him hard. Kattar rips an uppercut that rings Holloway’s bell, and Holloway needs to take a moment to recover. Instead, he winds up on a few huge punches, and both men throw down without a care in the world. Kattar backs off to land a stomp kick to the knee, and a one-two forces Kattar to retreat again. The former champ targets the body with a punch, a body kick, and scores a huge shovel left hook that nearly lifts Kattar off the ground. Holloway brutalizes Kattar with a series of punches, bloodying up “The Boston Finisher” further. Kattar is not to be stopped, as he winds up with a huge right hand that smacks Holloway in the face. The former champ is not fazed as he continues his swarm of punches, forcing Kattar to attempt a takedown and fail. Both men back to the center of the cage, where they throw single strikes to catch their breath. When Holloway lands a leg kick, Kattar pops him with an uppercut. Holloway jumps off the cage like Anthony Pettis to land a punch, and he chains it into several more punches all while dodging the ones that come at him. Holloway sits down on a punch to the body, and Kattar reacts but still comes back at him. Holloway digs his left hand in the liver, and hurts Kattar with another body shot. Holloway lands a right hand to the head and a left to the body, making Kattar back away from the damage. Holloway lands a few punches, dodges three booming shots from Kattar, and points and guides his opponent for where he should be punching instead. A few quick strikes from Holloway end the exciting round.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Holloway
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Holloway
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Holloway

Round 4
Both men land flush jabs to start off the round, and they trade single shots while trying to find their range again. Holloway does not need long, as he plants several punches on the head and torso indiscriminately. Holloway targets the body again, drawing a reaction from Kattar, and he just barely avoids an overhand right that zooms past his chin. Holloway carves up the liver with a left hand, and he backs off Kattar with several punches to the body and head. Kattar is not out of this fight, but Holloway is styling on him as he is tripling up on his opponent. Kattar lands a serious right hand, but Holloway shrugs it off and blasts the liver once more with his heat-seeking left hand. Four punches from Holloway greet Kattar when the Boston native tries to land one. Holloway hurts Kattar with body shots, making Kattar’s hands drop to open him up for elbows up top. Kattar throws back wildly and lands a few, but Holloway wrecks him with strike after ferocious strike. Holloway keeps peppering the body with strikes, and Kattar is barely on his feet. Kattar tries to sling elbows and lands a huge right hand, but Holloway is on him and will not relent. Landing a few knees and some insane elbows along the way, Kattar is keeping it together, but just barely. Holloway tees off on him with an unbelievable amount of strikes, but Kattar survives and even stuffs a takedown. Holloway walks Kattar down and elbows him a few more times, and Kattar gives him one back. Holloway’s body shots are making Kattar react after almost each one, but Kattar slings huge bombs to give Holloway pause. Holloway dodges a spinning back elbow, delivers a spinning back kick to Kattar’s body, and starts working the legs again. Holloway’s head kick makes Kattar go on wobbly legs, and he smacks Kattar with a partial cartwheel kick to the head. A few more punches end the round, but miraculously, Kattar has made it to the bell. One more round to go.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-8 Holloway
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-8 Holloway
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-8 Holloway

Round 5
Kattar can continue in the fifth round, and Holloway nods at him in appreciation. Holloway lands a body shot and a few punches up top, leading Kattar to wind up with a huge right hand that Holloway easily sees coming. Kattar loads up with everything he has left, and Holloway ducks them and sticks him with several punches. Holloway’s jab turns into a body shot, and Holloway turns up the pace again to chase Kattar into the fence. The former champ sticks out a one-two and Kattar tries and fails to give it back to him. Holloway lands several right hands and Kattar is in a bad, bad way as his nose his smashed, face bloodied and he takes blow after blow. Holloway is able to dodge most of the strikes that come retaliatory, and he points at Kattar when Kattar tags him with a few. Holloway takes a deep breath, lands a trio of stomping leg kicks, and puts Kattar into the fence with a spinning back kick. Holloway kicks Kattar in the head and leg, and a few more punches from Holloway lead to possibly record-breaking totals as he chains them together. Kattar’s durability stays intact as he takes a kick to the body, and Holloway points to the commentary booth as he celebrates his successes. Holloway starts up his rhythm again with strikes at every target on Kattar’s body, as Holloway is feeling himself and battering Kattar. He yells for Kattar to go, points at the booth again, and unloads with a litany of punches. Kattar hits him back, and Holloway points at him and laughs. Holloway lands a few more punches, and Kattar is streaming blood but still throwing with all of his remaining energy reserves. Holloway styles on Kattar to end the round impressively, but perhaps even more impressively, Kattar has made it to the final bell. Knowing he has won in blowout fashion, he goes over to Kattar’s corner after the fight is over to shake hands with them and congratulate them for preparing their fighter well. What an incredible fight. Fighters will be hard-pressed to match that Herculean effort for the remainder of 2021. The UFC delivered spectacularly on its first foray into ABC, and this main card – not necessarily the prelims, mind you – will be remembered for quite some time.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Holloway (50-43 Holloway)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Holloway (50-43 Holloway)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Holloway (50-43 Holloway)

The Official Result
Max Holloway def. Calvin Kattar via Unanimous Decision (50-43, 50-43, 50-42)

Big Brady Expert

Jan 10, 2021 (6 days before fight) Confident Max Holloway

Big Brady picks Max Holloway to win by decision. He notes that Holloway has only lost to the best (Volkanovski, Poirier, McGregor) and that Kattar is a big step up in competition. He highlights Kattar's poor striking defense, absorbing more than he lands (5.66 vs 5.01), which is a red flag against Holloway's volume. He also mentions Holloway's motivation after two losses and that he looked great in his last fight. He believes Kattar's only path is a knockout, but Holloway hasn't been knocked out in 27 fights.

"i'm going to take max holloway to win here by decision"

DFS by the Numbers - UFC Fight Island 7 Full Card Breakdown & Predictions | Holloway vs Kattar

Daniel Levi Expert

Jan 12, 2021 (4 days before fight) Lean Calvin Kattar

Daniel Levi picks Calvin Kattar for the upset, citing Kattar's power and ability to land hard shots that could sway judges. He notes Holloway's ego and emotional issues may have cost him the Volk rematch, and that Holloway absorbs many head strikes. He believes Kattar doesn't need to match volume but land the cleaner, harder shots over five rounds.

"i'm gonna go with calvin uh for the upset"

Half the Battle - UFC on ABC 1 | Holloway vs Kattar | Bets, Picks, Predictions | Half The Battle

MMA Lock of the Night Expert

Jan 11, 2021 (5 days before fight) Confident Calvin Kattar

Kattar is the more technical striker with crisp hands and a piston-like jab. He matches Holloway in height and reach, which neutralizes Holloway's typical range advantage. Holloway has been hurt in past fights and Kattar has the power to finish. Kattar's cardio held up in a five-round fight against Dan Ige, and his New England Cartel camp is on a hot streak. The main concern is Holloway's volume, but Kattar's cleaner striking should win rounds.

Kattar by decision is the primary pick, but a finish is possible given Holloway's durability questions.

"I like cater here I wouldn't even be surprised if he gets a knockout too because holloway's been hurt a lot"

MMA Lock of the Night - UFC Fight Island 7: Holloway vs Kattar Predictions & Betting Tips | The MMA Lock-Cast Epi…

The MMA Guru Expert

Jan 9, 2021 (7 days before fight) Confident Max Holloway

The MMA Guru picks Max Holloway over Calvin Kattar, citing Holloway's improved kicking game, five-round experience, and youth. He notes Kattar's broken nose as a major vulnerability, expecting Holloway to target it with jabs. He predicts Holloway will win four rounds to one, with Kattar taking the first round before Holloway makes adjustments. He also questions Kattar's KO power, noting he hasn't faced a chin like Holloway's.

"i just see max holloway winning himself a fun exciting competitive decision four rounds to one i think qatar wins the first round"

THE MMA GURU - UFC Fight Night Holloway vs Kattar Predictions & Full Card Betting Breakdown Fight Island…

WIN vs Dan Ige

Decision (unanimous) (49–46, 49–46, 48–47) R5 5:00 · UFC on ESPN: Kattar vs. Ige · Jul 16, 2020

Totals

Fighter	KD	Sig. Str.	Sig. Str. %	Total Str.	TD	TD %	Sub. Att	Rev.	Ctrl
Calvin Kattar	0	105 of 260	40%	107 of 262	1 of 1	100%	0	0	1:06
Dan Ige	0	84 of 218	38%	87 of 221	0 of 9	0%	0	0	0:03

Per Round

Rd	Fighter	Sig. Str.	Sig. Str. %	Total Str.	TD	TD %	Ctrl
1	Calvin Kattar	20 of 46	43%	20 of 46	1 of 1	100%	0:39
1	Dan Ige	13 of 36	36%	16 of 39	0 of 1	0%	0:00
2	Calvin Kattar	15 of 39	38%	15 of 39	0 of 0	---	0:00
2	Dan Ige	18 of 45	40%	18 of 45	0 of 0	---	0:00
3	Calvin Kattar	21 of 63	33%	21 of 63	0 of 0	---	0:00
3	Dan Ige	20 of 49	40%	20 of 49	0 of 1	0%	0:00
4	Calvin Kattar	21 of 57	36%	22 of 58	0 of 0	---	0:19
4	Dan Ige	16 of 36	44%	16 of 36	0 of 4	0%	0:03
5	Calvin Kattar	28 of 55	50%	29 of 56	0 of 0	---	0:08
5	Dan Ige	17 of 52	32%	17 of 52	0 of 3	0%	0:00

Significant Strikes

Fighter	Sig. Str.	Sig. Str. %	Head	Body	Leg	Distance	Clinch	Ground
Calvin Kattar	105 of 260	40%	70 of 211	19 of 32	16 of 17	95 of 236	1 of 3	9 of 21
Dan Ige	84 of 218	38%	37 of 150	30 of 46	17 of 22	82 of 216	2 of 2	0 of 0

