Las Vegas, NV — Georgian featherweight Giga Chikadze has not competed since January of 2022, where he suffered a rare and particularly violent setback against Calvin Kattar.
Now, the former kickboxer and winner of four straight post-fight bonuses is ready to get back to work. The problem at this point is, however, finding that work. While injury kept him out initially, Chikadze has been ready to go for some time now, only for fight after fight to fall through.
“Recovery was pretty quick honestly. I was done all my surgeries last year in May. Since that time, I’ve been in a camp, I’ve been ready to jump in and take in action, but yeah a lot of fights fell [through], and most of them, actually all of them were not from my reason,” Chikadze told media outlets including Cageside Press at the 2023 UFC Hall of Fame induction ceremony on Thursday.
“Opponents were turning [me] down, and opponents were getting injured. One was actually three times, and then there was two or three different opponents as well. So five or six fights fell off.”
One of those names was Brian Ortega, a fight that Chikadze was clearly keen for. “I was super excited, but unfortunately his injury came again, and he did surgery I believe. I’ve heard he’s going to take quite some time to come back. I’m wishing him a speedy recovery.”
Now, the plan for the Georgian standout, who is 7-1 inside the octagon to date, is to get back just as soon as possible. “It would be amazing to fight September, October. Actually, August wouldn’t be bad either,” suggested Chikadze. And while early on, he was looking at any number of opponents, at this point he’s open to anyone. “Right now, it doesn’t matter.”
Watch the full media scrum with Giga Chikadze from the 2023 UFC Hall of Fame induction ceremony above.
