“He’s Gonna Slip”: Joanderson Brito recalls his coach’s warning before Giga Chikadze KO
Joanderson Brito opened UFC 331 with a first-round stoppage of Giga Chikadze, but the Brazilian revealed afterward that his coach had warned him about the possibility of a slip.
Chikadze found some early success with his kicks before slipping while throwing a head kick. Brito immediately capitalized, took the fight to the ground, and finished with ground-and-pound at 1:57 of the opening round.
Brito later explained that he and his coach had noticed water on Chikadze’s feet before the fight and were aware that the new canvas could be slippery.
Joanderson Brito Says His Coach Saw the Slip Coming
Brito said his team expected Chikadze to rely heavily on his kicking game. According to the Brazilian, they noticed Chikadze drop water on his feet before the opening fight of the night, prompting his coach to warn him about a potential slip.
“Watch, cause he’s gonna slip.”
Chikadze subsequently lost his footing while throwing a kick, giving Brito the opening he needed to secure the finish. Brito’s explanation is his account of what his corner noticed before the fight. It does not establish that the water caused Chikadze to slip, only that his team had identified the possibility beforehand.
Joanderson Brito Has His Eyes on the Top 5
The win extended Brito’s UFC winning streak to three, but he does not appear interested in immediately calling for a championship opportunity. Instead, he wants to establish himself among the division’s leading contenders.
“Not really thinking about the belt or anything like that … Just being in the Top 5.”
Brito pointed to Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje as examples of fighters who spent years around the Top 5, saying that maintaining that position can be almost like being a champion. After another first-round finish, Brito now has the momentum to pursue the longer-term goal he laid out after UFC 331.
