LAS VEGAS – Giga Chikadze thinks experience will be a major factor in his favor Saturday at UFC on ESPN 73, despite what his opponent Kevin Vallejos might say.
A ranked contender over the past few years, Chikadze (15-5 MMA, 8-3 UFC) still bears an official UFC featherweight ranking – one that Vallejos (16-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC) is gunning for. While Vallejos remained relatively respectful during Wednesday’s session with media members, Chikadze remained stone cold in his answers.
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“I don’t look much at the rankings spots right now because I know my spot,” Chikadze told MMA Junkie and other reporters at a pre-fight news conference. “I know I’m a championship-level fighter. I have to do some stuff to become a champion.”
Chikadze, 37, has lost back-to-back fights. However, a few wins and he could find himself right in the title mix. The road there begins with Vallejos, a name Chikadze said he was familiar with for two reasons.
“I asked for Jean Silva and obviously I looked up his fights and I saw the Kevin Vallejos fight, as well, with Jean Silva,” Chikadze said. “So I was a little bit familiar. Plus he fought one of my teammates, Danny Silva. After that, I was familiar with the kid.”
Vallejos, 24, is 13 years younger than Chikadze and is viewed by many as one of the division’s brightest young stars. Chikadze isn’t as wooed by Vallejos as they are and vowed to prove it Saturday.
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“He’s an upcoming fighter,” Chikadze said. “I don’t think he’s ready for the level that I’m at. But I guess Saturday we’re going to see it and I’m going to send him back to kindergarten to come back later and better. He’s young. He has a lot of career in the future. But right now, all of my experience puts me in this position. We’ve got to plan for next year to do the big things. First thing’s first: take care of the business Saturday and then we’re back home.”
With an extensive kickboxing career to his name prior to his UFC signing, Chikadze leans on his striking inside the cage. This has led to many opponents game-planning for grapple-heavy attack. Vallejos has swam against that tide, saying he’ll stand and bang with Chikadze, who is skeptical of such claims.
“He mentioned that he’s more than ready and happy to trade,” Chikadze said. “We’ll see on that. That’s what everybody says.”
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Giga Chikadze vows to send Kevin Vallejos ‘back to kindergarten’
