World Series of Fighting Chikadze made his mixed martial arts debut as a
lightweight in the
WSOF, facing
Xtreme Couture fighter Gil Guardado. He lost the fight by unanimous decision.
Gladiator Challenge Chikadze would join a promotion known as the Gladiator Challenge, and would enjoy a five-fight win streak in which all fights were ended via first-round knockout.
Return to the Gladiator Challenge After losing to Springer, Chikadze would return to the lightweight division of the Gladiator Challenge, earning a quick submission victory and a swift TKO after that. After three rounds passed, the fight would be declared a split draw, but due to a scoring error made by one of the judges of the bout, the outcome would be corrected to a split decision victory for Chikadze. Chikadze would make his next UFC appearance on the preliminary card of
UFC 248 against featherweight
Jamall Emmers. Chikadze would earn a razor-thin split decision victory over Emmers after the bout had ended. Chikadze, once again, would be scheduled to face Mike Davis on 16 May 2020 at
UFC on ESPN 8. However, Davis would pull out of the bout due to a
weight cut-related illness and would be replaced by promotional newcomer
Irwin Rivera. Chikadze would win the fight by unanimous decision. Chikadze was scheduled to face
Alex Caceres on 29 August 2020 at
UFC Fight Night 175. However, Chikadze withdrew from the bout due to tested positive for
COVID-19 and he was replaced by promotional newcomer
Kevin Croom. Chikadze faced
Omar Morales on 11 October 2020 at
UFC Fight Night 179. He won the fight via unanimous decision despite knocking Morales down in the final round. Chikadze faced promotional newcomer Jamey Simmons on 7 November 2020 at
UFC on ESPN 17. He won the fight via technical knockout in round one. This win earned him the
Performance of the Night award. Chikadze faced
Cub Swanson on 1 May 2021 at
UFC on ESPN 23. He won the bout in the first round via technical knockout after catching Swanson with a
kick to the liver. This win earned him the
Performance of the Night bonus award. Chikadze faced
Edson Barboza on 28 August 2021 at
UFC on ESPN 30. He won the back-and-forth fight via technical knockout in round three. This win earned him the
Performance of the Night award. Chikadze faced
Calvin Kattar in the main event on 15 January 2022 at
UFC on ESPN 32. He lost the fight via unanimous decision after being knocked down and almost finished in the final seconds of the fight. This fight earned him the
Fight of the Night award. On 22 May 2022, it was announced that Chikadze would receive the UFC 2022 Recipient of Forrest Griffin Community Award for his exceptional volunteer and charity work for his non-profit "Knockout Cancer Foundation" that assists individuals fighting cancer with financial support for medical bills. Chikadze was scheduled to face
Sodiq Yusuff on 17 September 2022 at
UFC Fight Night 210. However, the week before the event, Chikadze withdrew due to injury and the bout was cancelled. Chikadze faced
Alex Caceres on 26 August 2023, at
UFC Fight Night 225. He won the bout via unanimous decision. Chikadze was scheduled to face
Josh Emmett on 16 December 2023, at
UFC 296. However, Chikadze withdrew due to an undisclosed injury, and was replaced by
Bryce Mitchell. Chikadze faced
Arnold Allen on 27 July 2024, at
UFC 304. He lost the fight by unanimous decision. Chikadze was scheduled to face
David Onama on 5 April 2025 at
UFC on ESPN 65. However, the bout was moved to on 26 April 2025 at
UFC on ESPN 66 for unknown reasons. At the weigh-ins, Chikadze weighed in at 147 pounds, one pounds over the featherweight non-title fight limit. The bout proceeded at catchweight and he was fined 20 percent of his purse, which went to his opponent Onama. He lost the fight by unanimous decision. Chikadze faced
Kevin Vallejos on 13 December 2025 at
UFC on ESPN 73. He lost the fight via knockout with spinning backfist and elbows in round two. == Personal life ==