Exclusive: “I want to put Georgia on the map” – Giga Chikadze highlights the pressures of representing Georgia in the UFC

published

by

Saiyed Adeem Karim

Giga Chikadze is one of the rising Featherweight stars in the UFC and spoke about coming from Georgia and wanting to succeed in the USA

UFC star Giga Chikadze has followed a long road before coming into the UFC. The 31-year-old spoke about his time in the Netherlands and how he was into kickboxing before getting into MMA.

He has fought in other promotions but his career in the UFC has gone well. The Featherweight star has won his last three clashes and will face Alex Caceres on 29 August.

Giga Chikadze celebrates a win in the UFC
Giga Chikadze (L)of Georgia celebrates after defeating Irwin Rivera (R) of the United States in their Featherweight bout during UFC Fight Night at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena. (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)

He is one of the few Georgian fighters in the UFC and was speaking to Jer Wilson of the Blood, Sweat and Tears podcast.

Chikadze was asked how it was to be one of the few MMA talents coming from Georgia and the UFC star added that there was some pressure on his shoulders:

“It’s kind of a little pressure also I feel because before I move to the US I said to all my fans in Georgia, I promised that I would be in the UFC, promised that one day I would bring the belt.

“That’s my dream, that’s what I am training for and that’s why I am here. Putting in hard work, I want to put Georgia on the map and this is just the beginning.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/CDA1tinnVyp/

Georgia the next UFC hotspot?

Chikadze was also hopeful that Dana White would hold a UFC event in his country someday. He added that people in the country were getting crazy and the UFC now have five Georgians on their roster.

They have been impressive too with a 9-0 record in the last nine UFC clashes. Chikadze does have a long way to go before fighting for the belt and becoming a champion.

Dana White confirmed the location of UFC Fight Island
UFC President Dana White looks on during the UFC 225: Whittaker v Romero 2 event at the United Center on June 9, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)

However, the 31-year-old is extremely motivated to make a lasting impression in the UFC. It took him almost six years to get into the UFC, and it is unlikely he will let it go easily.

The Georgian seems to be carrying a lot of hopes from his country and he doesn’t seem fazed by it one bit.

This was an exclusive interview from Blood, Sweat and Tears. For more exclusive interviews and content please follow the link. 

More UFC news

Follow our dedicated UFC page for instant UFC news and updates