NEW ORLEANS, LA - JUNE 05: Christos Giagos weighs in during the UFC weigh-in at the Smoothie King Center on June 5, 2015 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

Everything you need to know about the Nurmagomedov vs. McGregor press conference

Everything you need to know about the Nurmagomedov vs. McGregor press conference by Amy Kaplan

Christos Giagos says he’ll ‘shock the world’ with a knockout of Charles Oliviera in UFC return on Saturday.

It’s not often that the UFC gives cut fighters a second chance, so Christos Giagos plans on making his return, after nearly two years outside of the promotion, worthy of the honor.

“The first thing that came out of my mouth when I found out was ‘I’m gonna shock the world’,” Giagos told FanSided. “It feels like all my hard work has finally paid off. I felt like I didn’t deserve to get cut and I feel like I’ve been on a tear since I left the UFC. I’ve been fighting high-level guys. I feel like I’m fighting guys just as good as the guys in the UFC and I’ve been beating them pretty decisively.”

Giagos is making his return somewhere he’s comfortable — Brazil. His first win for in UFC, back in March 2015, was in Rio de Janiero, but he also realizes that he’s walking into Charles Oliviera’s home country and he might not be well received.

“I’ve got a winning record in Brazil,” he said. “I’ve fought three times there and went 2-1. I know I’m gonna be the enemy, as always, but it’s something that I’m already used to. I’m familiar with it and I know what to expect. I kinda like being the underdog, I feel like it puts more pressure on them and I’ve got nothing to lose.”

Giagos says he’s worked hard to earn another shot at a career in the UFC and went 4-1 in his last five fights, something he says played a part in getting him back into the Octagon.

“The last five guys I fought, their combined record is 56-10,” Giagos said. “I’m fighting high-level guys so I feel like that has a lot to do with it. Dana White was at the fight where I had a huge knockout and he said it himself on TV that I looked like I belonged back in the UFC so I’m sure that helped a little bit. The Josh Emmett had an interview saying I was the toughest fighter he’s fought and he’s ranked no. 5 in the world. I think that there’s a lot of aspects that prove that I should be there.”

He’s confident that this is his time to shine and has a stunning prediction for how he feels his second chance at fame will go.

“First round knockout .. or second, or third,” he laughed. “But I’m going for it.”

Giagos holds recent wins over the likes of Herdeson Batista, Alexandre Pimentel, Arthur Estrazulas, and Karen Darabedyan and hopes to secure his second UFC win over a tough veteran in Brazil.

Giagos faces Oliviera on Saturday, Sept. 22, 2018, during the FS2 prelims to UFC Sao Paulo.