Brito On Chikadze's UFC 331 Finish: 'It's A New Era'

Joanderson Brito stopped Giga Chikadze in the first round at UFC 331 after his coach predicted the slip that led to the finish.

Brito finished the Georgian featherweight on the preliminary card in Los Angeles on Saturday, extending his winning streak to three fights. Chikadze slipped while throwing a kick, and Brito took top position and landed heavy ground-and-pound until the referee waved off the contest. According to Sherdog, Brito revealed his corner saw it coming. "We expected him to start kicking," Brito said in his post-fight interview. "When we walked in, we knew the tarp was brand new; it could be a little slippery. Then we saw him drop some water on his feet. Then [coach] said, 'Watch, cause he's gonna slip.'"

Brito Calls For More Activity After Eighth UFC Win

The result pushed Brito to 8-3 in the UFC, with seven finishes. The 32-year-old told MMA Fighting he wants to stay active and has no interest in waiting for rankings updates. "The only thing I care about in the organization is getting mileage," Brito said. "My only focus is getting mileage, always fighting. I would really like to be more active in the organization." He blamed other fighters for turning down bouts against well-rounded opponents like himself.

Chikadze entered the cage on a three-fight skid, having dropped decisions to Arnold Allen and David Onama and a knockout loss to Kevin Vallejos. Brito believes the UFC handed him the matchup to build his name off a veteran. "Like everything in life, there's a beginning, a middle, and an end," Brito told MMA Fighting. "I believe the UFC is renewing its roster of athletes, and it's a new era."

Brito expressed interest in fighting Onama before the end of 2026 if the UFC offers another bout. He told Sherdog his goal is to reach the top five at featherweight, not necessarily win the title. "Guys like Dustin Poirier, Justin Gaethje — these guys have been in the Top 5 for so long; it's inspiring," he said.

Original reporting:

• mmafighting.com — Joanderson Brito believes UFC 331 could be ‘an end’ for Giga Chikadze: ‘It’s a new era’ | MMA Fighting
• sherdog.com — Joanderson Brito says coach predicted Giga Chikadze slip at UFC 331