Giga Chikadze Bio
Giga Chikadze is a Georgian professional mixed martial artist and former kickboxer who currently competes in the Featherweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Born on 25 August 1988 in Tbilisi, he built a decorated striking career in kickboxing before transitioning into mixed martial arts. Nicknamed Ninja, Chikadze is widely recognized for his sharp kicking game, composure inside the cage, and resilience against top-tier opposition. He holds a 3rd dan black belt in Goju-ryu Karate and trains out of Kings MMA.
Early Life and Background
Giga Chikadze was born on 25 August 1988 in Tbilisi, then part of the Georgian SSR in the Soviet Union. Growing up in post-Soviet Georgia, he was introduced to martial arts at a very young age, beginning his training in Goju-ryu Karate between the ages of four and five. As a child, his passion for combat sports was fueled by watching martial arts films featuring icons such as Jet Li and Bruce Lee, whose performances inspired him to pursue a career in fighting.
Chikadze later attended college and graduated with a degree in Business Management, providing him with a grounding outside of athletics. He has continued to reside in Tbilisi, Georgia, while maintaining his professional fighting career on the international stage. His early karate foundation gave him a disciplined striking base that would later define his professional identity.
Path to MMA
Chikadze’s combat sports journey expanded beyond karate as he began competing in kickboxing, eventually relocating to the Netherlands to train at a higher level. In 2015, he joined GLORY, the world’s largest kickboxing organization, where he competed in the Featherweight division and built a reputation as one of the most dangerous strikers outside of MMA. His time in GLORY sharpened his technique against world-class opposition and laid the groundwork for his eventual move into mixed martial arts.
He made his professional MMA debut in the World Series of Fighting as a lightweight, facing Xtreme Couture fighter Gil Guardado, and lost by unanimous decision. Chikadze then went on to compete in promotions such as the Gladiator Challenge, where he strung together a five-fight win streak, with all bouts ending in first-round knockouts, and later earned a contract through Dana White’s Contender Series. These formative experiences across kickboxing and regional MMA shaped him into a polished and versatile fighter ready for the UFC stage.
Giga Chikadze Career
Early Career (2015-2019)
Giga Chikadze launched his professional kickboxing career on a major platform in 2015, signing with GLORY and competing in the Featherweight division. He faced established kickboxers on the international circuit, gaining valuable experience and sharpening his already formidable striking arsenal. While competing in kickboxing, he simultaneously began building his mixed martial arts résumé in smaller promotions.
Across the Gladiator Challenge, Chikadze produced a flawless five-fight win streak with all bouts ending in first-round knockouts, demonstrating his finishing instincts. After submitting to Austin Springer on Dana White’s Contender Series 10 in a featherweight bout, he rebounded and secured a four-fight contract with the UFC, setting the stage for his arrival on the sport’s biggest stage.
UFC Breakthrough (2019-2021)
Chikadze made his UFC debut at UFC Fight Night 160 in Copenhagen, Denmark, against short-notice replacement Brandon Davis. After three rounds, the fight was initially declared a split draw, but a scoring error led to the result being corrected to a split decision victory in Chikadze’s favor. He followed that with razor-thin split decision wins over Jamall Emmers at UFC 248 and Irwin Rivera at UFC on ESPN 8, showing his ability to grind out close contests against durable opponents.
In 2020, Chikadze delivered a statement performance by stopping Jamey Simmons via technical knockout in round one at UFC on ESPN 17, earning the Performance of the Night award. The following year elevated his profile further, as he knocked out veteran Cub Swanson with a liver kick in the first round at UFC on ESPN 23 and then upset Edson Barboza via third-round TKO at UFC on ESPN 30, earning additional Performance of the Night bonuses for each finish.
Recent Years and Current Team (2022-Present)
Chikadze faced Calvin Kattar in the main event of UFC on ESPN 32 in January 2022, losing a hard-fought unanimous decision in a bout that earned both fighters the Fight of the Night award. The same year, he was named the recipient of the UFC 2022 Forrest Griffin Community Award for his volunteer and charity work through the Knockout Cancer Foundation, a non-profit he founded that provides financial support to individuals battling cancer. He continued to compete at the top of the division with a unanimous decision win over Alex Caceres at UFC Fight Night 225 in August 2023.
