KILLER CHIK
Giga creating his own legend
FINAL SAY
LEGEND killer Giga Chikadze has one more Hall of Fame-bound fighter to conquer first but he is running out of patience for his title shot and willing opponents.
The Georgian added another big name to his CV at UFC Vegas 35 when he defeated Edson Barboza, who picked up his first MMA win in 2009, by referee stoppage in the third round of their main event clash.
Chikadze has now won all seven of his fights in the UFC and is rapidly climbing the featherweight rankings, the former kickboxing standout earning a destructive reputation along the way.
Having seen off stalwart Cub Swanson in May, ‘Ninja’ returned to outstrike Brazilian Barboza and now has another legend in Max Holloway in his sights.
Chikadze, who turned 33 during fight week, said: “I finished guys who are absolutely legends in this sport. I’m here to fight the best fights, the biggest names.
“Max Holloway knows my name. I saw him interviewed. Somebody asked him and he said, ‘Oh yeah, I heard this Giga guy kicks.’ I’m not just a ‘Giga guy.’ I kick the s*** out of people.
“I was calling out Max before this fight. It is something I have wanted before. Now it is my time – it is Giga time. The Conor (Mcgregor) era is done, Georges St-pierre is retired.
“Now it is Giga time. So make sure you put yourself on the Giga train and ride with me.”
With champion Alexander Volkanovski set to defend his crown against Brian Ortega at UFC 266 in Las Vegas on September 25, Chikadze is happy to remain at his Stateside base at Kings MMA in California as a standby replacement.
However, having kicked another MMA veteran one step closer to retirement in Barboza, he is having trouble finding opponents to face him in a possible title eliminator.
He added: “Edson has been here for a decade and was called ‘the best striker in the UFC.’ When you pass this test, it makes you feel like the best striker and no one can say s***.
“I was supposed to fight a top-5 guy – I was promised it by the UFC – but then suddenly no one accepted me.
“Calvin Kattar (No.5) was offered the chance many times to fight me but he did not accept it, saying he was injured. Max? I don’t know what he is doing. He is probably picking his opponents.
“That’s why I had to fight Edson. He’s a bigger name than any of the top five. Everybody knows who he is and what he has done. When you pass this test, it is time for the title.”