UFC will kick off their 2022 schedule on Saturday night with a big fight at featherweight. Competing in his second main event bout, Giga Chikadze will attempt to keep his undefeated promotional record alive when facing the tough and experienced Calvin Kattar.
That fight headlines a 10-bout card that is set to happen at the UFC APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.
Follow along throughout the evening for live updates.
A preview of the show can be read here.
Quick Results:
Preliminary Card (5:00PM EST / 2:00PM PST) (ESPN+ / TSN 5)
Bout 1: TJ Brown def. Charles Rosa via Decision, Unanimous
Bout 2: Brian Kelleher def. Kevin Croom via Decision, Unanimous
Bout 3: Court McGee def. Ramiz Brahimaj via Decision, Unanimous
Bout 4: Jamie Pickett def. Joseph Holmes via Decision, Unanimous
Main Card (7:00PM EST / 4:00PM PST) (ESPN+ / TSN 5)
Bout 5: Bill Algeo def. Joanderson Brito via Decision, Unanimous
Bout 6: Viacheslav Borshchev def. Dakota Bush via TKO, Strikes (RD 1, 3:47)
Bout 7: Katlyn Chookagian def. Jennifer Maia via Decision, Unanimous
Bout 8: Brandon Royval def. Rogerio Bontorin via Decision, Split
Bout 9: Jake Collier def. Chase Sherman via Submission, Rear Naked Choke (RD 1, 2:26)
Bout 10: Calvin Kattar def. Giga Chikadze via Decision, Unanimous
Live Coverage:
Bout 10: Calvin Kattar (22-5) vs. Giga Chikadze (14-2) (Featherweight)
Kattar Stops Momentum of Chikadze In Brutal Battle
Calvin Kattar handed Giga Chikadze his first UFC loss on Saturday night, getting on the winning side of an all-out war that ended in a clear unanimous decision result (50-45, 50-45 & 50-44).
Kattar got the best of striking exchanges, causing Chikadze to consume lots of hard blows and constantly backtrack in the cage.
Kattar controlled the opening frame, making the best of a slip from Chikadze to score a takedown and control most of the round on the ground.
The featherweights got into a brawl in the second round. Kattar had the best of the exchanges, connecting with hard shots to a backing up and seemingly tired Chikadze.
Kattar kept pressing forward in the third round, landing with a high volume of straight punches to the head. Chikadze was able to explode forward with combinations that would land, but he continued to be overwhelmed by Kattar.
Damage showed on the faces of both fighters in the fourth round. While Kattar failed with many takedown attempts in the round, he continued to succeed with punches and close-range elbows.
The tired featherweights continued to land in the final round, with the damage due to the fight being much more visible in Chikadze’s face and his overall movement.
Chikadze entered the fight with the goal of extending his impressive run in the UFC. He had an impressive seven-fight winning streak before Saturday, including a previous main event victory against Edson Barboza.
The win was Kattar’s first appearance in nearly an entire year. In the first fight of UFC’s 2021 schedule, Kattar was on the losing side of a dominant performance from former UFC Featherweight Champion Max Holloway.
Bout 9: Chase Sherman (15-8) vs. Jake Collier (12-6) (Heavyweight)
Collier Submits Sherman Early In Co-Main
Jake Collier bounced back in the co-main event, finishing Chase Sherman within a round.
Collier was able to take Sherman down early in the first round, catching a kick to get him to the ground. After slicing Sherman with ground and pound shots, he took his back and applied a rear naked choke for the tap.
Both heavyweights were connecting with hard shots before the finishing sequence.
Collier dropped a close fight in his previous fight, losing a split decision to Carlos Felipe.
Sherman has now lost his past three fights. He lost two bouts via decision last year, one against veteran Andrei Arlovski and the other against Parker Porter.
Bout 8: Brandon Royval (12-6) vs. Rogerio Bontorin (17-3) (Flyweight)
Royval Returns To Winning Ways With Close Decision
Brandon Royval walked away with a razor-thin split decision victory on Saturday night, defeating Rogerio Bontorin after three rounds (29-28 Royval, 29-28 Bontorin & 29-28 Royval).
Bontorin was able to notch ground control during the fight, but Royval was often the way more active fighter, attempting submissions or throwing strikes.
Royval’s best round was the final frame, as he was able to land a flurry of ground and pound late from half guard. He was also able to attempt an armbar while on his back, which in the moment made people wonder if Bontorin tapped out.
The fight snapped a two bout skid for Royval. He now has a positive UFC record of three wins and two losses, and is one of the higher ranked flyweights in the promotion.
In his post-fight interview, Royval offered his availability for next week in case something happens to the upcoming flyweight title fight.
Bontorin was coming off a recent win against Matt Schnell.
Bout 7: Katlyn Chookagian (16-4) vs. Jennifer Maia (19-7-1) (Flyweight)
Chookagian Defeats Maia For Second Time
Katlyn Chookagian had a dominant victory over another ranked flyweight, beating Jennifer Maia on scorecards this Saturday (30-27, 30-27 & 30-27).
