Kevin Vallejos: The Grounded 24-Year-Old Rising Fast Into UFC Spotlight

Last Updated:December 11, 2025, 07:26 IST

Kevin Vallejos, 24, steps into a career-defining co-main event against Giga Chikadze embracing the pressure, respecting the legend, and proving he’s ready for the climb.

Kevin Vallejos

At 24, Kevin Vallejos sits two days removed from a fight that could skyrocket his career or test the limits of the UFC’s belief in him. He’s been handed a co-main event slot on the UFC’s final card of 2025 against Giga Chikadze, a ranked veteran and former bonus machine and more importantly, a wounded fighter eying to build momentum after two back-to-back losses.

Even though Vallejos has shown the wherewithal to be a top player with two wins this year in the UFC, his rise has been fast enough to spark scepticism. Chikadze himself suggested the UFC may have handed Vallejos this platform ‘a little bit too early.’

But for Vallejos, there’s no bravado; here’s a young fighter who understands the stakes, appreciates the opportunity, and is ready.

“I am very happy for the opportunity," Vallejos tells News18 Sports in an exclusive conversation. “I consider Giga Chikadze a legend, so obviously, there is pressure in fighting him, but I think we are ready for the opportunity to take the win."

Vallejos’ path to this moment has been anything but conventional. He grew up in Mar del Plata, Argentina, during one of the country’s most difficult economic periods. His early training came not from a traditional MMA pipeline but from boxing gyms, where footwork and hand rhythm shaped his style. He went undefeated as an amateur at 14–0, then added ten more wins regionally before his first major setback: a split-decision loss to Jean Silva on Dana White’s Contender Series in September 2023.

That loss, even though deflating, did not make him lose track. He returned to the Contender Series with a violent 20-punch finishing sequence against Cam Teague, earning his UFC deal – first signs of Vallejos’ potential. A first-round TKO over featherweight veteran Seung Woo Choi in his March 2025 debut followed, then a composed win over Danny Silva in August, where he landed 90 significant strikes to Silva’s 69, reaffirmed UFC’s faith in him.

But in Chikadze, Vallejos gets his first whip of a ranked opponent and a clear step up.

And even before they meet in the octagon, the Georgian has fired the warning shots, claiming, ‘I don’t think it’s going to be a big challenge for me.’ Asked bout his response, Vallejos – keeping tab on the exuberance of youth – was measured in his reply.

“No, I hope that he does think that," says Vallejos. “I really hope he is underestimating me, because I am ready to meet him. And that’s fine – he’s a legend, why would he respect me? But that’s okay. I like that he’s underestimating me."

On the technical side, the matchup is clear: Chikadze brings elite kickboxing experience and fight-ending kicks. Vallejos brings pressure boxing, hand speed, and close-range proficiency.

“I think it’s a great clash of styles," he explains. “Because usually with a kickboxer, someone who likes to kick a lot, how you deal with them is to box them. And how you deal with someone who likes to box is to kick them. So it’s really going to come down to who can implement their style better."

As for Chikadze’s recent losses and whether they will push him toward chaos or caution, Vallejos expects early danger.

“I think he is going to come out aggressive," Vallejos says. “I think he is going to want to try to knock me out in the first round, like he says he will. But regardless, if he does that, I’m going to be ready for it. And if he comes out more technically, I’m also going to be ready for that."

When probed about what the Argentine might be eying next, Vallejos didn’t hesitate to bring up his target. Jean Silva, the only man to beat him yet.

“I think that, in general, what I want in the future is to have my rematch with Jean Silva. I would like to do it, not immediately after, but when he has the belt, so I can fight him for the title and take the title from him."

One of the notable things about Vellajos is how rooted he remains amid all the hype, and his tone grows warmer when he talks about the Argentine MMA community – the fighters he grew up with, trained alongside, and still chats with on WhatsApp despite the geographic spread.

“All the UFC fighters from Argentina are my friends," he says. “We actually came up together, we trained together, and we even fought in the same event in Samurai Fight House. It’s great to keep in contact with them. And yes, we are all trying to do the same thing: to bring up Argentina."

And that grounded attitude comes through when he speaks about the support he has received, not just from the fans, but also from the UFC.

“I am overwhelmed by how much people support me, the fans, how much they believe in me and not just the fans but the UFC, who have always been putting me in these main-event spots," he says. “To me, it’s incredible. But I do feel like I’m prepared. I do feel like I deserve to be here."

And in the era of manufactured personas, Vellajos’ consistency stands out. Even when the world thinks of him as a special talent, he calls himself a ‘regular person like everyone else.

“What I want people to know is that I’m just a regular person like everyone else. I don’t think I am some super special talent. I just think I worked really hard to be here, and that’s why I am here. I want people to know that I am just a regular person like everyone else."

Sony Sports Network is the official broadcaster of UFC in India and will live stream UFC Fight Night: Royval vs Kape on Sony Liv on 14th December 2025, 8:30 AM onwards

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