The UFC is finalizing a featherweight bout between Edson Barboza and Giga Chikadze as its main event for an event on Aug. 28, according to multiple sources.
Once officially signed, the 145-pound contest is expected to headline UFC Fight Night at a location to be announced.
Barboza (22-9) is coming off a sensational knockout victory over Shane Burgos at UFC 262 on May 15. The 35-year-old Brazilian is on a two-fight win streak and is 2-1 since making a move down from the lightweight division. He is not far off from being 4-0 in his past four. His two losses to Dan Ige and Paul Felder were both razor-close split decisions.
Chikadze (13-2) was one of the UFC’s biggest standouts in 2020, as he captured four wins in the calendar year. Originally from the country of Georgia and now fighting out of Huntington Beach, California, Chikadze continued to build off 2020 with a first-round knockout of Cub Swanson in May.
Chikadze has not lost since he came up short as a contestant on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2018. After coming up short on the show, he rattled off two more first-round finishes to earn a spot on the UFC roster.