Significant Strikes Per Round

Rd	Fighter	Sig. Str.	Sig. Str. %	Head	Body	Leg	Distance	Clinch	Ground
1	Calvin Kattar	20 of 46	43%	11 of 34	9 of 11	0 of 1	17 of 38	0 of 0	3 of 8
1	Dan Ige	13 of 36	36%	7 of 26	4 of 7	2 of 3	13 of 36	0 of 0	0 of 0
2	Calvin Kattar	15 of 39	38%	13 of 34	2 of 5	0 of 0	15 of 39	0 of 0	0 of 0
2	Dan Ige	18 of 45	40%	7 of 32	6 of 7	5 of 6	18 of 45	0 of 0	0 of 0
3	Calvin Kattar	21 of 63	33%	14 of 52	3 of 7	4 of 4	21 of 63	0 of 0	0 of 0
3	Dan Ige	20 of 49	40%	7 of 29	8 of 15	5 of 5	20 of 49	0 of 0	0 of 0
4	Calvin Kattar	21 of 57	36%	12 of 47	2 of 3	7 of 7	18 of 51	0 of 1	3 of 5
4	Dan Ige	16 of 36	44%	10 of 27	4 of 6	2 of 3	14 of 34	2 of 2	0 of 0
5	Calvin Kattar	28 of 55	50%	20 of 44	3 of 6	5 of 5	24 of 45	1 of 2	3 of 8
5	Dan Ige	17 of 52	32%	6 of 36	8 of 11	3 of 5	17 of 52	0 of 0	0 of 0

Big Brady Expert

Jul 13, 2020 (3 days before fight) Confident Calvin Kattar

Big Brady picks Calvin Kattar to win, noting that the five-round fight favors Kattar's superior cardio. He believes Dan Ige will struggle to get takedowns due to Kattar's 77% takedown defense, and that Ige's cardio is questionable even in three-round fights. He predicts a finish in the fourth or fifth round, calling Kattar the 'Boston Finisher' and referencing his nasty elbow in his last fight.

Parlayed Kattar with Khamzat Chimaev at around -110; notes Kattar's line moved from -240 to -310

"I parlayed Kamara Oman with something on this card and that somebody is Calvin cater and I like that partly a lot"

DFS by the Numbers - UFC Fight Island Kattar vs Ige Full Card Breakdown & Predictions

Daniel Levi Expert

Jul 14, 2020 (2 days before fight) Confident Calvin Kattar

Daniel Levi picks Calvin Kattar to finish Dan Ige, citing Kattar's best hands in the division and his ability to maintain pressure over five rounds. He believes Ige may have early success but Kattar will take over and knock him out, possibly earning a title shot.

by knockout

"I got Calvin by knockout you know at some point in this fight"

Half the Battle - UFC Fight Island 1 | Kattar vs Ige | Bets, Picks, Predictions | Half The Battle

The MMA Guru Expert

Jul 12, 2020 (4 days before fight) Confident Calvin Kattar

The Guru picks Calvin Kattar, highlighting his impressive wins over Jeremy Stephens, Josh Emmett, Shane Burgos, and Ricardo Lamas. He believes Kattar's jab and power will be key, and that Dan Ige lacks the power to knock him out. He predicts Kattar may lose the first round due to Ige's volume but will adjust and land a big shot for a TKO in round 2. He also notes Ige's underrated grappling but thinks Kattar's takedown defense is solid.

TKO round 2

"I think Calvin Qatar goes out there puts hands on Danny gay probably loses the first round but when he covers up he's watching the entire time Calvin Qatar's got a slick jab I think he watches the entire first round Danny Kaye throws a lot of volume probably wins …"

THE MMA GURU - UFC Fight Night Kattar vs Ige Predictions - Full Card Breakdown & Preview

View all 15 fights

Giga Chikadze - Fight History

CANCEL vs Vinicius Oliveira

UFC Fight Night: Kape vs. Horiguchi · Jun 20, 2026

Angelo Bodetti Expert

Jun 19, 2026 (1 day before fight) Confident Vinicius Oliveira

Angelo picks Vinicius Oliveira (Lock Dog) over Andre Fili, citing Oliveira's relentless pace and work rate. He notes Oliveira is always moving forward, throwing strikes, and mixing in takedowns, which leads to high DFS scores. He worries about Fili's low fight IQ and tendency to abandon game plans, but acknowledges Fili's wrestling experience. He believes Oliveira's busy style will overwhelm Fili.

Angelo mentions Oliveira's DFS scoring history (98, 73, 80, 88 points) and that he covers his salary. He says he'll put Oliveira in his lineup.

"I think Locked Dog wins this fight because he is insanely busy, and I think he can score well because I can see Locked Dog wrestling a bit."

We Want Picks - DRAFTKINGS: UFC Vegas 119: Kape vs. Horiguchi FULL CARD Predictions

LOSS vs Kevin Vallejos

KO R2 1:29 · UFC on ESPN: Royval vs. Kape · Dec 13, 2025

Totals

Fighter	KD	Sig. Str.	Sig. Str. %	Total Str.	TD	TD %	Sub. Att	Rev.	Ctrl
Giga Chikadze	0	12 of 22	54%	19 of 29	0 of 0	---	0	0	0:00
Kevin Vallejos	1	20 of 32	62%	23 of 35	0 of 1	0%	0	0	1:28

Per Round

Rd	Fighter	KD	Sig. Str.	Sig. Str. %	Total Str.	TD	TD %	Ctrl
1	Giga Chikadze	0	9 of 17	52%	16 of 24	0 of 0	---	0:00
1	Kevin Vallejos	0	9 of 18	50%	12 of 21	0 of 1	0%	1:27
2	Giga Chikadze	0	3 of 5	60%	3 of 5	0 of 0	---	0:00
2	Kevin Vallejos	1	11 of 14	78%	11 of 14	0 of 0	---	0:01

Significant Strikes

Fighter	Sig. Str.	Sig. Str. %	Head	Body	Leg	Distance	Clinch	Ground
Giga Chikadze	12 of 22	54%	2 of 10	10 of 10	0 of 2	12 of 22	0 of 0	0 of 0
Kevin Vallejos	20 of 32	62%	14 of 24	2 of 3	4 of 5	15 of 26	1 of 2	4 of 4

Significant Strikes Per Round

Rd	Fighter	Sig. Str.	Sig. Str. %	Head	Body	Leg	Distance	Clinch	Ground
1	Giga Chikadze	9 of 17	52%	1 of 8	8 of 8	0 of 1	9 of 17	0 of 0	0 of 0
1	Kevin Vallejos	9 of 18	50%	6 of 13	1 of 2	2 of 3	8 of 16	1 of 2	0 of 0
2	Giga Chikadze	3 of 5	60%	1 of 2	2 of 2	0 of 1	3 of 5	0 of 0	0 of 0
2	Kevin Vallejos	11 of 14	78%	8 of 11	1 of 1	2 of 2	7 of 10	0 of 0	4 of 4

Play-by-Play

View on Sherdog

Giga Chikadze vs. Kevin Vallejos
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Vallejos (-300); Chikadze (+240)

Round 1
A potential banger at 145 pounds may treat fans over the next three rounds or fewer, as former Glory kickboxer Chikadze (15-5, 8-3 UFC) plies his trade against surging Argentinian Vallejos (16-1, 2-0 UFC). Before the feet, elbows, knees and fists fly, referee Mark Smith has to clock the fighters in. When he does, they opt to touch gloves.
After about 20 seconds of the two measuring one another, Vallejos breaks the silence with a low kick. The two stay at a wide berth from one another, too far for kicking range so they just shadowbox and hop around. Chikadze is well short of his intended target when he finally does throw his first kick, and when he tries another, he slips. Vallejos runs at him to take advantage of the moment, but Chikadze recovers and bails before Vallejos can pin him down. They get back to the center of the Octagon bobbing and faking at one another, striking totals in the single digits after two minutes. Vallejos lobs a low kick, and Chikadze checks it and splits his shin wide open.
Both men land flush, and Vallejos pushes after the kickboxer and pressures him to the wall. Smith admonishes someone for chattering at him during the fight, and they split apart. The shin wound from before gradually widens, with blood streaming down his foot. Vallejos walks the striker down and pumps him in the jaw, and he dodges a spinning wheel kick as the uneventful round wraps.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Chikadze
Dayne Fox scores the round: 10-9 Chikadze
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Chikadze

Round 2
The two strikers once again are tentative to get going. Chikadze eventually goes into action with a body kick and a high kick. The kicks from the Georgian are keeping Vallejos from largely going after him, until he decides it is time to start fighting. He steps back to avoid a low kick, and reaches out with a right hand over the top. This clips Chikadze, who is surprised that the strike hurt him as badly as it did and backs off in a hurry. Vallejos loads up with a second that lands on the neck, and Chikadze shrugs at him, his back to the fence. Vallejos opens up with a right hand to the body that misses, but this is to set a deadly trap.
He spins with the momentum gained by turning into the direction of his right hook, and he crashes a spinning back fist square into Chikadze’s dome. Chikadze crumples to the floor at an odd angle, his right arm trapped beneath him and his left stuck as well. This allows the Argentinian to demolish him with three concussive elbows, each of which seem to shut off and reawaken the “Ninja” in rapid, painful succession.
Smith sees that Chikadze’s eyes are wide and staring lifelessly at the mat, and he waves the fight off. Chikadze tries to work himself back to his feet but is struggling to stay upright under his own power. This is the first time he has been knocked out, with Vallejos walking off triumphantly.

The Official Result
Kevin Vallejos def. Giga Chikadze R2 1:29 via KO (Spinning Back Fist and Elbows)

Cody Saftic Expert

Dec 10, 2025 (3 days before fight) Confident Kevin Vallejos

Cody picks Vallejos, citing Giga's age, injuries, and lack of interest. He notes Vallejos's youth, durability, and pressure style, and expects him to outwork Giga by mixing in takedowns and volume. He predicts a decision win for Vallejos.

Vallejos by decision +150

"I got Kevin Vallejos to get the job done here."

Bookie Beatdown - UFC Vegas 112 Picks, Bets, Props | Royval vs Kape Fight Previews, Predictions

Connor Ruebusch Expert

Dec 11, 2025 (2 days before fight) Confident Giga Chikadze

Connor also picks Chikadze, agreeing with Zane that Vallejos will struggle with Chikadze's range. He notes that Vallejos has never faced a fighter who knows how to fight long, and that Chikadze can deny him the pocket. Connor expects Vallejos to have a rough start and possibly get finished by kicks. He also mentions that Chikadze's losses were hard-fought and he is not shot.

Chikadze opened at +210, now +250; Vallejos opened at -250, now -300. Connor notes that this is a massive step up for Vallejos.

