Edson Barboza vs. Giga Chikadze is on the main card for UFC Fight Night betting on August 28 from the UFC Apex facility in Las Vegas, Nevada.
This should be a terrific tilt between a pair of Top-10 featherweights with some of the best striking ability in MMA. Oddsmakers are expecting a close battle with UFC betting lines currently having this fight as a pick'em.
Here are our best free Barboza vs. Chikadze picks and predictions for Saturday, August 28.
Barboza vs Chikadze fight odds
Live odds courtesy of the Covers Line, an average comprised of odds from multiple sportsbooks.
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Barboza vs Chikadze method of victory odds
| Method of Victory | Edson Barboza | Giga Chikadze |
|---|---|---|
| KO/TKO | +280 | +230 |
| Points | +300 | +340 |
| Submission | +1,400 | +2,800 |
| Draw | +5,000 | +5,000 |
Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook as of August 26, 2021.
Barboza vs Chikadze betting preview
Barboza is the No. 9 ranked featherweight contender and is coming off back-to-back victories, including a knockout of Shane Burgos in May. He's just 3-5 in his last eight fights, although two of those losses were by split decision and all came against highly-ranked fighters including Justin Gaethje and Khabib Nurmagomedov.
The 34-year-old Brazilian has been competing in the UFC since 2010 and was a lightweight contender for years before dropping down to 145 pounds last year. With a background in Muay Thai, Barboza is a versatile striker who utilizes devastating kicks to every level.
Chikadze is one spot behind Barboza in the featherweight rankings and is fresh off a first-round knockout of Cub Swanson in May, which earned a Performance of the Night bonus. The 33-year-old has now won eight fights in a row and is a perfect 6-0 in the octagon.
With a background as a professional kickboxer, Chikadze is an adept striker with elite kicking ability. He's most well-known for his "Giga kick" a devastating shot to the liver which has resulted in several knockouts, including that fight against Swanson.
Barboza vs Chikadze tale of the tape
| Edson Barboza | Giga Chikadze | |
|---|---|---|
| 35 | Age | 33 |
| 5-foot-11 | Height | 6-foot |
| 146 lbs | Weight | 146 lbs |
| 75 inches | Reach | 74 inches |
| 22-9-0 (13 KO) | Record | 13-2-0 (7 KO) |
Barboza vs Chikadze UFC predictions and betting picks
PREDICTION: Moneyline Barboza (-110) - Both of these fighters have high-end kickboxing ability, which is why this line is razor-thin, but there are a few reasons to lean towards Barboza. Although Barboza is only two years older, he has far more experience in MMA.
He's also used to the bright lights of fighting on main events and pay-per-view main cards, while Chikadze hasn't faced that kind of pressure. Barboza also has an underrated grappling game and better boxing than Chikadze, which should give him the edge.
PREDICTION: Barboza by KO/TKO (+280) - Chikadze has never been knocked out in his UFC career but he has also never faced anyone with Barboza's level of striking. Barboza doesn't just have dangerous kicks, he also has crisp hands and should have the edge during inside exchanges.
Three of Barboza's last four wins have come by way of KO and they were against strong strikers in Burgos, Dan Hooker, and Beneil Dariush.
PREDICTION: Under 4.5 rounds (-120) - If we haven't already mentioned it, both of these guys are elite kickboxers with knockout power in both their hands and feet. Chikadze finished each of his last two fights within the first round while 19 of Barboza's 31 career fights have ended by way of stoppage.
With the vicious kicks being thrown by both fighters, we don't see this fight lasting too long.
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