Vallejos’s Spinning Backfist Turned Chikadze’s Kicking
Kevin Vallejos knocked out Giga Chikadze at 1:29 of the second round on December 13, 2025, at UFC APEX in Las Vegas. The featherweight co-main event changed dramatically when a spinning backfist opened the way for Vallejos’s finishing ground strikes.
Chikadze’s kicking attack shaped the opening round
The Georgian veteran used kicks to the body and head to make Vallejos work for his entries. Chikadze suffered a cut on his shin while checking a kick but continued attacking at range.
Vallejos found an early opportunity to flurry when Chikadze slipped, yet the veteran recovered and reset. The first round showed why simply advancing into the kicking distance would not be enough.
Greater pressure brought Vallejos inside the preferred range
Vallejos increased his urgency in the second and forced Chikadze backward toward the fence. That forward movement reduced the space available for the veteran’s kicks and created a different striking exchange.
The spinning backfist landed clean, leaving Chikadze badly hurt. Vallejos immediately followed him down, adding a punch and heavy elbows before the referee stopped the contest.
The breakthrough completed an unbeaten first UFC year
Vallejos moved to three wins from three UFC appearances and became the first opponent to knock Chikadze out. The result supplied the Argentine’s most prominent victory of his early promotional run.
Afterward, Vallejos praised Chikadze’s accomplishments and named Cub Swanson as an opponent he would welcome. His success came through adjusting to a difficult opening round, then combining pressure, an unexpected spinning strike and immediate follow-up offense.
Sources
- UFC: official knockout results, date and venue
- MMA Fighting: kicking exchanges, spinning backfist and follow-up elbows
- UFC: first-round difficulties and third promotional victory