"I think I'll take Chacazzi as well, actually. But I'm hoping to be wrong, you know? I don't have anything against Chacazzi, but I would love to see Vallejos turn up big."

MMA Vivisection - UFC Vegas 112 Main Card Vivi: Royval Flush

Lucrative James Expert

Dec 7, 2025 (6 days before fight) Confident Kevin Vallejos

Lucrative James is a fan of Kevin Vallejos and picks him to win, possibly by knockout. He highlights Vallejos' youth, athleticism, power, and multiple paths to victory, including grappling and boxing. He notes Giga Chikadze's cardio issues and susceptibility to grappling, and believes Vallejos can finish him. He projects Vallejos as a -250 favorite.

"I'm picking Kevin in this fight. I think he's going to go out there and I'm going to pick a KO outright."

Lucrative MMA - UFC Royval vs Kape Predictions | Full Card Betting Breakdown

Paul Shaughnessy Expert

Dec 10, 2025 (3 days before fight) Confident Kevin Vallejos

Paul also picks Vallejos, emphasizing that the key to beating Giga is constant pressure, which Vallejos excels at. He mentions Vallejos's takedown threat and body work, and suggests a Vallejos by decision prop at plus 150.

Vallejos by decision +150

"Vallejos by decision plus 150 is the best on market. It's probably how I will approach that fight this week."

Bookie Beatdown - UFC Vegas 112 Picks, Bets, Props | Royval vs Kape Fight Previews, Predictions

Zane Simon Expert

Dec 11, 2025 (2 days before fight) Confident Giga Chikadze

Zane picks Chikadze because he believes Vallejos is a pocket combination puncher who will struggle against Chikadze's length and range. He notes that Chikadze is huge for the division and knows how to fight long, which will deny Vallejos his preferred range. Zane expects Vallejos to be frustrated for the first two rounds, possibly coming on late but not enough to win. He also mentions that Chikadze's kicks are dangerous and could lead to a finish.

Chikadze is the underdog at +250, which Zane thinks is a massive step up for Vallejos; he notes that the only similar level fighter Vallejos faced was John Silva two years ago.

"I'm going to take Chacazzi here. Yeah, I think I'll take Chacazzi as well, actually. But I'm hoping to be wrong, you know?"

MMA Vivisection - UFC Vegas 112 Main Card Vivi: Royval Flush

LOSS vs David Onama

Decision R3 5:00 · UFC on ESPN: Machado Garry vs. Prates · Apr 26, 2025

Totals

Fighter	KD	Sig. Str.	Sig. Str. %	Total Str.	TD	TD %	Sub. Att	Rev.	Ctrl
Giga Chikadze	0	43 of 91	47%	71 of 127	0 of 0	---	0	0	0:00
David Onama	0	49 of 87	56%	72 of 127	3 of 3	100%	0	0	6:15

Per Round

Rd	Fighter	Sig. Str.	Sig. Str. %	Total Str.	TD	TD %	Ctrl
1	Giga Chikadze	21 of 43	48%	26 of 48	0 of 0	---	0:00
1	David Onama	13 of 26	50%	13 of 30	1 of 1	100%	0:44
2	Giga Chikadze	11 of 20	55%	19 of 29	0 of 0	---	0:00
2	David Onama	18 of 32	56%	28 of 43	1 of 1	100%	3:07
3	Giga Chikadze	11 of 28	39%	26 of 50	0 of 0	---	0:00
3	David Onama	18 of 29	62%	31 of 54	1 of 1	100%	2:24

Significant Strikes

Fighter	Sig. Str.	Sig. Str. %	Head	Body	Leg	Distance	Clinch	Ground
Giga Chikadze	43 of 91	47%	23 of 66	8 of 11	12 of 14	40 of 88	2 of 2	1 of 1
David Onama	49 of 87	56%	29 of 55	1 of 6	19 of 26	38 of 75	1 of 1	10 of 11

Significant Strikes Per Round

Rd	Fighter	Sig. Str.	Sig. Str. %	Head	Body	Leg	Distance	Clinch	Ground
1	Giga Chikadze	21 of 43	48%	9 of 26	4 of 7	8 of 10	21 of 43	0 of 0	0 of 0
1	David Onama	13 of 26	50%	9 of 17	0 of 2	4 of 7	13 of 26	0 of 0	0 of 0
2	Giga Chikadze	11 of 20	55%	8 of 17	1 of 1	2 of 2	8 of 17	2 of 2	1 of 1
2	David Onama	18 of 32	56%	8 of 19	1 of 2	9 of 11	11 of 24	1 of 1	6 of 7
3	Giga Chikadze	11 of 28	39%	6 of 23	3 of 3	2 of 2	11 of 28	0 of 0	0 of 0
3	David Onama	18 of 29	62%	12 of 19	0 of 2	6 of 8	14 of 25	0 of 0	4 of 4

Play-by-Play

View on Sherdog

Giga Chikadze (147: Missed Weight) vs. David Onama
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Onama (-180), Chikadze (+150)

Round 1
One fight tonight takes place outside of normal weight divisions, and it does so because Chikadze (15-4, 8-2 UFC) clocked in a pound heavy. The Georgian gives 20% of his purse to local fellow striker Onama (13-2, 5-2 UFC), and this one should be a whole lot of fun. Before an all-out brawl ensues, referee Keith Peterson takes charge of the cage. The fighters meet in the middle without a glove touch or any nonsense. Chikadze works from a range with a long punch, three kicks and one more punch upstairs. Chikadze chambers and fires a body kick, and Onama walks him down and reaches him with two kicks. Chikadze beats Onama to the punch with a one-two, and after a lull in the action, he quickly releases two head kicks that bang into the guard. Chikadze swings a right and then a left into the guard, with Onama shelling up just in time. Chikadze hand-fights to prevent Onama from firing anything of note, and he puts together a combination of punches ending with a kick. Onama parries a kick but has a left hand wrapped around his guard. Chikadze spins with a wheel kick that is blocked, and he lands and sneaks in a left hand. The Georgian hammers the front leg with a kick, and he aims one to the other leg before Onama can get to him. Onama reaches his target with a sharp right hand, snapping the head back and stunning the former kickboxer. Chikadze gathers a full head of steam and lashes out with a flurry of feet and fists, and Onama is able to stay right in front of him lunging with his powerful right hand. Chikadze steps in with a knee that clatters off the guard, and Onama’s long left gets in. Onama walks through a low kick to put punches on his opponent, and Chikadze is quick to reply with a step-in knee. Chikadze cracks Onama with a straight right hand, and Onama is on baby deer legs trying to stay upright. As Chikadze moves in for the kill, Onama wraps him up and gets behind him, lowering “Ninja” to the floor and taking most of his weapons away. Onama lands in half guard, with Chikadze actively attacking off his back with punches. Chikadze wraps up the guard, and he hacks with elbows until the horn sounds.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Chikadze
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Chikadze
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Chikadze

Round 2
The strikers resume in the second round, with Onama walking Chikadze down pecking at his lead leg with kicks. The low kicks are in part to set up a left hand for “Silent Assassin,” and Chikadze recognizes this and plants his fist on Onama’s face. Onama chips at the front leg and blocks a spinning back elbow, with his guard raised to defend a subsequent left hook. Onama gives Chikadze chase, catching him with an uppercut in the midst of a combination. Chikadze nails the front leg with a kick, and Onama shoots in for a double that he easily lands. Chikadze lands an elbow to the back of the head, and Onama hooks his legs between Chikadze’s to shut down his escape attempt. Onama steps over to the side, and Chikadze uses his feet to push off the wall and try to find a better position. Onama smothers until the Atlanta Braves’ chant is sung again from the crowd. Chikadze is desperate to stand, and Onama stops his efforts even if he does not otherwise attack with anything. Chikadze thinks about a guillotine choke, and when he moves and sits up, Onama bowls him over to his back. Onama in half guard loops his right arm behind Chikadze’s head for an arm-triangle setup, letting it go to drop down two harsh elbows. “Silent Assassin” quietly nullifies Chikadze with his top control, getting off the occasional strike until the clapper sounds with 10 seconds left. Onama lets Chikadze back up so he can measure a body kick, and backs off until the horn. He then raises his arms in the air to pump up the crowd, as they did not have a lot to cheer about in that last round otherwise.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Onama
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Onama
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Onama

Round 3
Onama again tries to pump up the audience to start the final frame, but when Peterson clocks them in, they do not do much for the first 30 seconds. Onama slowly works up his pace, landing punches and kicks until Chikadze retaliates. The Georgian responds with multiple head kicks, and his short left hook is out of reach. Onama knocks him back with two punches, and Chikadze stands in the pocket and bangs back. Chikadze lets fly a body kick, and he strikes the same spot with a left hand. When Onama lands, Chikadze gives him back a flurry of punches to think about and an axe kick for good measure. Chikadze is quicker than Onama at leading into exchanges, and he does not bite on the feints. Chikadze sneaks in a right hand just before Onama can get him, and Onama shoots in for a takedown and crashes straight into Chikadze’s dome with a loud clacking sound. Onama successfully tackles his man to the mat, foul not assessed as Chikadze was lowering himself down to defend the entry. Onama controls his man until Chikadze bursts his way to his feet. In the process, Chikadze gives up his back, and Onama leaps on it and uses it to wrangle Chikadze down to the ground again. Onama starts getting busy with his free left hand and arm, punching until an elbow presents itself. When Onama postures up, Chikadze times him with butterfly hooks to momentarily push him off. Onama gets back on top and lashes out with elbows, and Chikadze responds with a few of his own. Onama punches until time expires, with this final round likely the swing that determines the victor.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Onama (29-28 Onama)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Onama (29-28 Onama)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Onama (29-28 Onama)

The Official Result
David Onama def. Giga Chikadze via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Angelo Bodetti Expert

Apr 20, 2025 (6 days before fight) Confident David Onama

Angelo picks David Onama, citing his activity and pressure against a inactive Giga Chikadze. He notes that Giga is one-dimensional and has been out for two years, while Onama is a kickboxer who should stay busy and win. The odds have moved from -150 to -183 in Onama's favor.

"David Oama should win this fight."

We Want Picks - UPDATED: UFC Kansas City: Garry vs. Prates FULL CARD Predictions and Bets

Big Brady Expert

Apr 22, 2025 (4 days before fight) Lean David Onama

Big Brady leans toward David Onama, assuming he will grapple. He notes Giga Chikadze's takedown defense is poor and he has been controlled on the ground before. If Onama strikes, he favors Chikadze. He predicts Onama will get takedowns, wear on Chikadze, and find a submission in the second round.

second round submission

"Give me David Oama to win this fight by second round submission."

