UFC Fight Night: Kattar vs. Chikadze betting odds, preview, and pick

Giga Chikadze will try to continue his climb up the featherweight ladder when he faces Calvin Kattar in the main event of UFC Fight Night on Saturday, Jan. 15.

Let's examine their bout, beginning with the latest betting odds.

Chikadze faces another capable veteran

As good as Chikadze is, taking fights against the likes of Kattar only supports the notion he’s fighting measured competition. Dominant wins over Cub Swanson and Edson Barboza proved that he has the goods, but facing Kattar after the massive beating he absorbed against Max Holloway won’t add to his mystique.

Chikadze is a big hitter with solid striking defense, but even better for him is that he’s facing an opponent who can’t avoid an incoming punch. Though he’s a decent favorite against Kattar, he’ll have to finish the job to avoid fan backlash.

Kattar is coming off a savage beating

The beating Kattar took at the hands of Holloway should serve as a wake-up call that he needs to work on his defense. Volume strikers like Kattar usually stifle their opponents with their activity, but he had no answers for Holloway.

With the onus on Chikadze to match or beat Holloway’s performance, Kattar would be best suited to load up his shots and keep his hands up. When a fighter absorbs nearly nine significant strikes per minute like Kattar does, it shows that he has a chin to fall back on while looking for the big shot.

Chikadze’s superior striking will conquer Kattar

With Chikadze working his way up and Kattar potentially having his career shortened in his last fight, "Ninja" has this fight in the bag. Kattar does have heart, so if there are any chinks in Chikadze’s armor, he may be able to make things rough for a bit before he gets overwhelmed.

Unless Kattar can incorporate some takedowns, which isn’t his forte, or makes it an ugly bout, he won’t go the distance. This should start competitive before rapidly turning into a wipeout.

The big question here is if Chikadze can stop Kattar. While Holloway is a disciplined boxer and has a great gas tank, Chikadze’s probably a harder striker and getting him at potentially less than 100%. The call here is that Kattar’s chin will hold, though Chikadze will dominate him and win a decision.

UFC Fight Night pick: Chikadze