🏉➡️🥊 From rugby fields to the MMA cage, Georgia’s legendary captain, Merab Sharikadze, is making a game-changing move! At 32, after an impressive career leading his national team and securing legendary triumphs like the historic victory over Wales in 2022, Sharikadze is ready to face new challenges.
Having earned over 100 caps for Georgia and known for his raw power as inside centre, he’s set to channel his skills into mixed martial arts. His breathtaking switch to MMA will see him debut in the RKENA Fighting Championship, an up-and-coming event heralded as a fresh chapter in Georgian combat sports.
Fans went wild online as promotional materials surfaced, with Sharikadze promising to bring the same tenacity and spirit to the cage as he did on the pitch. Giorgi Kokiashvili, a prominent MMA reporter, hyped the announcement, signalling this as a monumental development in the sports world.
Sharikadze’s stellar rugby career includes three Rugby World Cups and memorable stints in France, but it’s his leadership in the iconic victory over Wales that cemented his status as a rugby hero. That dramatic win marked one of the peaks of Georgian rugby excellence—they came from 12-3 down to clinch a stunning 13-12 win, further consolidating their place on the international stage.
Now, as Sharikadze stands beside a new kind of arena—the fighting cage—GKENA’s social media echoes with anticipation: “Legends of strength and courage will be created.” For Sharikadze, it’s not just about shifting sports; it’s about proving that legends aren’t confined to a single stage.
Keep your eyes peeled for the next thrilling chapter in Sharikadze’s sports odyssey. Whether on the pitch or in the cage, he’s set to make an impact!