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Connor Ruebusch Expert

Apr 24, 2025 (2 days before fight) Confident Giga Chikadze

Connor picks Chikadze because he has a significant spatial advantage over Onama, who struggles at range and needs to brawl to be effective. Chikadze's movement and ability to keep distance will make it hard for Onama to force the kind of fight he needs. Connor also notes that Chikadze is a dangerous striker who can hurt Onama, as seen in Onama's previous fights where he got hurt but survived.

"I have to pick Giga. I'm going to pick Giga Chicago as well. His chain has always seen him through just as well as it's he's Onama through."

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MMA Lock of the Night Expert

Apr 25, 2025 (1 day before fight) Confident David Onama

The host expects Onama to meet Chikadze's jab with bigger power, mix in grappling, and land more damage over 15 minutes to win on the scorecards.

"I expect him to go out there and meet the jab of Chicad with bigger power... which will lead him to win this fight on the scorecards by landing more damage over the course of 15 minutes."

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The MMA Guru Expert

Apr 22, 2025 (4 days before fight) Confident Giga Chikadze

The MMA Guru picks Giga Chikadze as an underdog. He believes Chikadze is a better striker and underrated, citing his close fight with Arnold Allen. He criticizes Onama's low fight IQ, poor training habits, and vulnerability to pressure. He expects Chikadze to win by TKO, as Onama has been dropped by lesser opponents.

"I'm going with Giga Traedzi. David Onarma is good, but Giga Chici just went to a 29-28 decision with Arnold Allen. And I'm gonna say it, round two was very close."

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Zane Simon Expert

Apr 24, 2025 (2 days before fight) Confident Giga Chikadze

Zane picks Chikadze, agreeing with Connor that Chikadze's spatial advantage and ability to keep Onama at range will be key. Onama's only path to victory is to brawl, but Chikadze won't let him get close. Zane also notes that Onama has been hurt in almost every fight and Chikadze is a very dangerous striker who can finish him early. However, if Onama survives the early onslaught, he could win round three.

"I got to take Chicago as well. He may, he may also, like, I want to put a point in effect that like, just because Onama hasn't really been getting finished, he is getting hurt."

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LOSS vs Arnold Allen

Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC 304: Edwards vs. Muhammad 2 · Jul 27, 2024

Totals

Fighter	KD	Sig. Str.	Sig. Str. %	Total Str.	TD	TD %	Sub. Att	Rev.	Ctrl
Arnold Allen	0	61 of 122	50%	61 of 122	0 of 1	0%	0	0	0:00
Giga Chikadze	0	38 of 111	34%	39 of 112	0 of 0	---	0	0	0:00

Per Round

Rd	Fighter	Sig. Str.	Sig. Str. %	Total Str.	TD	TD %	Ctrl
1	Arnold Allen	13 of 22	59%	13 of 22	0 of 1	0%	0:00
1	Giga Chikadze	14 of 33	42%	15 of 34	0 of 0	---	0:00
2	Arnold Allen	16 of 43	37%	16 of 43	0 of 0	---	0:00
2	Giga Chikadze	13 of 40	32%	13 of 40	0 of 0	---	0:00
3	Arnold Allen	32 of 57	56%	32 of 57	0 of 0	---	0:00
3	Giga Chikadze	11 of 38	28%	11 of 38	0 of 0	---	0:00

Significant Strikes

Fighter	Sig. Str.	Sig. Str. %	Head	Body	Leg	Distance	Clinch	Ground
Arnold Allen	61 of 122	50%	43 of 95	16 of 22	2 of 5	61 of 122	0 of 0	0 of 0
Giga Chikadze	38 of 111	34%	22 of 83	12 of 24	4 of 4	38 of 111	0 of 0	0 of 0

Significant Strikes Per Round

Rd	Fighter	Sig. Str.	Sig. Str. %	Head	Body	Leg	Distance	Clinch	Ground
1	Arnold Allen	13 of 22	59%	9 of 17	4 of 5	0 of 0	13 of 22	0 of 0	0 of 0
1	Giga Chikadze	14 of 33	42%	7 of 22	5 of 9	2 of 2	14 of 33	0 of 0	0 of 0
2	Arnold Allen	16 of 43	37%	9 of 30	5 of 9	2 of 4	16 of 43	0 of 0	0 of 0
2	Giga Chikadze	13 of 40	32%	9 of 32	2 of 6	2 of 2	13 of 40	0 of 0	0 of 0
3	Arnold Allen	32 of 57	56%	25 of 48	7 of 8	0 of 1	32 of 57	0 of 0	0 of 0
3	Giga Chikadze	11 of 38	28%	6 of 29	5 of 9	0 of 0	11 of 38	0 of 0	0 of 0

Play-by-Play

View on Sherdog

Arnold Allen vs. Giga Chikadze
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Allen (-250), Chikadze (+205)

Round 1
A relevant featherweight encounter kicks off the main card of UFC 304, with Britain’s Allen (19-3, 10-2 UFC) trying to snap a two-fight skid at the expense of Georgian striker Chikadze (15-3, 8-1 UFC). The fans have picked their side on this one, and it is safe to say they are not rooting for the man who calls himself “Ninja.” Referee Marc Goddard will observe the proceedings for the next 15 minutes or less, and he sits back as the combatants opt not to touch gloves. Chikadze tests the waters early with a head kick, and he fires it a second time as Allen has his guard up for both of them. Chikadze kicks the side and then the front leg, only to go up high. Allen catches a body kick and tries to take Chikadze for a ride, but Chikadze bounces away and lands a kick on the way out. Allen walks him down, dinging Chikadze with a left hook as Chikadze continues to spam kicks to all three targets. Chikadze jabs and settles down, aiming a second to the chest and staying light on his feet. Allen cannot find his way in, hand-fighting and taking a body kick when trying. Chikadze sits down on a straight right hand when Allen bears down on him, and Allen takes it like a champ and gives back a high kick that hits the shoulder. Chikadze’s head kicks are all blocked, but the front forearm of his foe is reddening after absorbing the quick blows. Allen sticks a jab and ducks down to work the body before Chikadze can get away, and Chikadze gives him a body kick back to think about. A spinning wheel kick from Chikadze goes wide, and his high kick pounds into the glove of his foe. Allen responds with a single body kick, and Chikadze splits the guard with a straight right hand and follows with two speedy body kicks. Chikadze scores a check left hook and is met with a counter left hand, and Allen walks after him tossing out a kick easily blocked. Allen walks into a punch and a kick, and Chikadze pecks at him with a front kick as he constantly mixes up his attacks. Allen connects at the end of a right hand, shaking Chikadze up for a moment, but Chikadze does not back himself into a corner and instead reaches with his own right. Allen tries to wind up with leaping shots, and Chikadze is evasive and hard to get hands on. Allen ducks right into a knee, and he wobbles to the side and punts Chikadze in the face with the ball of his foot. As the Brit raises his arms in the air, the round ends.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Chikadze
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Chikadze
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Chikadze

Round 2
Allen rushes out of his corner to attack, landing a right hand out of the gate. Chikadze hand-fights to block anything else aimed his way, and he slides away from two left hooks. Chikadze zings a high kick that brushes his foe’s hair, and Allen aims a body shot in response. Allen scores a solid calf kick and powers out with a left hand, only to be met with three piston-like jabs. Allen chops at the front calf, and Chikadze gives him one right back and jabs him to boot. Allen scores two punches, and he just avoids getting blasted with a step-in knee. Allen rings Chikadze’s bell with a straight left hand, and Chikadze has to take a quick count of his teeth. Chikadze’s speed gives Allen issues, but Allen is ignoring the strikes he absorbs and coming back with venom. Allen blocks a high kick and reaches out with a left to the sternum, and his hands are high to defend against another head kick. Chikadze shakes Allen up with a head kick, and Allen knocks him back with a left hand. Chikadze shakes it off and strafes to the side, constantly moving to not remain a stationary target. Chikadze has an uppercut come up short, and Allen nearly cuts him off with a one-two. Chikadze lands, Allen gives him one back, and Chikadze is away and spamming kicks. Allen beans “Ninja” with a solid left hand, drawing blood from both nostrils. Allen has his leg kicked out on the way in, but he still manages to get off a wide left hand. Allen chambers and fires left hands, and Chikadze prods his front leg with a kick and slips the overhand left. Allen catches him with another left, and he shoves away a leaping Chikadze and kicks high. Chikadze responds with a body kick, and the back-and-forth round ends.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Allen
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Allen
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Allen

Round 3
The Brit chases Chikadze around the cage as soon as the last round begins, and he manages to get his hands on Chikadze with a left hand or two. Allen walks the Georgian down, and he dodges two punches and reaches with a single shot that smears blood on Chikadze’s forehead. Chikadze comes back firing with a left over the top, and he has a body kick reach before Allen can get to him. Allen front kicks his man and elbows his way in, and Chikadze escapes as fast as he can. Allen rips a body shot and Chikadze is still ready to sling back high kicks, but they have far less sting on them than before. Allen gets off a left, takes two body kicks and continues pressuring his man around the Octagon. Chikadze steps in with a right hand and responds with a heavy left, and he follows him along with another hard left. Allen’s left hand is again accurate, and Chikadze springs into action with a body kick and a punch. Allen goes to the body and then kicks on the other side, and his left hand is hurled at Chikadze’s pectoral. Allen tosses a front kick aside and catches his foe with a left hook, and Chikadze spins but does not release anything. Allen eats a body kick without flinching so he can unload punches, and he puts a one-two down the pipe and chases Chikadze with a right. Allen ends the fight with a jump knee, and the two share an embrace and have a conversation after 15 minutes of striking.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Allen (29-28 Allen)
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Allen (29-28 Allen)
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Allen (29-28 Allen)

The Official Result
Arnold Allen def. Giga Chikadze via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Angelo Bodetti Expert

Jul 21, 2024 (6 days before fight) Confident Arnold Allen

Angelo picks Arnold Allen, noting that despite Allen being on a two-fight skid, those losses were to top competition (Max Holloway and Movsar Evloev). He argues that Allen looked better in those losses than Giga did in his win over Alex Caceres, where Giga was slow and threw few combinations. Angelo expects Allen to control the striking rhythm and predicts a decision win, possibly hitting the over on rounds.

over on round line

"I think Arnold controls the Striking Rhythm here I think this could look like when Qatar remember Calvin Qatar or Kar beat Giga Chad a few years ago this could look like that"

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Cody Saftic Expert

Jul 24, 2024 (3 days before fight) Confident Arnold Allen

Cody picks Arnold Allen, citing his fast starts and wrestling. He notes that Giga Chikadze has not faced many wrestlers and was taken down by Calvin Kattar, who is not known for wrestling. Cody believes Allen can pressure Giga, mix in takedowns, and win a decision. He also points out that Giga is older, injury-prone, and has had long layoffs, while Allen is a step down in competition after fighting Max Holloway and Movsar Evloev.

