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Giga Chikadze ready to take out ‘legend’ Cub Swanson in UFC on ESPN 23 co-headliner
LAS VEGAS – Giga Chikadze never thought a fight with Cub Swanson would materialize, but it will at UFC on ESPN 23.
Chikadze (12-2 MMA, 5-0 UFC) meets Swanson (27-11 MMA, 12-7 UFC) in a featherweight co-main event on Saturday’s main card, and after watching his opponent, who has the most appearances in UFC/WEC combined divisional history, during his come-up in combat sports, Chikadze is pleasantly surprised to be able to share the octagon.
“He’s definitely a legend,” Chikadze told MMA Junkie at UFC on ESPN 23 media day on Wednesday. “I’ve been watching his fights for a long, long time. I know him as a person, and I’ve met him before, and we have many friends between. Honestly, I thought this fight would never happen because he’s on his way out, and I just got in.”
Chikadze, who has won five consecutive bouts to start his UFC tenure and was named the 2020 “Under the Radar Fighter of the Year” by MMA Junkie, said he won’t have a problem putting personal feelings for Swanson aside on fight night as he works to make his “dream” of becoming UFC champ come true.
UFC on ESPN 23 takes place at the UFC Apex. The entire card airs on ESPN2 and streams on ESPN+.
Watch the video above for Chikadze’s entire UFC on ESPN 23 media day interview.
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