Giga Chikadze (33-4, 20 KO’s) is gunning for revenge against Anvar Boynazarov (79-20-2, 45 KO’s) in the co-main event of GLORY 27 CHICAGO later this month. And then, he intends to go after the champion and the gold belt he wears around his waist.
The Georgian featherweight trains and fights out of Kings MMA in Huntington Beach, California under Rafael Cordeiro, former Chute Boxe head coach and multiple winner of 'Coach of the Year' in the World MMA Awards.
Cordeiro numbers Fabricio Werdum (UFC heavyweight champion), Rafael Dos Anjos (UFC lightweight champion) and Cris Cyborg (Invicta featherweight champion) among his charges, as well as legends such as Mauricio 'Shogun' Rua and former PRIDE FC champion Wanderlei Silva.
Chikadze debuted at GLORY 21 SAN DIEGO on short notice, winning against lightweight Ken Tran by stoppage, but then lost his featherweight debut against Boynazarov by way of split-decision at GLORY 23 LAS VEGAS, a result which has never sat right with him.
“In San Diego I had five days notice and weight wasn't an issue but for Las Vegas I had to lose 40lbs. It was my first time fighting at featherweight (145lbs/65kgs), usually I fought between 70-75kg. I was little worried about making my weight but I got there,” he says.
“The only problems I had in the fight were that I got tired after the first round. I think the weight-cut was to blame mostly and also maybe I did too much in the first round. But still, after all three rounds, I was thinking I won the fight, and the numbers say so as well. I watched the fight several times afterwards; the first and third rounds were for me.”
Regarding the upcoming rematch on February 26 at the Sears Center in Chicago he says, “I have a gameplan of course, I think every professional does that. He is a tough guy, but not too difficult to plan for. He didn't feel particularly impressive in our fight, just normal, but after the first round he seemed quite fast to me.”
Chikadze says that after this rematch with Boynazarov he intends to go after Serhoy Adamchuk, the Ukrainian who won the belt from former champion Gabriel Varga in somewhat controversial fashion at GLORY 25 MILAN.
“I expect to got title shot after this match!” he says. “[Boynazarov] fought Adamchuk after me and Adamchuk became a champion, so first I will show judges that they were wrong in Las Vegas and then it is time for the belt...
I am already doing a different diet for this fight.
“[Varga vs. Adamchuk] was not really the best fight from either of these guys, people expected more from this one, but still it was a title fight and the winner got the belt. Adamchuk is... OK. Our styles are totally different, he is shorter than me and southpaw, I am much taller and orthodox. I can't wait for that fight... I feel like that's gonna be my best fight ever.”
GLORY 27 CHICAGO takes place Friday, February 26 at the Sears Center in Hoffman Estates, Chicago, Illinois. The main event sees Artem 'The Lion' Levin defend the middleweight championship against rival Simon 'Bad Bwoy' Marcus for a second time in a bitter grudge rematch.
The event airs in the US live on ESPN 3 (10pm ET/7pm PT) and tape-delayed on ESPN 2, Sunday February 28 at 9pm ET/6pm PT.