"I'm gonna go Arnold Allen like honestly this guy was on a very solid run and earned a lot of respect from people... I do expect him to get the victory whether he shows up and shows out and puts on a highlight performance and gets a finish like that …"

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Daniel Vreeland Expert 2 video updates

Latest Jul 25, 2024 (2 days before fight) Confident Arnold Allen

Daniel picks Arnold Allen, citing his grappling advantage and youth. He believes Allen can out-grapple Chikadze and should avoid kickboxing with the kickboxer. He notes Allen has more gas in the tank despite two straight losses.

"I will take the almighty one"

MMA Gambling Podcast - UFC 304 Main Card Preview, Predictions, and Picks (Ep618)

Jul 24, 2024 (3 days before fight) Lean Arnold Allen

Daniel likes Arnold Allen's southpaw calf kicks and blitzing style but dislikes the price (-230). He thinks Giga Chikadze has cardio issues and can be drained by takedowns. He expects a close fight likely going the distance and picks Allen to edge it out.

"I'mma go Arie to to Edge it out"

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Jeff Fox Expert

Jul 25, 2024 (2 days before fight) Confident Arnold Allen

Jeff picks Arnold Allen, noting he can win on the feet as well as by grappling. He praises Allen's body defense (except against Max Holloway) and his volume. He points out Chikadze sometimes takes long to get going and lacks volume, which Allen can exploit. He expects the line to be closer but still takes Allen.

"I like Arnold Allen in this one too I I think you know like to your point I think he could grapple in this maybe uh but I actually think he could win this fight on the feed too"

MMA Gambling Podcast - UFC 304 Main Card Preview, Predictions, and Picks (Ep618)

Paul Shaughnessy Expert

Jul 24, 2024 (3 days before fight) Lean Giga Chikadze

Paul leans towards Giga Chikadze as a dog, citing the value at plus 205. He believes if the fight stays on the feet, it will be competitive and Giga has the striking advantage. Paul acknowledges the risks of jet lag and the UK crowd but thinks the line is too wide. He expects a competitive fight and is willing to take the dog.

"I think at plus 205 the value will be squarely on Giga... I'll take the dog in that type of situation."

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The MMA Guru Expert

Jul 22, 2024 (5 days before fight) Confident Arnold Allen

The MMA Guru picks Arnold Allen, believing he can use his offensive grappling to exploit Giga Chikadze's takedown defense. He notes that Chikadze has been exposed on the ground every time he's been taken down. The Guru also thinks Allen is close to Max Holloway's level, as shown in their fight, and that Chikadze's win over Alex Caceres was unimpressive. He predicts Allen will win by decision, possibly 29-28, using grappling in the later rounds.

decision

"I think Arnold Allen's got this one in the bag I don't see jetti troubling him with punches kicks to the body maybe a problem but I think that's going to open up some potential takedowns for Arnold Allen"

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WIN vs Alex Caceres

Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27) R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Holloway vs. The Korean Zombie · Aug 26, 2023

Totals

Fighter	KD	Sig. Str.	Sig. Str. %	Total Str.	TD	TD %	Sub. Att	Rev.	Ctrl
Giga Chikadze	0	65 of 141	46%	65 of 141	0 of 0	---	0	0	0:00
Alex Caceres	0	62 of 168	36%	62 of 168	0 of 0	---	0	0	0:00

Per Round

Rd	Fighter	Sig. Str.	Sig. Str. %	Total Str.	TD	TD %	Ctrl
1	Giga Chikadze	17 of 30	56%	17 of 30	0 of 0	---	0:00
1	Alex Caceres	15 of 39	38%	15 of 39	0 of 0	---	0:00
2	Giga Chikadze	23 of 44	52%	23 of 44	0 of 0	---	0:00
2	Alex Caceres	24 of 61	39%	24 of 61	0 of 0	---	0:00
3	Giga Chikadze	25 of 67	37%	25 of 67	0 of 0	---	0:00
3	Alex Caceres	23 of 68	33%	23 of 68	0 of 0	---	0:00

Significant Strikes

Fighter	Sig. Str.	Sig. Str. %	Head	Body	Leg	Distance	Clinch	Ground
Giga Chikadze	65 of 141	46%	25 of 83	22 of 38	18 of 20	65 of 139	0 of 2	0 of 0
Alex Caceres	62 of 168	36%	25 of 110	25 of 44	12 of 14	62 of 168	0 of 0	0 of 0

Significant Strikes Per Round

Rd	Fighter	Sig. Str.	Sig. Str. %	Head	Body	Leg	Distance	Clinch	Ground
1	Giga Chikadze	17 of 30	56%	7 of 16	5 of 8	5 of 6	17 of 30	0 of 0	0 of 0
1	Alex Caceres	15 of 39	38%	5 of 23	5 of 10	5 of 6	15 of 39	0 of 0	0 of 0
2	Giga Chikadze	23 of 44	52%	14 of 30	4 of 9	5 of 5	23 of 43	0 of 1	0 of 0
2	Alex Caceres	24 of 61	39%	8 of 40	12 of 16	4 of 5	24 of 61	0 of 0	0 of 0
3	Giga Chikadze	25 of 67	37%	4 of 37	13 of 21	8 of 9	25 of 66	0 of 1	0 of 0
3	Alex Caceres	23 of 68	33%	12 of 47	8 of 18	3 of 3	23 of 68	0 of 0	0 of 0

Play-by-Play

View on Sherdog

Giga Chikadze vs. Alex Caceres
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Chikadze (-245), Caceres (+200)

Round 1
A hotly anticipated featherweight scrap heats up the room in Southeast Asia. Chikadze finds his way back into the cage for the first time in more than a year and looks to rebound from a decision defeat to Calvin Kattar that put an end to his nine-fight winning streak. Caceres appears to be enjoying a mid-career resurgence, with victories seven of his past eight bouts. Marc Goddard gets the nod to officiate. Caceres opens with a side kick to the body and looks light on his feet. Chikadze stalks from the center of the cage and uses feints to back up the Miami native. Caceres connects with a crisp one-two, then stomps at the knee. Chikadze partially blocks and spinning backfist and targets the body with one of his patented kicks. Caceres controls the center of the cage but eats a right hand over the top. His unorthodox style seems to be giving Chikadze trouble. Caceras throws in a jab, follows it with a low kick and misfires on a Superman punch. Chikadze still throwing in single strikes. So far, Caceres is holding his own on the feet. Chikadze meets him with a jab in the center of the cage, as Caceres lunges in and out with punches. They trade right hands as the horn sounds.

Sherdog Scores
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Caceres
Tudor Leonte scores the round: 10-9 Caceres
J.L. Kirven scores the round: 10-9 Chikadze

Round 2
Caceres once again gets out of the gate first. Chikadze looks keen to counter, but the Georgian is still only throwing one shot at a time. Lack of output is limiting his effectiveness. Chikadze follows a sharp jab with a right cross. The Kings MMA rep seems to have found his rang and timing, as he starts to connect in combination. Caceres dives in with a right hook to the body and exits without absorbing anything in return. Chikadze steps into a right hand, then follows a jab with a heavy straight right, snapping back his counterpart’s head. There is a noticeable difference in the impact of their shots. Chikadze uncorks a kicks to the body, backs out of the pocket and answers a leg kick with a right cross. Momentum has definitely shifted here.

Sherdog Scores
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Chikadze
Tudor Leonte scores the round: 10-9 Chikadze
J.L. Kirven scores the round: 10-9 Chikadze

Round 3
Chikadze gives Caceres pause with a head kick to start Round 3, then rattles him with a jarring right hook. The Georgian counters a low kick with an overhand right and continues to land the more impactful blows. Caceres probably needs to alter his strategy, though he punctuates a nice combination with a partially blocked head kick. The Miami native smiles, as Chikadze remains stoic and hunts opportunities. Kicks to the leg and body back up Caceres, who is swinging and missing far more often now. Chikadze steps into another right hand, nearly spinning around “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 12 graduate. With 90 seconds left, Caceres needs to put forth something significant. Chikadze circles on the outside and delivers a heavy kick to the chest. A two-punch volley comes next. Caceres is running out of time. Chikadze counters while moving backward and chews up the remaining seconds on the clock.

Sherdog Scores
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Chikadze (29-28 Chikadze)
Tudor Leonte scores the round: 10-9 Chikadze (29-28 Chikadze)
J.L. Kirven scores the round: 10-9 Chikadze (30-27 Chikadze)

The Official Result
Giga Chikadze def. Alex Caceres—Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-37, 30-27)

Angelo Bodetti Expert

Aug 20, 2023 (6 days before fight) Confident Giga Chikadze

Angelo sees Giga as the much better striker and dangerous, but worries about the long layoff (1.5 years) and takedown defense issues from past losses. He notes that Caceres is a tough veteran with good scrambles. He picks Giga but is undecided on betting him, as the layoff and Caceres' toughness give him pause.

"this should be Giga all day long he's going to be the much better Striker the far more dangerous guy"

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Big Brady Expert

Aug 21, 2023 (5 days before fight) Confident Giga Chikadze

Big Brady acknowledges Giga Chikadze's long layoff and loss to Calvin Kattar but sees this as a good matchup for him. He notes that Alex Caceres doesn't use his wrestling and prefers to strike, which favors Giga. He believes Giga is the better striker with more power and tools, and expects him to win a kickboxing fight by decision.

decision

"I like eager here to win a kickboxing fight across 15 minutes"

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Cody Saftic Expert

Aug 24, 2023 (2 days before fight) Lean Giga Chikadze

Cody is tempted by the underdog line on Caceres but ultimately picks Chikadze. He notes that Caceres has a grappling advantage but may not be able to get takedowns against a high-level striker. Chikadze's striking is elite and he should win if he keeps it standing. Cody is not highly confident due to the 16-month layoff and grappling risk.

