Giga Chikadze (image via UFC/YouTube)

By FCF Staff

After recording his seventh straight win under the UFC banner on Saturday, Giga Chikadze has made it clear he wants a fight that’s at the very top of the featherweight division next.

Chikadze took on Edson Barboza at UFC Vegas 35, and stopped the longtime, lightweight contender in round three. The victory was the accomplished kickboxer’s ninth in a row, and the seventh since he joined the UFC.

Following the win, the Georgian fighter offered to be the back-up fight for the September 25th showdown between featherweight champ, Alexander Volkanovski, and Brian Ortega. The 33-year-old Chikadze (14-2) also relayed that he’s interested in facing former champ, Max Holloway (quotes via MMA Junkie).

“I’m here to fight the best fights and the biggest names,” Chikadze said. “I would love to cover the title shot and be a replacement fighter. If not, somebody Hawaiian who’s in the division. He knows my name. I saw him doing interviews and he said something like this, ‘Oh yeah I heard this Giga guy who kicks.’ I’m not just a Giga guy, I’m a guy who kicks the sh*t out of people.”

Holloway, meanwhile, is expected to fight Yair Rodriguez on November 13th. Heading into Saturday’s action, Chikadze was ranked #10 in the UFC’s featherweight division.