UFC Fight Night Barboza vs. Chikadze: Live results and analysis

LAS VEGAS — Edson Barboza feels like he’s close.

The UFC’s No. 9-ranked featherweight has never fought for a championship but believes he is just two wins away from finally realizing that opportunity. He’s got a tough one ahead of him on Saturday, in the form of a five-round main event against No. 10-ranked Giga Chikadze inside the Apex.

Barboza (22-9) is 3-1 since dropping to the featherweight division last year — and there are some who feel he actually should be 4-0, as the only loss was a razor-thin decision to Dan Ige. Beating Chikadze would be a significant win on Barboza’s résumé, as the Georgian is 6-0 in the UFC.

On the other side, Chikadze (13-2) is seeking his second signature win in a row, as he is coming off a first-round stoppage of Cub Swanson in May.

In addition to the main event, the UFC will crown two winners of The Ultimate Fighter reality series — for the first time since 2018. Bantamweights Ricky Turcios (10-2) and Brady Hiestand (5-1) and middleweights Bryan Battle (5-1) and Gilbert Urbina (6-1) will square off for a UFC contract.

Follow along as Brett Okamoto and Jeff Wagenheim recap the action or watch the fights on ESPN+.

Still to come:

Men’s featherweight: Edson Barboza (22-9, 16-9 UFC, -120) vs. Giga Chikadze (13-2, 6-0 UFC, +100)
Middleweight (TUF final): Bryan Battle (6-1, 0-0 UFC, -175) vs. Gilbert Urbina (6-2, 0-0 UFC, +145)
Men’s bantamweight (TUF final): Ricky Turcios (11-2, 0-0 UFC, -160) vs. Brady Hiestand (6-1, 0-0 UFC, +135)
Welterweight: Kevin Lee (18-6, 11-6 UFC, -155) vs. Daniel Rodriguez (15-2, 5-1 UFC, +130)
Middleweight: Andre Petroski (6-1, 0-0 UFC, -500) vs. Michael Gilmore (6-3, 0-0 UFC, +380)
Middleweight: Makhmud Muradov (25-6, 3-0 UFC, -575) vs. Gerald Meerschaert (32-14, 7-6 UFC, +425)
Middleweight: Alessio Di Chirico (13-5, 4-5 UFC, -240) vs. Abdul Razak Alhassan (10-4, 4-4 UFC, +200)
Middleweight: Sam Alvey (33-15-1, 10-10-1 UFC, +110) vs. Wellington Turman (16-5, 1-3 UFC, -130)
Light heavyweight: Dustin Jacoby (14-5-1, 2-2-1- UFC, -180) vs. Darren Stewart (12-7 2 NC, 5-6 2 NC UFC, +155)
Women’s flyweight: JJ Aldrich (9-4, 5-3 UFC, -400) vs. Vanessa Demopoulos (6-3, 0-0 UFC, +310)
Men’s featherweight: Jamall Emmers (18-5, 1-1 UFC, -150) vs. Pat Sabatini (14-3, 1-0 UFC, +125)
Men’s bantamweight: Guido Cannetti (8-6, 2-4 UFC, +220) vs. Mana Martinez (8-2, 0-0 UFC, -270)