"super tempted by that Underdog money and I think it's very juicy but there's a couple other underdogs later on"

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Daniel Levi Expert

Aug 24, 2023 (2 days before fight) Confident Giga Chikadze

Daniel picks Giga Chikadze, noting that this is a major step down in competition from Calvin Kattar. He believes Giga's power advantage is one-sided and that Caceres doesn't have the power to hurt him. He acknowledges concerns about Giga's layoff and surgeries, but thinks he cruises to a victory, possibly by knockout. He mentions that Caceres has a grappling edge but rarely uses takedowns.

"if I have to pick a winner I think Giga probably cruises to a victory here could even be a knockout"

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Lucrative James Expert

Aug 26, 2023 (fight day) Lean Alex Caceres

James picks Alex Caceres as an underdog, citing Giga's long layoff, age (35), and the beating he took from Calvin Kattar. He believes Caceres can keep the striking close and has a massive grappling edge if the fight goes to the mat. He notes Giga gasses quickly after grappling exchanges, and Caceres could submit him or win via cardio advantage. He sees value at +210.

bet on Alex Caceres moneyline

"I've actually got a bell and Alex caceres here"

Lucrative MMA - UFC Fight Night: Holloway vs. The Korean Zombie - Lucrative MMA

MMA Lock of the Night Expert

Aug 22, 2023 (4 days before fight) Confident Alex Caceres

The host notes Giga Chikadze has been out for over a year and was exposed by Calvin Kattar's grappling. He believes Caceres is in his best form, with an unorthodox striking style and a dangerous Jiu-Jitsu game. The host expects Caceres to stifle Chikadze's early power, take the fight to the ground, and possibly find a submission. He calls the +210 odds 'crazy' and picks Caceres by decision.

"The fact that we can get Alexis air as close to plus 210 in this fight I think is crazy."

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Paul Shaughnessy Expert

Aug 24, 2023 (2 days before fight) Lean Giga Chikadze

Paul agrees with Cody, noting that Caceres' path to victory is via grappling, but Chikadze's striking is superior. He mentions Caceres' loss to Yusuff as a blueprint for how this fight could go. Paul is not confident enough to bet Chikadze at the price.

"total agreement not don't really have anything to add to that one"

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The MMA Guru Expert

Aug 22, 2023 (4 days before fight) Confident Alex Caceres

The MMA Guru picks Alex Caceres as an underdog over Giga Chikadze, envisioning Caceres finding a back take and rear-naked choke. He notes Caceres' momentum and two-fight winning streak, and Chikadze's struggles against well-rounded opponents who threaten takedowns. He believes Chikadze's best performances are against pure strikers, and Caceres' grappling threat will make Chikadze second-guess. He predicts a submission in round two via standing back take.

Submission via rear-naked choke in round 2 predicted

"I'm gonna go Alex casares ... my heart is telling me that he finds the back at some point and gets a really naked joke"

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LOSS vs Calvin Kattar

Decision (unanimous) (50–45, 50–45, 50–44) R5 5:00 · UFC on ESPN: Kattar vs. Chikadze · Jan 15, 2022

Totals

Fighter	KD	Sig. Str.	Sig. Str. %	Total Str.	TD	TD %	Sub. Att	Rev.	Ctrl
Calvin Kattar	1	144 of 402	35%	157 of 418	2 of 7	28%	1	1	3:42
Giga Chikadze	0	128 of 347	36%	129 of 348	0 of 0	---	0	1	0:09

Per Round

Rd	Fighter	KD	Sig. Str.	Sig. Str. %	Total Str.	TD	TD %	Sub. Att	Rev.	Ctrl
1	Calvin Kattar	0	4 of 7	57%	17 of 23	1 of 1	100%	1	1	3:19
1	Giga Chikadze	0	8 of 19	42%	9 of 20	0 of 0	---	0	1	0:09
2	Calvin Kattar	0	28 of 81	34%	28 of 81	1 of 2	50%	0	0	0:08
2	Giga Chikadze	0	38 of 99	38%	38 of 99	0 of 0	---	0	0	0:00
3	Calvin Kattar	0	25 of 87	28%	25 of 87	0 of 1	0%	0	0	0:08
3	Giga Chikadze	0	22 of 67	32%	22 of 67	0 of 0	---	0	0	0:00
4	Calvin Kattar	0	36 of 102	35%	36 of 102	0 of 3	0%	0	0	0:02
4	Giga Chikadze	0	28 of 70	40%	28 of 70	0 of 0	---	0	0	0:00
5	Calvin Kattar	1	51 of 125	40%	51 of 125	0 of 0	---	0	0	0:05
5	Giga Chikadze	0	32 of 92	34%	32 of 92	0 of 0	---	0	0	0:00

Significant Strikes

Fighter	Sig. Str.	Sig. Str. %	Head	Body	Leg	Distance	Clinch	Ground
Calvin Kattar	144 of 402	35%	127 of 369	13 of 28	4 of 5	135 of 390	2 of 2	7 of 10
Giga Chikadze	128 of 347	36%	94 of 297	27 of 41	7 of 9	127 of 344	1 of 3	0 of 0

Significant Strikes Per Round

Rd	Fighter	Sig. Str.	Sig. Str. %	Head	Body	Leg	Distance	Clinch	Ground
1	Calvin Kattar	4 of 7	57%	2 of 5	0 of 0	2 of 2	3 of 5	0 of 0	1 of 2
1	Giga Chikadze	8 of 19	42%	4 of 14	2 of 2	2 of 3	8 of 19	0 of 0	0 of 0
2	Calvin Kattar	28 of 81	34%	26 of 77	2 of 3	0 of 1	23 of 75	2 of 2	3 of 4
2	Giga Chikadze	38 of 99	38%	30 of 89	8 of 10	0 of 0	38 of 99	0 of 0	0 of 0
3	Calvin Kattar	25 of 87	28%	22 of 78	3 of 9	0 of 0	25 of 87	0 of 0	0 of 0
3	Giga Chikadze	22 of 67	32%	18 of 61	1 of 2	3 of 4	22 of 67	0 of 0	0 of 0
4	Calvin Kattar	36 of 102	35%	32 of 94	3 of 7	1 of 1	36 of 102	0 of 0	0 of 0
4	Giga Chikadze	28 of 70	40%	20 of 57	6 of 11	2 of 2	27 of 67	1 of 3	0 of 0
5	Calvin Kattar	51 of 125	40%	45 of 115	5 of 9	1 of 1	48 of 121	0 of 0	3 of 4
5	Giga Chikadze	32 of 92	34%	22 of 76	10 of 16	0 of 0	32 of 92	0 of 0	0 of 0

Play-by-Play

View on Sherdog

Angelo Bodetti Expert

Jan 13, 2022 (2 days before fight) Confident Giga Chikadze

May sprinkle a bet on Kattar as underdog.

"geek is the pick but that's a safe pick calvin qatar is very live here"

We Want Picks - QUICK PICKS: UFC Vegas 46: Kattar vs. Chikadze FULL CARD Predictions and Bets

Big Brady Expert

Jan 10, 2022 (5 days before fight) Hesitant Giga Chikadze

"I'm going to say giga chicago does win this fight i'm going to say he does win a decision"

DFS by the Numbers - UFC Vegas 46 Full Card Breakdown & Predictions | Chikadze vs Kattar

Cody Saftic Expert

Jan 12, 2022 (3 days before fight) Confident Giga Chikadze

Consider hedging on Kattar after round 2 or 3 if he survives

"as far as striker versus striker goes gotta go with the better striker better striker is giga just don't love the price tag"

Bookie Beatdown - UFC Vegas 46 Picks, Bets, Predictions | Chikadze vs Kattar Fight Previews & DraftKings Pi…

Daniel Levi Expert

Jan 13, 2022 (2 days before fight) Confident Giga Chikadze

5 units at -215

Half the Battle - Kattar vs Chikadze: Bets, Picks, Predictions | UFC Vegas 46 | HALF THE BATTLE

MMA Lock of the Night Expert

Jan 9, 2022 (6 days before fight) Confident Giga Chikadze

Decision prop at +325, over 2.5 rounds at -135 mentioned as possible bets.

MMA Lock of the Night - UFC Vegas 46: Kattar vs Chikadze Predictions & Betting Tips | The MMA Lock-Cast Ep #147

Paul Shaughnessy Expert

Jan 12, 2022 (3 days before fight) Confident Giga Chikadze

"if this fight takes place at kicking range uh you got to imagine that calvin kater is going to get torn up completely"

Bookie Beatdown - UFC Vegas 46 Picks, Bets, Predictions | Chikadze vs Kattar Fight Previews & DraftKings Pi…

The MMA Guru Expert

Jan 10, 2022 (5 days before fight) Confident Giga Chikadze

Kattar is a good underdog at nearly 2-to-1 odds; Chikadze is a 2-to-1 favorite. Prediction: Chikadze by decision (49-46).