Chikadze faced setbacks due to injuries and illnesses, withdrawing from scheduled bouts against Sodiq Yusuff and Josh Emmett, but he returned against Arnold Allen at UFC 304 in July 2024, losing by unanimous decision. In April 2025, he competed against David Onama at UFC on ESPN 66 in a catchweight bout after missing the featherweight non-title limit by one pound, and lost by unanimous decision. As of mid-2025, he is ranked No. 15 in the UFC featherweight rankings and is scheduled to face Kevin Vallejos on 13 December 2025 at UFC on ESPN 73.
Driving Style and Strengths
Chikadze is renowned for his precise and devastating kicking game, highlighted by his signature liver kick that has produced multiple stoppage victories. His Goju-ryu Karate base provides exceptional timing, distance management, and counter-striking, while his kickboxing experience allows him to dictate pace against aggressive opponents. Training at Kings MMA, he has continued to evolve his grappling and defensive wrestling to complement his elite striking foundation.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among his career highlights, Chikadze’s first-round liver-kick finish of Cub Swanson stands as one of the most memorable knockouts of his UFC run, followed closely by his third-round TKO of Edson Barboza. He has earned multiple Performance of the Night bonuses and a Fight of the Night award, and his receipt of the 2022 Forrest Griffin Community Award underscores his impact beyond the cage through the Knockout Cancer Foundation.
Giga Chikadze Career Wins
Giga Chikadze has compiled an impressive winning résumé across kickboxing and mixed martial arts, with a professional MMA record of 15 wins and 5 losses. Of his 15 victories, 9 have come by knockout, 4 by decision, and 1 by submission, reflecting his preference for finishing opponents with strikes.
UFC Highlights
In the UFC, Chikadze has earned notable wins over Brandon Davis, Jamall Emmers, Irwin Rivera, Jamey Simmons, Cub Swanson, Edson Barboza, and Alex Caceres. His finishes of Swanson and Barboza remain signature victories, each earning Performance of the Night honors. His only UFC defeat in a bonus-winning context came in a thrilling main event against Calvin Kattar, which earned the Fight of the Night award.
Other Wins and Performances
Outside the UFC, Chikadze produced a five-fight knockout streak in the Gladiator Challenge, with every bout ending in the first round. He also competed at the highest level of kickboxing in GLORY, where he faced top-tier featherweight opponents and built the striking base that has defined his MMA career.
Giga Chikadze Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Details about Giga Chikadze’s immediate family, including his parents and any relatives involved in combat sports, are not publicly documented in available sources. His upbringing in Tbilisi and his early immersion in karate shaped his athletic path from childhood.
Personal Life
Chikadze is a college graduate with a degree in Business Management and continues to reside in Tbilisi, Georgia. He founded the Knockout Cancer Foundation, a non-profit organization that provides financial assistance to individuals fighting cancer, and his charitable work was recognized with the UFC 2022 Forrest Griffin Community Award. Public details about a spouse or children are not widely reported.
2025 Season Performance
Giga Chikadze’s 2025 campaign has been defined by adversity and a return to form. In April 2025, he faced David Onama at UFC on ESPN 66 in a catchweight bout after missing the featherweight non-title limit by one pound, ultimately losing by unanimous decision. The result dropped him in the rankings, though he remained inside the UFC featherweight top 15.
Looking ahead, Chikadze is scheduled to face Kevin Vallejos on 13 December 2025 at UFC on ESPN 73, providing an opportunity to finish the year on a strong note. Training out of Kings MMA, he continues to refine his all-around game and remains a dangerous striker capable of ending fights at any moment. With a 9-knockout professional record and a decorated kickboxing pedigree, Chikadze is determined to climb back into title contention in the UFC featherweight division.