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Much like her fellow main card title challenger, Dominick Reyes, women’s flyweight contender Katlyn Chookagian will try to shock the MMA world later tonight (Sat., Feb. 8, 2020) at UFC 247 live on ESPN+ PPV from inside Toyota Center in Houston, Texas, and take out current 125-pound champion Valentina Shevchenko in the co-main event.
Chookagian, who has never been in this type of spotlight before, is entering her UFC 247 clash with Shevchenko a massive +700 underdog (according to Bet Online). It makes sense considering Shevchenko has been one of the most dominant fighters in the sport over the past few years, but Chookagian isn’t ready to lay down and die for any one of her doubters.
Instead, the 31-year-old Pennsylvanian is looking to turn the tables and take control of “Bullet” wherever the fight may go.
“Obviously I’m going to hear And New, that is the goal,” Chookagian told TMZ Sports. “I see this going, decision, submission, some type of finish. No matter where it goes, I’m better than her standing and on the ground. So wherever it goes I’m gonna be dominant.”
Chookagian, who has only lost in her career via split decision, has a lot going for her in this title fight. Not only does the challenger possess the footwork, head movement, striking skills, and long reach to give Shevchenko problems, but Chookagian also happens to be a brown belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under the famed Renzo Gracie. So even though she’s a ridiculous underdog in her first UFC title fight, Chookagian has all the ingredients she needs to pull off the upset.
If she’s able to do it and leaves Houston with Shevchenko’s UFC flyweight title then Chookagian would entertain the idea of fighting up a division in hopes of becoming a true double champ.
“I start thinking about champ-champ when I start eating after the fight. You know, going up is pretty up. To win two [titles] is pretty nice… The good thing is I’ve fought at 135. So, you know, I’ve fought there before and I’ve won and feel comfortable,” she explained. “125 I feel like a killer and feel bigger. But, 135 I’ve fought there before and I’m comfortable there so, [after I] win this fight I would definitely consider going up.”
Chookagian, who started her UFC career off at 135 pounds and actually holds a split-decision win over red-hot contender Irene Aldana, understands that a move up to the bantamweight division could mean a clash with women’s MMA legend and current two-division queen, Amanda Nunes. It’s not small apples, but Chookagian believes she’s right alongside all the other prospective title challengers in the weight class.
“Whoever is the champ at ’35. If I go up to ’35 it is to fight for the title. So, whoever is the champ there I’m down to fight. I know she [Nunes] might fight Irene Aldana, they’re talking about her,” she said. “She just came off a good win and I beat her with a torn labrum so I’m right in the mix with those girls.”
Chookagian’s 2020 goals are admirable and coincide with just about every other promising contender trying to make a splash in today’s MMA, but she needs to get past one of the most deadly female fighters in the sport this weekend at UFC 247 before anything else.