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In a captivating display at UFC 304, Arnold Allen showcased his striking prowess by defeating Giga Chikadze in a thrilling featherweight bout. The fight, which opened the main card at Co-op Live in Manchester, England, saw Allen secure a unanimous decision victory, marking a significant moment in his career.
Allen, known for his grappling skills, took a different approach in this fight, choosing to stand and trade blows with Chikadze, a former Glory Kickboxing star. This strategy paid off as Allen's diverse striking and relentless pressure proved too much for Chikadze. The judges scored the bout 29-28, 29-28, and 29-28 in favor of Allen.
The fight began with a closely contested first round, with Chikadze edging out Allen in the judges' eyes. However, as the fight progressed, Allen found his rhythm, pressing the action and steadily wearing down Chikadze. Allen's striking was relentless, delivering a barrage of punches that left Chikadze bloodied and bruised by the final bell.
While there were no knockdowns or significant damaging blows, Allen's ability to change rhythms and mix up his striking kept Chikadze off balance. This tactical approach was crucial in securing the win and breaking Allen's two-fight losing streak. Before this fight, Allen had suffered consecutive defeats to Max Holloway and Movsar Evloev, which were the only losses in his UFC career following a remarkable 12-fight winning streak.
For Chikadze, this defeat marks his second loss in three outings. His previous fight saw him earn a unanimous decision victory over Alex Caceres in August 2023. However, an injury had kept him out of competition until this bout.
Allen's victory not only snaps his losing streak but also reaffirms his position as a formidable contender in the featherweight division.
As Allen looks ahead, this win positions him back on track for potential title contention, while Chikadze will need to regroup and plan his comeback after this setback.
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