UFC 331: Van vs. Pantoja 2 opens the card with a fight between Giga Chikadze and Joanderson Brito in the featherweight division. Check out our UFC 331 odds series for our Chikadze-Brito prediction and pick.

Giga Chikadze (15-6) enters UFC 331 riding a rough patch. He dropped a unanimous decision to David Onama in April 2025, then got finished by Kevin Vallejos via spinning back fist in the second round in December 2025, extending his skid to three straight losses. The once-feared kickboxer needs to snap that slide as he comes into his fight this weekend against Joanderson Brito.

Joanderson “Tubarão” Brito (19-5-1) brings momentum into this one. He rebounded from a decision loss to Pat Sabatini with a unanimous decision win over Isaac Thomson in December 2025, then submitted Jordan Leavitt via first-round ninja choke this past June, extending his current run to two straight wins as he comes into his fight this weekend against Giga Chikadze.

UFC 331 Odds, courtesy of DraftKings.

UFC 331 Odds: Giga Chikadze-Joanderson Brito

Giga Chikadze: +320

Joanderson Brito: -410

Over 1.5 rounds: -175

Under 1.5 rounds: -118

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Why Giga Chikadze Will Win

Chikadze's biggest edge is pure kickboxing pedigree, backed by a 38-6 professional record with 22 knockouts. That elite standup base gives him the tools to control range against a shorter, less polished striker.

He also holds a real size advantage. At 6'0″ with a 74-inch reach, Chikadze towers over the 5'8″ Brito, whose reach checks in at 72 inches, letting him pepper Brito from distance without eating counters.

Distance striking is where Chikadze does his best work. His significant strikes climb steadily across rounds, from roughly 15 landed in round one to near 30 in a fifth round, showing he paces fights well and turns up volume late.

Brito's own numbers support this game plan. Roughly 86-97% of Chikadze's total offense lands while standing at range, exactly where his length and technical boxing background thrive against a more compact opponent.

Chikadze's questionable chin has been the story of his skid, but Brito isn't a heavy-handed knockout artist like Kevin Vallejos. That makes a measured, high-volume striking clinic Chikadze's most realistic path back to the win column.

If he sticks to jabs, kicks, and lateral movement rather than standing and trading, Chikadze's experience against ranked featherweights like Calvin Kattar and Edson Barboza should translate into a comfortable decision win over Brito.

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Why Joanderson Brito Will Win

Brito enters this fight with real momentum, riding back-to-back wins including a first-round submission of Jordan Leavitt via a “ninja choke” this past June. That finishing instinct on the ground gives him a dimension Chikadze has struggled to answer throughout his UFC run.

Chikadze's chin has become the central storyline of his three-fight skid, most recently getting stopped by a spinning back fist from Kevin Vallejos. Brito, with eight knockouts on his resume, has the power to test that same vulnerability if he can close distance.

Age and durability also favor the Brazilian. At 31, Brito is in his physical prime, while the 38-year-old Chikadze is fighting deeper into a career built on a kickboxing base that has taken increasing damage over recent bouts.

Brito's grappling adds another layer Chikadze rarely faces from featherweight strikers. If Brito mixes level changes with his boxing, he can drag the fight into uncomfortable territory where Chikadze's takedown defense has been tested before.

Momentum matters in a “gatekeeper” matchup like this one. Brito arrives fresher, hungrier, and finishing fights, while Chikadze is fighting for career survival, and desperation striking often leads directly into exactly the kind of power shots and submission attempts Brito specializes in landing.

Final Giga Chikadze-Joanderson Brito Prediction & Pick

This fight likely comes down to whether Chikadze can keep it at range or whether Brito forces him into scrambles. Given Chikadze's size and reach advantage, expect him to lean on kicks and a long jab early to establish distance.

Brito's recent finishes show he's dangerous when fights get messy, and his 8-KO power means Chikadze can't afford to stand and trade carelessly. If Brito closes distance behind combinations, Chikadze's well-documented chin issues become the deciding factor.

Chikadze's championship-level kickboxing pedigree and volume-striking trend across rounds give him a workable path if he sticks to the game plan and avoids brawling. That discipline has been inconsistent for him lately, though, and desperation after three straight losses could tempt him into exchanges he should avoid.

Expect a competitive, back-and-forth featherweight scrap decided in the championship rounds, with a slight lean toward Brito finishing this one via strikes or a scramble submission in round two or three.

Final Giga Chikadze-Joanderson Brito Prediction & Pick: Joanderson Brito (-410), OVER 1.5 Rounds (-175)