Cooper Albers details his best bet for Giga Chikadze vs. Kevin Vallejos at UFC Vegas 112.
Featherweights collide for the final time this year on Saturday night as No. 15-ranked Giga Chikadze meets Kevin Vallejos in the co-main event of UFC Vegas 112 at the Apex.
Chikadze (15–5), a veteran striker, once held a nine-fight win streak — including seven straight in the UFC — but has since dropped three of his last four, most recently suffering a unanimous decision loss to David Onama in April. Vallejos (16–1), a surging prospect, enters his third UFC appearance riding a five-fight winning streak, capped by a unanimous decision victory over Danny Silva and August.
Vallejos enters as a -340 moneyline favorite on DraftKings Sportsbook, while Chikadze sits as a +270 underdog. The total is set at 2.5 rounds.
Giga Chikadze vs. Kevin Vallejos Preview
Chikadze, 37, strapped himself to a rocket when he won his first seven fights inside the UFC, a run punctuated by knockout wins over Cub Swanson and Edson Barbosa. But the Georgian striker’s upward trajectory was stifled by a unanimous decision loss to Calvin Kattar in Jan. 2022 — a defeat from which he never truly recovered.
“Ninja” didn’t return to the Octagon for nearly two years, and while he bounced back with a unanimous decision win over Alex Caceres, he followed it up with back-to-back UD losses against Arnold Allen in July 2024 and Onama in April.
Standing six feet tall with a 74-inch reach, Chikadze is a formidable striking threat with nine knockouts to his name, as well as a lone submission. But in the twilight of his career, questions remain over whether he can keep up with the sport’s burgeoning talent.
Enter 24-year-old Kevin Vallejos, one of the most electrifying 145-pound prospects. A former Dana White’s Contender Series standout, he enters his third Octagon appearance riding a five-five winning streak, having made a statement with a first-round knockout of SeungWoo Choi in his UFC this past March.
Vallejos is an explosive boxer with relentless pressure, landing over six significant strikes per minute — nearly double the output of Chikadze. He’s also not afraid to mix in a few takedowns to keep his opponents guessing, and he landed two in his recent win over Danny Silva. Thirteen of the Argentinian’s 16 wins have come inside the distance, including 11 knockouts and two submissions.
Giga Chikadze vs. Kevin Vallejos Pick, Best Bet
Saturday night’s co-main event offers a classic matchup between a declining veteran and an emerging prospect — an age-old tale that tends to favor the latter. Despite a five-inch height disadvantage, Vallejos is the quicker, sharper, and more powerful boxer, and he should overwhelm his opponent with suffocating pressure to close out 2025 with emphasis.
Best Bet: Kevin Vallejos to Win by KO/TKO/DQ or Submission (+165)
