In the main event of UFC Vegas 35, two of the featherweight divisions — and the UFC’s — most sensational strikers will throwdown at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas when Brazil’s Edson Barboza faces Georgia’s Giga Chikadze in a battle of top-10 talents.
A fan favorite beloved for his incredible striking arsenal and penchant for highlight-reel knockouts, Barboza (22-9) has shared the Octagon with many of the lightweight and featherweight elites. Chikadze (13-2) is a fellow kickboxer-turned-MMA-fighter. His striking prowess has instantly endeared him with UFC fans after scoring back-to-back knockouts in his most recent outings, he is positioned well for a breakout performance at the event.
Here are three keys to success that each fighter might consider as he looks to come out on top in Saturday’s UFC headliner.
Barboza vs Chikadze keys to success
Barboza must remember this Is an MMA Fight
In almost every fight Barboza is a part of he is by far the better striker. Against Chikadze that status is far from assured. Like Barboza, Chikadze had a wealth of striking experience prior to his transition to MMA. Notably, he competed for GLORY Kickboxing, where he reached the finals of the Featherweight Contender Tournament in 2016.
Though Chikadze has yet to face the sheer strength of competition that Barboza has over his decade-plus UFC career, it is no stretch to say that his striking is among the best that Barboza will have come across in the UFC.
On Saturday, Barboza might be well served to incorporate wrestling and jiu-jitsu into his fight strategy. Training out of the illustrious American Top Team gym in Florida, Barboza has trained with many fellow UFC fighters and a wealth of competent grapplers. His coaches are well-versed in grappling, and Barboza should have the edge in that facet of the fight.
Chikadze must PRESSURE
As any MMA fan familiar with Barboza knows, one of the best ways to negate his thunderous kicking game and make him uncomfortable is to pressure him onto his back foot. While Chikadze is also comfortable fighting at range, it might be worthwhile to stay in the face of Barboza, or at least to provide bursts of forward pressure.
Barboza has struggled against fighters who can match his level of athleticism and pressure. Perhaps best evidenced by his 2017 loss to Nurmagomedov and his 2019 loss to Gaethje. While Chikadze has neither the power of Gaethje nor the wrestling chops of Nurmagomedov, both fighters were able to use effective pressure as a means of taking Barboza off of his game.
Barboza must just keep choppin’
Barboza’s vicious kicks are among his top tools, as many YouTube highlight-reel watchers and MMA fans can attest. But while the Brazilian’s head kicks are among the most ferocious, his leg kicks are a potential path to success against Chikadze. Given Chikadze’s excellent footwork and refined striking game, incapacitating the Georgian with leg kicks would help to hinder his movement and ability to maneuver in and out of range.
If Barboza is able to damage the legs of Chikadze, he could effectively limit one of Chikadze’s principal methods of success: his lateral movement. Likewise, attacking the legs of Chikadze could prove effective at negating his own high-flying kicking attack.
To compromise the legs of his opponent would be a valuable step for Barboza as he looks to rattle off a third straight win in the main event.
Chikadze should avoid a short-range fight
While most fighters aim to close the distance against Barboza to avoid his nasty kicking game, Chikadze might be better served to avoid doing so if he is able to maintain pressure on Barboza without entering boxing or clinching range.
Barboza is likely the better boxer of the two, and he has proved to be proficient at fighting in close range. In recent fights, Barboza has demonstrated an improved effort at striking to the body. Landing hooks to the body reminiscent of Jose Aldo’s knockout of Jeremy Stephens.
Likewise, Chikadze would do well to avoid the strength and wrestling of Barboza in clinch situations. Effectively keeping Barboza at range would stymie both.
Barboza should impose his will and clinch
Coming down from lightweight, Barboza is used to the physical strength of fighters such Khabib Nurmagomedov, Paul Felder, Kevin Lee, and Justin Gaethje. Now fighting in a division 10 pounds lighter, it is rare to see Barboza as the smaller or weaker man inside the Octagon
As evidenced by his superhuman physique, Barboza’s strength will be a veritable tool in the arsenal against the lean Chikadze. Though the two are roughly the same height, Barboza should have an advantage in commanding the action in the clinch. To use the clinch against a kickboxer comfortable at range would be a valuable tool for the Thai boxing-oriented Barboza.
If taking the fight to the ground or closing the distance is among Barboza’s plans, using his physical strength in the clinch could be an effective way to get to those areas of the fight.
Chikadze should switch stances and set traps
For as good and dangerous a striker as Barboza is, he largely fights out of the orthodox stance. Chikadze, himself a high-caliber kickboxer with experience competing in some of the most prestigious promotions in the sport, switches stances often in an attempt to create different angles and looks against opponents
If Chikadze wants to avoid Barboza’s lethal leg kicks, doing so by switching stances and checking whenever possible would serve well over the course of what is scheduled to be a five-round fight.
Additionally, the switching of stances by Chikadze could allow him to give Barboza enough different looks throughout the fight to open up an opportunity for an effective blitz, putting Barboza on the back foot and allowing him to land his best shots.
–Field Level Media
