Following his stunning first-round stoppage of Leo Pinto at GLORY 37 LOS ANGELES, featherweight standout Giga Chikadze (37-5, 22 KO's) is looking for a title shot.
The karate stylist – originally from the Republic of Georgia but now based in Los Angeles, California, where he fights out of KINGS MMA – finished Pinto with his trademark left kick to the liver just over two minutes into their fight.
“After my loss in the tournament I was planning to come back really hard,” he says, referring to his loss to Matt Embree in the final of the GLORY 33 NEW JERSEY Featherweight Contender Tournament late last night.
“There was a lot of trash talk before this fight, his brother and me were going at it on social media, but it's cool now. I'm happy with the first-round win, especially with 'The Giga-kick',” he says.
Chikadze's “Giga-kick” is a hard left kick to the body which has claimed numerous victims in numerous international karate and kickboxing tournaments. Perfectly timed and placed, it has now claimed multiple victims in GLORY as well.
“It's my third one in GLORY now,” Chikadze smiles. “It's time for my title shot. A lot of guys are getting title shots from losing fights. We saw Van Roosmalen get a title shot right after losing his lightweight title - I've been here two years, winning my fights!
“I have three beautiful knockouts, all my fights have been good to watch, they've had a lot of views. I cant wait to get a call from [GLORY matchmaker] Cor Hemmers telling me I've got my chance for title. Right now I feel like I am the real featherweight champion.”
GLORY's next event takes place Friday, February 24 at the Sears Centre, Hoffman Estates in Chicago, Illinois.
GLORY 38 CHICAGO is headlined by a light-heavyweight championship rubber match between current champion Artem Vakhitov and former champion Saulo Cavalari. In the Superfight Series headliner, Benjamin Adegbuyi faces off with Anderson 'Braddock' Silva in a heavyweight battle.
