@Giga_Chikadze is LAUNCHING but @Beast144_1 is UNPHASED. #UFCFL pic.twitter.com/w9l1TyLxYH
— UFC (@ufc) May 17, 2020
Sign up for ESPN+ right here, and you can then stream the UFC live on your smart TV, computer, phone, tablet or streaming device via the ESPN app. Giga Chikadze did as expected at UFC on ESPN 8, as he cruised to a clear-cut unanimous decision over Irwin Rivera on Saturday’s preliminary card at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida.
Chikadze was able to have his way with Irwin, a Titan FC bantamweight champion who was fighting up a weight class on one day’s notice. The former Glory Kickboxing competitor improved to 3-0 in the Octagon after taking split decisions over Brandon Davis and Jamall Emmers in his first two UFC appearances.
The Kings MMA product claimed after his latest victory that he has only shown a fraction of his potential thus far in the Las Vegas-based promotion.
“I think most fans have only seen Giga at 25 percent,” he said. “There is a lot more to see. My friends call it the ‘Giga Show.’ It will slowly come and when we reach 100 percent, you guys will be very happy to watch and enjoy a lot.”
Chikadze has already competed twice in 2020, and the Georgian featherweight is hoping to make a relatively quick turnaround against a more well-known opponent.
“I would love to fight maybe in a month or two,” he said. “I want to get someone from the top 15. Any of the strikers are more than welcome, I don’t really care much.”
As Chikadze ramps up to showing off his entire arsenal in the UFC, he’d like to receive more prominent placement on the next card after competing on the prelims in this first three outings.
“I just want to show more,” he said. “All of my fights were in the prelims or the beginning of the show, so I want a good fight against a good name that people know, so that I can show a bigger audience my skills, my fight and make more people happy with the show.”