UFC Vegas 35: Edson Barboza vs. Giga Chikadze Picks and Predictions

Edson Barboza and Giga Chikadze face off in a featherweight bout for the main event of UFC Vegas 35 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada. 

Edson “Junior” Barboza comes into this fight with a 22-9 record overall and he has won two fights in a row. Barboza’s last fight came against Shane Burgos in May of 2021, and it was early in the third round that he finished that fight by knockout. Barboza outstruck Barboza 98-80 and in this fight, he is going to need to inflict damage early. Barboza is averaging 4.16 significant strikes per minute while absorbing 4.15 significant strikes per minute. Barboza for the most part likes to keep the fight on the feet and he is averaging 0.42 successful takedowns every 15 minutes. Barboza is stopping 78 percent of his opponents takedown attempts. Barboza is also averaging 0.1 submission attempts every 15 minutes. In this fight Barboza is going to need to be the one who inflicts the damage early if he wants to come away with the victory. 

Giga “Ninja” Chikadze comes into this fight with a 13-2 record overall and since coming into the UFC he has a 6-1 record overall. Chikadze has won six fights in a row including his last fight against Cub Swanson. It didn’t take long for Chkadze to pick apart Swanson and just over a minute into the fight he finished it by knockout. Chikadze is averaging 3.55 significant strikes per minute while absorbing 2.67 significant strikes per minute. “Ninja” is averaging 0.38 takedowns every 15 minutes but is only successful on 33 percent of his takedown attempts. Chikadze also stops 68 percent of his opponents takedown attempts.