Two of the most thrilling strikers in Calvin Kattar and Giga Chikadze will meet in the Octagon on Jan.15.
A pair of people with knowledge of the situation informed MMA Junkie that the first main event of 2022 would go down between top-ranked Calvin Kattar and Giga Chikadze. The venue and location have yet to be determined but when those updates become available, our All Access MMA media team will bring you the news on our official Twitter account. The two have not received contracts, but all signs point to this fight becoming official imminently.
The 33-year-old Georgian is known for his liver kick he calls the ‘Giga kick’. Chikadze entered the UFC in 2019. The Georgian native is riding an impressive 9-fight winning streak. Some of the notable wins “Ninja” has collected in his two-year tenure include Jamall Emmers, Omar Morales, and in May, he finished the seasoned veteran, Cub Swanson. Extinguishing doubts from much of the MMA sphere, Chikadze was paired with Edson Barboza and beat one of the best strikers in the UFC today. In addition to picking up an emphatic win in the third round, the Georgian powerhouse showed his cardio extends into the later chapters of the fight.
The pressure is on for Calvin Kattar. “The Boston Finisher” last fought against the former featherweight champion Max Holloway. While Kattar presented a challenge in the striking department early, “Blessed” was able to mostly pick Kattar off at range. Kattar took a lot of damage in that fight, but surely learned a lot about boxing mechanics in the process of losing. As the two are set for a Jan. 15 showdown, it appears the featherweight division is heating up before the holidays are in full swing.
With the addition of Calvin Kattar and Giga Chikadze, here is an updated lineup for the UFC Event on Jan. 15:
- Giga Chikadze vs. Calvin Kattar
- Bill Algeo vs. Joanderson Brito
- Saidyokub Kakhramonov vs. Brian Kelleher
- Zarrukh Adashev vs. Kleydson Rodrigues
- Rogerio Bontorin vs. Brandon Royval
- Kay Hansen vs. Jasmine Jasudavicius
- Ramiz Brahimaj vs. Court McGee
Who do you think wins this exciting featherweight match-up?
