Calvin Kattar is tasked with facing off against a surging Giga Chikadze at UFC Vegas 46 on Jan. 15. The fight will take place at the UFC’s APEX Center in Las Vegas.
Kattar joined the UFC in 2017 and has faced off against a who’s who of contenders. After beating Jeremy Stephens and Dan Ige, Kattar lost to Max Holloway in January 2021. During that fight, Holloway landed 445+ strikes, the most significant strikes landed in a fight in UFC history. While Kattar landed some shots of his own, Holloway proved to be the more elite striker.
Chikadze has won seven in a row since joining the UFC. In 2021 he beat Cub Swanson and Edson Barboza via TKO. Against Barboza, Chikadze landed a barrage of shots that put his opponent out for good. The former kickboxer has won nine of his fights via knockout, with three wins in a row for the UFC via TKO.
Both fighters are in the top 10 of the UFC’s featherweight rankings and are looking to make a major push toward becoming contenders before the end of the year.
Sporting News is breaking down the fight and providing some insight into the betting of the matchup.
MORE: UFC Vegas 46: Calvin Kattar vs. Giga Chikadze fight date, time, price, odds & location
UFC Vegas 46 odds for Calvin Kattar and Giga Chikadze
According to the FanDuel Sportsbook, Katter is the +198 underdog, meaning that a $51 wager will result in you winning $100. Chikadze is the -250 favorite, and a $100 bet would result in a profit of $40. You would need to bet $250 to win $100.
Calvin Kattar vs. Giga Chikadze Prop Bets
- Chikadze via KO/TKO: +120
- Chikadze via Decision: +270
- Chikadze via Submission: +2200
- Kattar via KO/TKO: +410
- Kattar via Decision: +550
- Kattar via Submission: +3100
Calvin Kattar vs. Giga Chikadze prediction
Kattar has landed 5.07 significant strikes per minute, landing over 100 shots in his last two fights against Holloway (133) and Ige (105). Chikadze has landed 3.76 significant strikes per minute. Outside of his debut against Jamall Emmers (38 against 54 strikes), Chikadze’s striking is nearly double his opponents. Both are about even when it comes to stirke accuracy (42% for Kattar and 45% for Chikadze).
What stands out is the significant strike defense and significant strikes absorbed per minute. Kattar ranks at 50% on the former, although the Holloway fight might have lowered that mark a tier. As a result of the Holloway fight, the strikes absorbed section equates to about 8.16 for Kattar. During his dominant run, Chikadze has a 61% strike defense and has only allowed about 2.69 strikes against him.
One thing to keep in mind is Kattar’s durability. He has competed in two consecutive five-round fights against featherweight warriors. Chikadze has only gone three rounds and has looked for the finishing blow in his last three fights, so stamina could be a factor. If Chikadze tries to move like a freight train early, Kattar could be brought to his knees, or he could be the fresher of the two as the fight goes on.
If Chikadze were to take this fight to the floor, Kattar’s 89% takedown defense might come into play. He would have to watch out for Chikadze’s two-inch reach advantage (74 to 72). That has helped Chikadze systematically manhandle his opponents.
MORE: Calvin Kattar: Giga Chikadze’s ‘got a lot to prove’ at UFC Vegas 46
Holloway is similar to Chikadze in that they both throw accurate strikes. Kattar doesn’t believe Chikadze’s confidence can undermine him, however. Kattar the boxer can move around and be dangerous in the clinch, providing pressure to someone who hasn’t experienced that yet. Keeping Chikadze on his back leg while cutting the octagon in half could help Kattar.
Chikadze has a lot of momentum on his side. He can easily take down Kattar, thanks to his aggressive style and striking ability. Kattar’s toughness, however, may be the big factor in all of this. By going the distance, Kattar could potentially bring the Georgian back down to earth. If he plays it smart, Kattar has what it takes to redeem himself and reinsert his name into the title picture.
Sporting News prediction: Calvin Kattar via decision
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