"i'm gonna go with the gigachicken but don't be surprised if qatar gets the upset man"

THE MMA GURU - UFC Fight Night Kattar vs Chikadze Predictions & Full Card Betting Breakdown UFC Vegas 46

WIN vs Edson Barboza

TKO (punches) R3 1:44 · UFC on ESPN: Barboza vs. Chikadze · Aug 28, 2021

Totals

Fighter	KD	Sig. Str.	Sig. Str. %	Total Str.	TD	TD %	Sub. Att	Rev.	Ctrl
Giga Chikadze	0	33 of 95	34%	33 of 95	0 of 0	---	0	0	0:00
Edson Barboza	2	60 of 117	51%	70 of 128	0 of 0	---	2	0	0:41

Per Round

Rd	Fighter	KD	Sig. Str.	Sig. Str. %	Total Str.	TD	TD %	Sub. Att	Ctrl
1	Giga Chikadze	0	10 of 26	38%	10 of 26	0 of 0	---	0	0:00
1	Edson Barboza	0	17 of 43	39%	17 of 43	0 of 0	---	0	0:00
2	Giga Chikadze	0	19 of 56	33%	19 of 56	0 of 0	---	0	0:00
2	Edson Barboza	0	22 of 47	46%	22 of 47	0 of 0	---	0	0:00
3	Giga Chikadze	0	4 of 13	30%	4 of 13	0 of 0	---	0	0:00
3	Edson Barboza	2	21 of 27	77%	31 of 38	0 of 0	---	2	0:41

Significant Strikes

Fighter	Sig. Str.	Sig. Str. %	Head	Body	Leg	Distance	Clinch	Ground
Giga Chikadze	33 of 95	34%	15 of 70	10 of 15	8 of 10	33 of 95	0 of 0	0 of 0
Edson Barboza	60 of 117	51%	31 of 80	16 of 22	13 of 15	56 of 113	0 of 0	4 of 4

Significant Strikes Per Round

Rd	Fighter	Sig. Str.	Sig. Str. %	Head	Body	Leg	Distance	Clinch	Ground
1	Giga Chikadze	10 of 26	38%	4 of 17	3 of 4	3 of 5	10 of 26	0 of 0	0 of 0
1	Edson Barboza	17 of 43	39%	6 of 27	5 of 8	6 of 8	17 of 43	0 of 0	0 of 0
2	Giga Chikadze	19 of 56	33%	8 of 41	6 of 10	5 of 5	19 of 56	0 of 0	0 of 0
2	Edson Barboza	22 of 47	46%	10 of 33	6 of 8	6 of 6	22 of 47	0 of 0	0 of 0
3	Giga Chikadze	4 of 13	30%	3 of 12	1 of 1	0 of 0	4 of 13	0 of 0	0 of 0
3	Edson Barboza	21 of 27	77%	15 of 20	5 of 6	1 of 1	17 of 23	0 of 0	4 of 4

Play-by-Play

View on Sherdog

Edson Barboza vs. Giga Chikadze

Round 1
The moment we’ve all been waiting for has arrived, with respect to those participating on the 29th season of TUF. Two powerful, flashy strikers with eerily similar striking stats toe the line when Barboza (22-9, 16-9 UFC) faces Chikadze (13-2, 6-0 UFC). For Barboza, he can cement his place as a contender at featherweight; for Chikadze, he can announce himself to the world as a legitimate top-tier 145er. Referee Jason Herzog is holding down the fort for this one, and gloves are not touched before they are traded heavily and in high intensity. The first strike of the match comes from Chikadze, who lands a leg kick. Barboza returns fire with his own kick, and the featherweights are coiled and ready to strike. Barboza starts to walk Chikadze down, backing him up into the fence, and he is forced to try to check a quick leg kick. Barboza checks a body kick with a high knee, but an inside chopping kick lands. When Barboza fires off a leg kick, it gets checked as well. Chikadze goes high with a kick that brushes past Barboza’s head, and the Brazilian looks surprised as it zooms at him. Chikadze leaps in the air with a check flying knee, and Barboza just sees it coming in time to avoid it. When Barboza has a calf kick checked, he fires off another that does not get blocked. Barboza looks to feint his way in and he blocks a high kick and checks a body kick with his quick reflexes. Barboza wings an overhand left, and Chikadze is barely able to get out of the way lest it lop his head off. Chikadze spins with a kick to the body, and Barboza marches through it and lands a few punches. Barboza trips Chikadze on the way when Chikadze tries to press the action, and he stands back defiantly as Chikadze aims a flying knee. When Barboza connects with a leg kick, Chikadze points at his leg and then fires off two high kicks. Chikadze drills the body with a kick, and he might have Barboza smarting as Barboza chomps down on his mouthpiece and throws winging punches. Chikadze strides after him confidently, landing a few and evading the counters. Chikadze rips the body with a kick, and he targets the liver and points at Barboza. A high kick and an axe kick attempt from the Georgian conclude the kick-heavy round.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Chikadze
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Chikadze
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Chikadze

Round 2
The featherweights trade calf kicks initially, and Barboza is the one to try to throw hands as he swings a right hand. He times a Chikadze flying knee to kick him up the body, and he stands tall to score when Chikadze lands. Chikadze circles around the outer edge of the fence to chop at the Brazilian with kicks, and Barboza comes up short when trying to give chase. Chikadze connects with a left hand and a liver kick, and Barboza gives chase as he absorbs a stunning right hand. Barboza shakes it off and keeps pressuring Chikadze, where he lands a trio of punches on the way in. Chikadze lets loose a high kick and a liver kick in rapid succession, and the kick to the side keeps finding its home. Barboza scores a calf kick that makes the Georgian changes stances, and Chikadze whips up a high kick with his lead leg. Barboza rips the body with a right hand, and he checks the vaunted “Giga kick” with a high knee block. The Brazilian continues his assault on the body with big hooks and kicks, and Chikadze backs off right into an overhand right. Barboza plods forward as Chikadze appears to be slowing to a degree, allowing him to cut Chikadze off and set up strikes. Barboza nails the lead leg with a heavy kick, and Chikadze tries to return fire with an axe kick but he gets jabbed for his effort. Chikadze gets off a pair of punches as Barboza walks him down like a Brazilian Terminator, and Barboza keeps on drilling punches to the body. Chikadze spams a few axe kicks that hit nothing but his foe’s guard, and Barboza stabs his toes to the midsection. Barboza sweeps the leg, and Chikadze comes back at him with a single leg kick before the round ends.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Barboza
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Barboza
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Barboza

Round 3
Barboza takes the center of the cage and doubles up on a jab, and Chikadze is ready to fire back but misses the mark when Barboza ducks. Barboza sticks out a few more jabs as Chikadze backs away, and the Georgian scores a kick to the knee when Barboza tries to come at him. Chikadze blasts Barboza with a huge right hand, and Barboza is suddenly on the ropes as Chikadze walks him down to try to do damage. Barboza’s eye is busted up, and Chikadze charges with a barrage of punches. A few right hands knock Barboza back, and Barboza is in trouble and falls over to the ground. Chikadze looks to finish the job as he lands a few punches from on top, and Barboza holds on tight to clear the cobwebs. Barboza looks for a heel hook from his back as he is hurt badly, and when he sits up in it, the Georgian latches on to an anaconda choke out of nowhere. Barboza walks off the cage to break the grip of the choke, and he powers his way to his knees and then back to his feet.
Barboza is still on baby deer legs when he gets back up, and Chikadze takes note this and drops the hammer with a trio of punches that sends Barboza crashing back down to the canvas. Herzog has seen enough, sensing that Barboza may be out even if he is able to amble back to his feet.
“Ninja” successfully puts himself on the map with a wild performance over a perennial contender, and he thanks his opponent for the opportunity and the tough challenge. In his post-fight interview, Chikadze says he would be glad to fill in if a competitor in the featherweight title fight falls through, but if not, that there is a certain Hawaiian in his sights – Max Holloway. Should that striker’s delight come to fruition, we will be here for it, and we hope you are too.

The Official Result
Giga Chikadze def. Edson Barboza R3 1:44 via TKO (Punches)

Angelo Bodetti Expert

Aug 25, 2021 (3 days before fight) Hesitant Edson Barboza

Angelo picks Barboza, citing his leg kicks as the difference, veteran savvy, and more tools (jiu-jitsu, experience). He notes Chikadze is the future but hasn't faced leg kicks. He has Barboza in his DraftKings lineup at 8200 and calls the fight razor thin.

Angelo likes the less more on monkey knife fight.

"my pick is honestly edson barboza i think the leg kicks are the difference here"

We Want Picks - UFC Vegas 35: Barboza vs. Chikadze | TUF 29 Finale Predictions, Bets, DraftKings, Monkey …

Cody Saftic Expert

Aug 25, 2021 (3 days before fight) Hesitant Edson Barboza

Cody picks Barboza but is hesitant, noting Barboza's age (35) and the risk that Giga could have a breakout performance. He values Barboza's experience and durability, having faced top competition, while Giga's resume is softer. Cody is worried about Giga's cardio after seeing him slow in round three against Jamall Emmers, and thinks Barboza's volume and wrestling advantage could be key if he survives the early danger. He already bet Barboza at -110 and says he won't have high investment.

already bet Edson Barboza at -110; won't have highest investment

"I already bet edson barbos so I got him at 110 minus 115 is fine"

Bookie Beatdown - UFC Vegas 35 Picks, Bets, Predictions | Barboza vs Chikadze Fight Previews & UFC Vegas 35…

Jacob Lines Expert

Aug 25, 2021 (3 days before fight) Confident Giga Chikadze

Jacob picks Chikadze, calling him an assassin who is on another level. He notes Chikadze is never in trouble and controls distance. He got Chikadze at +100 and has him in his lineup for five rounds, expecting a war. He also placed a half-unit bet on Chikadze in the third round.

Jacob got Chikadze at +100; he placed a half-unit bet on Chikadze in the third round.

"i actually got giga for plus 100 when i saw plus 100"

We Want Picks - UFC Vegas 35: Barboza vs. Chikadze | TUF 29 Finale Predictions, Bets, DraftKings, Monkey …

MMA Lock of the Night Expert

Aug 27, 2021 (1 day before fight) Confident Edson Barboza

Lock leans slightly to Barboza, citing his volume and pace advantage over Giga. He believes Barboza's durability at 145 has held up and that Giga's cardio issues will be exposed in a five-round fight. Lock expects Barboza to get a finish in the later rounds, specifically liking the under 4.5 rounds and Barboza by KO at +270. He notes Giga's power is dangerous early but thinks Barboza's experience and activity will be the difference.

under 4.5 rounds -130, Barboza by KO +270, Barboza round 3 +1100, round 4 +1450, round 5 +2075

"I ever so slightly lean on the barboza side here i think that his volume is ultimately going to catch up to giga and i think that giga will start to slow down the later that this fight goes"

MMA Lock of the Night - UFC Vegas 35: Barboza vs Chikadze Predictions and Odds LIVE | Propping You Up | UFC Prop …

Paul Shaughnessy Expert

Aug 25, 2021 (3 days before fight) Confident Edson Barboza

Paul picks Barboza, citing Barboza's higher striking volume and Giga's cardio issues seen in the Emmers fight. He notes Barboza's wrestling advantage and thinks if Barboza gets through the first two rounds, he'll be even stronger. Paul is scared away from Giga by his third-round fade against Emmers. He also mentions the line moving toward Barboza but remains confident.

