UFC Fight Night Giga Chikadze vs Kevin Vallejos Predictions, Picks & Odds

The featherweights take center stage in the UFC Fight Night co-main event as Giga Chikadze tries to halt his slide against red-hot Kevin Vallejos.

Vallejos is a -310 favorite while Chikadze is a +235 underdog. Here are my Giga Chikadze vs. Kevin Vallejos predictions and free betting picks from Las Vegas.

Chikadze vs Vallejos prediction and best bet

• My fight prediction: Chikadze moneyline (+235 at BET99)
  
  
• My best bet: Over 2.5 rounds (-160 at BET99)

Fight analysis
Giga Chikadze has had a spotty record over his last five fights, which have come among the top tier of the featherweight division. Kevin Vallejos has won four straight after losing to a potential future champion in Jean Silva, and he’s stepping up his competition in a big way. Though the odds favor the younger fighter, this is a fight that has the potential to be very close.

Chikadze is coming into this fight with the notion that a loss will permanently downgrade him from a fringe contender to a journeyman, so he’ll need to be at his best. When he was rising through the ranks, he did so with range management and precise counters to keep the fight where he wanted it, particularly at the end of his punishing kicks.

In his recent skid, he’s been undone by fighters who can get inside and crowd him, and Chikazde doesn’t have the same tools in a brawl and up close like he does from a distance. 

Vallejos is 13 years younger than the veteran and is consistently showing an improving skill set each time he enters the octagon. A staple of his game is his heavy output and aggression, landing 6.28 significant strikes per minute, and he has two knockouts in three UFC wins. Chikazde presents a step up in class for him, but also a physical challenge, as Vallejos will be five inches shorter in both height and reach.

I can’t fault Chikadze for taking losses to David Onama and Arnold Allen. While he’s some ways removed from his prime at 37, he’s a technically sound striker who has advantages both physically and with his experience.

Vallejos is developing, and while he’s looked good in his last few wins, I don’t think this is the right move, as Chikazde can exploit his youth by running him into counters and slowing him down with leg kicks. I’m going with Chikadze for the upset.

Best bet analysis
Vallejos’ pace and pressure make him dangerous, but Chikadze’s experience, reach, and counter-striking should allow him to dictate the engagements and keep the fight at his preferred range. I don’t see a stoppage, but I do trust that Chikadze can stretch this fight out with his fight IQ. My best bet is that the fight goes Over 2.5 rounds.

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Giga Chikadze vs Kevin Vallejos odds

Method of Victory	Chikadze	Vallejos
To win outright	+255	-340
To win by KO/TKO	+800	+190
To win by decision	+500	+140
To win by submission	+2900	+750
Draw	+5000	+5000

Odds as of 12-13.

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Giga Chikadze vs Kevin Vallejos tale of the tape

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