Chookagian made the best of her significant reach advantage over Maia in the fight, out-landing her throughout the 15 minutes of action.
Chookagian is now on a three-fight winning streak. Her two prior wins came against Viviane Araujo and Cynthia Calvillo. She had beat Maia before, facing her previously back in 2019.
Maia also had a win in her last showing, beating Jessica Eye in July 2021.
Bout 6: Dakota Bush (8-3) vs. Viacheslav Borshchev (5-1) (Lightweight)
Borshchev Stops Bush For UFC Debut Win
Viacheslav Borshchev had an explosive UFC debut on Saturday night, finishing Dakota Bush in the first round with strikes.
Bush was dropped in the opening round due to a clean left hook that hit his body. The punch absolutely shut Bushg down, causing the fight to end only moments after.
Borshchev certainly struggled before the finish, getting stunned on the feet at times by Bush’s punches.
Borshchev, a former Titan FC standout, earned a UFC contract last year with a knockout win on “Dana White’s Contender Series.”
Bush has now lost two consecutive fights in the UFC cage. His prior bout was a unanimous decision loss to Austin Hubbard.
Bout 5: Joanderson Brito (12-2-1) vs. Bill Algeo (14-6) (Featherweight)
Algeo Beats Brito, Calls For Title Fight
Bill Algeo put on a scrap to open the main card, defeating Joanderson Brito via decision (30-27, 29-28 & 29-28).
Algeo had the better shots in a back-and-forth striking battle in three rounds, working at a quick pace along with Brito.
After his win, Algeo called for a fight against headliner Giga Chikadze. The recent win put Algeo back into the win column after previously losing to Ricardo Ramos.
Brito was making his UFC debut after winning on the most recent season of “Dana White’s Contender Series.”
Bout 4: Jamie Pickett (12-6) vs. Joseph Holmes (7-1) (Middleweight)
Pickett Takes Decision Victory Over UFC Debutant Holmes
Jamie Pickett had a hard-fought win to finish the prelims, defeating UFC newcomer Joseph Holmes via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28 & 29-28).
Pickett scored the win after a close stand-up battle through three rounds. Pickett was able to connect with a high volume of shots in the fight, but had a lot coming his way as well.
Pickett now has two consecutive wins in the UFC. His first victory in the promotion came in October against Laureano Staropoli.
Holmes was making his UFC debut after two notable wins last year, winning on TV show “Dana White’s Contender Series” and web series “Dana White’s Lookin’ For A Fight.” The fight Saturday was his first loss since his pro debut defeat.
Bout 3: Ramiz Brahimaj (9-3) vs. Court McGee (20-10) (Welterweight)
McGee Grinds Out Scorecard Win
Veteran Court McGee picked up a win on Saturday’s prelims, defeating Ramiz Brahimaj in a safe unanimous decision outcome (30-27, 30-27 & 30-27).
McGee out-grappled Brahimaj in all rounds, taking him down and getting into dominant positions. He was also able to show his striking, notable dropping Brahimaj late in the first round with punches.
McGee now has two consecutive wins. His prior fight was a victory against Claudio Silva.
Brahimaj earned his first UFC victory last year, submitting Sasha Palatnikov with a rear naked choke.
Bout 2: Brian Kelleher (23-12) vs. Kevin Croom (21-13) (Featherweight)
Kelleher Beats Croom In Featherweight Appearance
Brian Kelleher moved up a weight class for a decision win on Saturday, beating short-notice opponent Kevin Croom via unanimous decision after three rounds (30-27, 30-27 & 29-28).
Kelleher overcome a reach disadvantage on the feet early on, coming forward with punches that connected. Croom was dropped in the first round by a right cross from Kelleher.
Kelleher focused more so on grappling in the second and third rounds, taking Croom down and notching numerous minutes of ground control will searching for submissions.
Kelleher had to deal with a cut in the second round, as an elbow from Croom caused bleeding around his right eye.
Kelleher was originally scheduled to face former CFFC Champion Saidyokub Kakhramonov in a bantamweight bout. However, after that fight fell through, Kelleher agreed to move up to featherweight and fight Croom.
Kelleher has now won two consecutive fights.
Bout 1: TJ Brown (15-8) vs. Charles Rosa (14-6) (Featherweight)
Brown Defeats Short-Notice Opponent Rosa
TJ Brown picked up his second win to open the card, defeating veteran Charles Rosa via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28 & 29-28).
Brown connected frequently with punches on the feet to constantly back Rosa up.
Despite Rosa’s grappling skills, he was controlled on the ground for most of the fight. Brown scored a takedown in every round, then was able to attempt submissions on the ground.
Brown scored his first UFC win in his prior appearance, defeating Kai Kamaka III via split decision.
Rosa came into the fight on short notice, stepping in to replace Gabriel Benitez. He is now on a two-fight losing streak for the first time in his career. His entire UFC career from 2014 up until this fight had a consistent trend of winning and then losing a bout.
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