"if edson gets out of the first two rounds in this fight i like him even more so i'm in on edson barbosa"

Bookie Beatdown - UFC Vegas 35 Picks, Bets, Predictions | Barboza vs Chikadze Fight Previews & UFC Vegas 35…

The MMA Guru Expert

Aug 22, 2021 (6 days before fight) Confident Edson Barboza

The Guru picks Edson Barboza over Giga Chikadze, citing Barboza's superior striking, experience in main events, and proven cardio at featherweight. He notes that Chikadze has close split decisions against Jamall Emmers and Brandon Davis, which are red flags. The Guru expects Barboza to chop Chikadze's legs with calf kicks and win a decision, possibly 4 rounds to 1. He also mentions Barboza's takedown option as a potential factor.

Barboza by decision, calf kicks to be a factor

"i think edson barboza is a way better striker way more experience under the big lights he's been in main events before"

THE MMA GURU - UFC Fight Night Barboza vs Chikadze Predictions & Full Card Betting Breakdown UFC Vegas 35

WIN vs Cub Swanson

TKO (body kick and punches) R1 1:03 · UFC on ESPN: Reyes vs. Prochazka · May 01, 2021

Totals

Fighter	KD	Sig. Str.	Sig. Str. %	Total Str.	TD	TD %	Sub. Att	Rev.	Ctrl
Giga Chikadze	1	12 of 18	66%	12 of 18	0 of 0	---	0	0	0:05
Cub Swanson	0	4 of 6	66%	4 of 6	0 of 0	---	0	0	0:00

Per Round

Rd	Fighter	KD	Sig. Str.	Sig. Str. %	Total Str.	TD	TD %	Sub. Att	Rev.	Ctrl
1	Giga Chikadze	1	12 of 18	66%	12 of 18	0 of 0	---	0	0	0:05
1	Cub Swanson	0	4 of 6	66%	4 of 6	0 of 0	---	0	0	0:00

Significant Strikes

Fighter	Sig. Str.	Sig. Str. %	Head	Body	Leg	Distance	Clinch	Ground
Giga Chikadze	12 of 18	66%	9 of 14	2 of 3	1 of 1	7 of 11	0 of 0	5 of 7
Cub Swanson	4 of 6	66%	1 of 1	0 of 0	3 of 5	4 of 6	0 of 0	0 of 0

Significant Strikes Per Round

Rd	Fighter	Sig. Str.	Sig. Str. %	Head	Body	Leg	Distance	Clinch	Ground
1	Giga Chikadze	12 of 18	66%	9 of 14	2 of 3	1 of 1	7 of 11	0 of 0	5 of 7
1	Cub Swanson	4 of 6	66%	1 of 1	0 of 0	3 of 5	4 of 6	0 of 0	0 of 0

Play-by-Play

View on Sherdog

Giga Chikadze vs. Cub Swanson

Round 1
Our co-main event comes in the form of a striker’s delight at featherweight between the old guard of Swanson (27-11, 12-7 UFC) against the relatively young gun in Chikadze (12-2, 5-0 UFC). Whether this is a passing of the torch or a reminder that there is still something left in the tank, referee Jason Herzog will oversee the affair. There is no touch of gloves, as Chikadze begins his fight with a few kicks. Swanson looks to close the distance early, and he walks through a few kicks to reach out with a big overhand right. The Georgia circles away on the outside, and he gets off a right hand that makes Swanson take a few steps back.
The kickboxer slings a high kick and sneaks out a left hand, and he releases a thunderous body kick he titles his “Giga Kick” that slams square into Swanson’s liver. The longtime vet’s typically stoic expression contorts in pain as he backs away and falls to his knees. Swanson looks to reach out for any sort of desperation shot or leg grab, but Chikadze slips his leg out and starts pounding away.
It does not take more than a few punches for Herzog to call the fight off, and Georgian fighters have now stolen the night by winning across the board. This is our first official finish of the night – the Markos fight was a disqualification that ended by a foul – and the first time Swanson has been knocked out since Jose Aldo’s fateful double flying knee in 2009.

The Official Result
Giga Chikadze def. Cub Swanson R1 1:03 via TKO (Body Kick and Punches)

Big Brady Expert

Apr 27, 2021 (4 days before fight) Hesitant Giga Chikadze

Big Brady picks Giga Chikadze to win a close decision, but he is hesitant and hates the line. He acknowledges Chikadze's improvements, especially in takedown defense and striking output, as seen in the Morales fight. However, he notes that Swanson is durable and on a roll, and that Chikadze has been taken down in the past. Brady thinks the line should be closer and that Swanson could be live if he wrestles more, but he ultimately goes with Chikadze's flashier strikes.

"i'm going to take ciacatse to win by a close decision"

DFS by the Numbers - UFC Vegas 25 Full Card Breakdown & Predictions | Reyes vs Prochazka

Cody Saftic Expert

Apr 27, 2021 (4 days before fight) Lean Cub Swanson

Cody sees Cub Swanson as a live underdog with many variables in his favor: savvy veteran experience, ground game advantage, and a history of performing well as an underdog. He notes that Swanson has a BJJ black belt and wrestling advantage, and that Giga has not faced a grappler who actually uses their ground game. However, he is concerned that Giga is tall for the division and a tricky striker, and that Swanson needs to use his wrestling to win. He labels this a 'dogger pass' situation and mentions DraftKings still has +160 available.

dogger pass (betting recommendation)

"for our last show in the studio i'll label this one a dogger pass dogger pass situation"

Bookie Beatdown - UFC Vegas 25 Picks, Bets, Predictions | Reyes vs Prochazka Fight Previews | PFL 2021 Week…

Daniel Levi Expert

Apr 29, 2021 (2 days before fight) Confident Giga Chikadze

Daniel Levi picks Giga Chikadze to win, emphasizing that Chikadze is a superior striker with better range and footwork. He believes Cub Swanson's style of swinging big hooks plays into Chikadze's straight shots down the middle. Levi also notes that Swanson's recent win over Pineda is overrated and that Chikadze's cardio held up in his last fight.

"i'm gonna go with giga to land the harder shots the more impactful shots and i think he's gonna announce himself as a contender at 145 pounds"

Half the Battle - UFC Vegas 25 | Reyes vs Prochazka | Bets, Picks Predictions | Half The Battle

MMA Lock of the Night Expert

Apr 30, 2021 (1 day before fight) Confident Giga Chikadze

The host picks Giga Chikadze by decision, citing his striking advantage and reach. He expects Giga to fight safe and outpoint Swanson, who may look for takedowns. He notes that Swanson is a veteran but believes Giga's kicking game will be too much.

Giga Chikadze by decision at +170

"I like giga here it's crazy that the line is continuing to move towards the cub swanson side"

MMA Lock of the Night - UFC Vegas 25: Reyes vs Prochazka Predictions and Odds LIVE | Propping You Up | UFC Prop B…

Paul Shaughnessy Expert

Apr 27, 2021 (4 days before fight) No clear pick

Paul does not have a strong lean on this fight. He notes that Giga has been given favorable matchups and that Swanson has the ground game advantage, but he is not confident enough to make a pick. He mentions that the action is coming in on Swanson and that he can understand why, but he doesn't commit to a side.

"yeah not a great lean either"

Bookie Beatdown - UFC Vegas 25 Picks, Bets, Predictions | Reyes vs Prochazka Fight Previews | PFL 2021 Week…

The MMA Guru Expert

Apr 25, 2021 (6 days before fight) Confident Giga Chikadze

The MMA Guru picks Giga Chikadze over Cub Swanson, citing Chikadze's size advantage, reach, and improving MMA skills. He notes that Swanson is a natural bantamweight and took damage in his last fight against Daniel Pineda. He predicts Chikadze will chop at Swanson's legs and jab his way to a 30-27 unanimous decision.

"i'm gonna pick giga chickety to shop at those legs land good shots and just have cubs cub swanson limping around for the entire fight"

THE MMA GURU - UFC Fight Night Reyes vs Prochazka Predictions & Full Card Betting Breakdown UFC Vegas 25

View all 13 fights

Expert Picks (7 experts, 7 updates)

Angelo Bodetti Expert

Jan 13, 2022 (2 days before fight) Confident Giga Chikadze

May sprinkle a bet on Kattar as underdog.

"geek is the pick but that's a safe pick calvin qatar is very live here"

We Want Picks - QUICK PICKS: UFC Vegas 46: Kattar vs. Chikadze FULL CARD Predictions and Bets

Big Brady Expert

Jan 10, 2022 (5 days before fight) Hesitant Giga Chikadze

"I'm going to say giga chicago does win this fight i'm going to say he does win a decision"

DFS by the Numbers - UFC Vegas 46 Full Card Breakdown & Predictions | Chikadze vs Kattar

Cody Saftic Expert

Jan 12, 2022 (3 days before fight) Confident Giga Chikadze

Consider hedging on Kattar after round 2 or 3 if he survives

"as far as striker versus striker goes gotta go with the better striker better striker is giga just don't love the price tag"

Bookie Beatdown - UFC Vegas 46 Picks, Bets, Predictions | Chikadze vs Kattar Fight Previews & DraftKings Pi…

Daniel Levi Expert

Jan 13, 2022 (2 days before fight) Confident Giga Chikadze

5 units at -215

Half the Battle - Kattar vs Chikadze: Bets, Picks, Predictions | UFC Vegas 46 | HALF THE BATTLE

MMA Lock of the Night Expert

Jan 9, 2022 (6 days before fight) Confident Giga Chikadze

Decision prop at +325, over 2.5 rounds at -135 mentioned as possible bets.

MMA Lock of the Night - UFC Vegas 46: Kattar vs Chikadze Predictions & Betting Tips | The MMA Lock-Cast Ep #147

Paul Shaughnessy Expert

Jan 12, 2022 (3 days before fight) Confident Giga Chikadze

"if this fight takes place at kicking range uh you got to imagine that calvin kater is going to get torn up completely"

Bookie Beatdown - UFC Vegas 46 Picks, Bets, Predictions | Chikadze vs Kattar Fight Previews & DraftKings Pi…

The MMA Guru Expert

Jan 10, 2022 (5 days before fight) Confident Giga Chikadze

Kattar is a good underdog at nearly 2-to-1 odds; Chikadze is a 2-to-1 favorite. Prediction: Chikadze by decision (49-46).

"i'm gonna go with the gigachicken but don't be surprised if qatar gets the upset man"

THE MMA GURU - UFC Fight Night Kattar vs Chikadze Predictions & Full Card Betting Breakdown UFC Vegas 46