Nevada clears Giga Chikadze for UFC 296 after ‘serious’ head injury

When professional fighters step into the cage or ring, they are aware of the risks involved, with brain injury being one of the most serious, but now Nevada is making a crucial change. The state will require individual relicensing hearings for those who have experienced severe neurological damage.

The Nevada Athletic Commission (NAC) has now cleared Giga Chikadze to compete once again in the jurisdiction during UFC 296 in Las Vegas, allowing him to face Josh Emmett on December 16. This comes after a serious head injury that raised questions about his ability to keep fighting.

According to executive director Jeff Mullen, Chikadze underwent a series of vigorous medical tests and was deemed fit to compete after clearing every test conducted. He was approved to fight in another jurisdiction earlier this year, but now he has been cleared to fight in Nevada after an additional test was performed. After enduring a CAT scan following his last fight, it was confirmed that he is fit and cleared by all medical advisors.

Chikadze has not fought in Nevada since a January 2022 loss to Calvin Kattar, during which he took a staggering 127 head strikes. He has, however, competed once outside Nevada, securing a victory over Alex Caceres in Singapore in August. Now, the upcoming relicensing hearing will determine his future in the sport.

This is the second brain injury hearing in four months for a professional MMA fighter seeking re-licensure in Nevada. This development comes after, Vicente Luque, a UFC welterweight contender, went before the commission under similar circumstances and received clearance for a brain bleed.

These hearings are tied into state statute NAC 467.017, which requires a thorough review process for unarmed combatants suffering from serious head injury before being issued or renewed a license to compete professionally.

Story originally appeared on MMA Junkie