Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Giga Chikadze
Edson Barboza represents the toughest test a red-hot Giga Chikadze has seen in his career. Is he a must-play at even money? Chris Olson breaks down strategy across four DFS sites.
Drake Burden takes a deep dive into the film room to profile several lesser-known fighters on this card coming from the recent season of TUF. Put that knowledge to use and propel your DFS gains.
Cole Shelton is back for his weekly roundup of bets for UFC Vegas 34. Despite moving up a weight class, Cole likes former lightweight contender Kevin Lee to wrestle his way to victory as a favorite.
A long-awaited comeback for former lightweight contender Kevin Lee is set to take place Saturday in Las Vegas, but how will he fare on DraftKings? Jon Litterine breaks it down and makes his picks.
You might like a guy with the power of Vicente Luque on Saturday at UFC 265, but where's the best site to take advantage of this hunch? Chris Olson runs down the top plays for FIVE different DFS sites.
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Blows past Edson Barboza
Chikadze defeated Edson Barboza via TKO (punches) at 1:44 of Round 3 at UFC on ESPN 30 on Saturday in Las Vegas.
ANALYSIS
Barboza is clearly on the back-nine of his career, but this was the high-profile victory Chikadze was seeking, and he looked good in getting in. Giga controlled the pace of Round 1, although both men landed at a similar clip. Barboza got back in it in Round 2 before Chikadze unloaded in Round 3. There was a clear speed and power advantage in Giga's favor, and it manifested itself in what ended up being the third and final frame. It remains to be seen how Chikadze will fair against a quality opponent in something other than a kickboxing match, but his stand-up skills are elite. Now 7-0 in the UFC with the last four wins coming via knockout, Giga is closing in on title-implicating fights at 145 pounds. He'll also walk away with a $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus here -- his third such bonus is as many fights.
Barboza is clearly on the back-nine of his career, but this was the high-profile victory Chikadze was seeking, and he looked good in getting in. Giga controlled the pace of Round 1, although both men landed at a similar clip. Barboza got back in it in Round 2 before Chikadze unloaded in Round 3. There was a clear speed and power advantage in Giga's favor, and it manifested itself in what ended up being the third and final frame. It remains to be seen how Chikadze will fair against a quality opponent in something other than a kickboxing match, but his stand-up skills are elite. Now 7-0 in the UFC with the last four wins coming via knockout, Giga is closing in on title-implicating fights at 145 pounds. He'll also walk away with a $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus here -- his third such bonus is as many fights.
Will face Barboza in August
Chikadze will headline the UFC's Aug. 28 Fight Night event in Las Vegas and is scheduled to face Edson Barboza in a featherweight bout, Nolan King and Mike Bohn of USA Today report.
ANALYSIS
Chikadze has gone 6-0 in UFC in his career and will enter this fight following eight straight wins, including four first-round finishes. He'll now get a chance to firmly establish himself in the title picture with the highest-profile opponent of his UFC run. Chikadze opens as a very slight betting favorite against the Brazilian veteran, who like Chikadze, is known for powerful head and body kicks.
Chikadze has gone 6-0 in UFC in his career and will enter this fight following eight straight wins, including four first-round finishes. He'll now get a chance to firmly establish himself in the title picture with the highest-profile opponent of his UFC run. Chikadze opens as a very slight betting favorite against the Brazilian veteran, who like Chikadze, is known for powerful head and body kicks.
Blows past Cub Swanson
Chikadze defeated Cub Swanson via TKO (strikes) at 1:03 of Round 1 at UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Las Vegas.
ANALYSIS
It was more than enough to earn Chikadze a $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus (and later confirmed by Dana White). You'd have to look long and hard to find a liver kick that landed as perfectly as the one that set in motion the sequence of events that ended this one. Cub hadn't been knocked out since 2009 (Jose Aldo), and Giga essentially finished him with just one shot. A victory over Swanson in 2021 means nowhere near as much as it did even a couple years ago, but Chikadze is legit and will be receiving big time fights in the very near future. He's undefeated in his first half dozen UFC bouts and looks like a future title challenger at 145 pounds.
It was more than enough to earn Chikadze a $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus (and later confirmed by Dana White). You'd have to look long and hard to find a liver kick that landed as perfectly as the one that set in motion the sequence of events that ended this one. Cub hadn't been knocked out since 2009 (Jose Aldo), and Giga essentially finished him with just one shot. A victory over Swanson in 2021 means nowhere near as much as it did even a couple years ago, but Chikadze is legit and will be receiving big time fights in the very near future. He's undefeated in his first half dozen UFC bouts and looks like a future title challenger at 145 pounds.
Fighting Cub Swanson next
Chikadze will fight Cub Swanson in a featherweight match at the UFC's May 1 event, Marcel Dorff of MMADNA reports.
ANALYSIS
Chikadze last entered the Octagon last November, when he defeated Jamey Simmons with his patented high kick to earn a 4-0 record in 2020. Now boasting a total UFC record of 5-0, Chikadze will look to remain undefeated against an opponent coming off back-to-back wins.
Chikadze last entered the Octagon last November, when he defeated Jamey Simmons with his patented high kick to earn a 4-0 record in 2020. Now boasting a total UFC record of 5-0, Chikadze will look to remain undefeated against an opponent coming off back-to-back wins.
Finishes with patented high kick
Chikadze defeated Jamey Simmons via TKO (head kick) at 3:51 of Round 1 at UFC on ESPN+ 40 on Saturday in Las Vegas.
ANALYSIS
Chikadze took a little bit to find his range, but once he did, he looked every bit the part of a (-900) betting favorite. He was facing an opponent with a wrestling-based attack, but did a great job avoiding the takedown even after giving up double underhooks. Once the two did break, Chikadze used a left body kick to lower the guard of Simmons and set up a left high kick. That kick landed flush on the head, sending Simmons to the canvas. Chikadze only needed a few follow-up shots, and the action was ultimately called off. Chikadze is now 4-0 in the UFC in 2020 alone and could potentially get a ranked featherweight opponent his next time out. In the meantime, he'll walk away with a $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus.
Chikadze took a little bit to find his range, but once he did, he looked every bit the part of a (-900) betting favorite. He was facing an opponent with a wrestling-based attack, but did a great job avoiding the takedown even after giving up double underhooks. Once the two did break, Chikadze used a left body kick to lower the guard of Simmons and set up a left high kick. That kick landed flush on the head, sending Simmons to the canvas. Chikadze only needed a few follow-up shots, and the action was ultimately called off. Chikadze is now 4-0 in the UFC in 2020 alone and could potentially get a ranked featherweight opponent his next time out. In the meantime, he'll walk away with a $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus.