UFC 304: Arnold Allen vs. Giga Chikadze: Live round-by-round updates
A high-stakes featherweight clash between Arnold Allen and Giga Chikadze will set the tone of the UFC 304 showcase, which goes down on July 27 at the Co-op Live in Manchester, England.
Allen looked unstoppable in his first 10 UFC appearances, breaking into the upper echelons of the 145-pound bracket. However, consecutive losses to Max Holloway and Movsar Evloev have derailed his plans for now. Regardless, with the advantage of youth and the support of the hometown audience, Allen will be keen on getting his name drawn in the win column again. 'Almighty' is 11-1 on British soil, which will be an added boost to his pursuit.
Meanwhile, Chikadze returned from an extended layoff with a unanimous decision win over Alex Caceres in Singapore last August. He was slated to face Josh Emmett at UFC 296 in December but was forced to pull out of the contest due to an undisclosed injury. Before the loss to Calvin Kattar in January 2022, 'Ninja' wielded a seven-fight win streak in the UFC.
UFC 304 will stream on ESPN+ on Saturday, July 27. The preliminary card will start at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT, with the main card soon to follow at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.
Stay tuned to Sportskeeda MMA for live coverage and play-by-play updates of Arnold Allen vs. Giga Chikadze:
Round 1
Chikadze starts with several right kicks up top. He goes inside with the leg kick but Allen catches him on the counter. So far, the fight is being contested in the kickboxing range as Chikadze darts in and out to launch offense. Allen circles his opponent to draw an opening. The UK star ducks a punch and almost catches his opponent with a straight punch.
Allen starts finding a home for his left hand, but Chikadze is doing just enough to drift off incoming offense. A straight kick almost gets through the guard of Allen but 'Almighty' fires back with a stinging left hand. Both fighters seemingly hurt each other in the dying seconds of the first frame. What a way to kick off the main card!
Our Score: 10-9 Chikadze
Round 2
It has been a battle of footwork optimization and will to engage so far. Chikadze finding success with the jab now. The snapping jab from Chikadze and constant movement are making it difficult for Allen to find a target. He swarms in with vigor and unleashes a combination to no great effect. Allen is following Chikadze's tracks but the perpetual motion is becoming a problem to deal with. A good left hand from Allen gets the attention of his opponent. Head kick from Chikadze but Allen fires back with a good counter.
Our Score: 10-9 Chikadze
Round 3
Allen wants to find space in the pocket to draw wild exchanges. Chikadze opens up with several kicks to the body and one up top. He's switching between stances while landing the jab while beating Allen to the punch. Allen continues to stalk his rival. Allen's punches have more purpose but Chikadze is picking his shots wisely. A beautiful step-in punch from Allen and a brief exchange against the fence suggest a shift in momentum. Seems like Allen is looking for that hook but Chikadze's defense has been on point so far. A switch flying knee to close out the high-octane clash.
Our Score: 10-9 Allen
Official Result: The judges scored the fight 29-28, 29,28, and 29-28, unanimously in favor of Allen