Tag: Katlyn Chookagian

What’s Next For Valentina Shevchenko After UFC 275

Valentina Shevchenko stepped into the UFC Octagon at UFC 275 and everyone thought this would be a typical Shevchenko title defense where Shevchenko would show how she is the most dominant Flyweight in MMA history. But to everyone’s surprise Taila Santos gave Shevchenko a very big challenge, one that Shevchenko rose above in the end but it was very close with one judge even scoring it for Santos. We decided to look ahead at what should be next for Shevchenko.  

One obvious fight to make is a rematch with Santos. That fight was a great fight, and once Santos recovers from that broken orbital we think that she should face off against Shevchenko in an immediate rematch as Shevchenko has cleared out that division and it looks like no-one in that division is of the same caliber as the Bullet. If Shevchenko doesn’t move up I think it’s imperative that we see this fight run back sometime in 2023, but Shevchenko might want to be more active than that. 

The Obvious other matchup in the Flyweight division is a rematch with Katlyn Chookagian. since their last matchup at UFC 247 before the Pandemic, Chookagian has put together a 5-1 record with a four fight win streak. Chookagian was supposed to face Manon Fiorot at UFC Paris, but has since pulled out of that matchup. We think the number one Flyweight contender would be a good matchup fans would like to see.

The real matchup fans would like to see is Shevchenko vs. the winner of the Julianna Peña vs Amanda Nunes Bantamweight title bout at UFC 277.   Shevchenko’s only losses in her MMA career were against Amanda Nunes. I think that fans would like to see these two fight again even though Shevchenko lost both bouts. This would be a good fight if Nunes wins her bout and her belt back after she faces Peña. If Peña wins against Nunes again this sets up an interesting situation. Shevchenko won her bout against Peña in January of 2017. She’d be a heavy favorite if she went up and challenged Peña for the Bantamweight belt. Both these fights would make Shevchenko a two division champion which we’d love to see.

These matchups make sense for Shevchenko in our eyes. We can’t wait to see her in the cage again very soon.

Fighter Profile: Katlyn Chookagian

Katlyn Chookagian UFC

Katlyn Chookagian fought her way to her tenth win in the UFC when she fought Jennifer Maia on the 15th of January. She now holds a 10-4 record in The UFC and an overall record of 17-4 and she is now a free agent. Chookagian who fought for the UFC Flyweight title is currently ranked second in the division, which leads many to ask why Chookagian hasn’t been re-signed. Many think it’s because when she wins she almost always wins by decision, but she does keep winning so what’s the hold up? We’re going to look at how Chookagaian got to this point because we enjoy watching her fight.

Chookagian was born December 28, 1988 in Quakertown, Pennsylvania. She would start her journey into martial arts at age 4 when she started taking Karate. She’d attend Quakertown Community Senior High School and would graduate. Chookagian would go on to attend Fairleigh Dickinson University where she would earn her degree in Business Management and Marketing. Chookagian Would work odd jobs including being a bartender before turning her sites on MMA first as an armature in 2012 and then turning pro in 2014. She currently holds a Brown Belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu under Renzo Gracie.

Chookagian made her pro MMA debut in June of 2014 when she would face off against  Rebecca Heintzman for Cage Fury FC. She would win via unanimous decision. She’d then face Brigitte Narcisse for the World Series of Fighting Promotion she would win by Knockout (Knees.) She’d then fight Linn Wennergren PMMAL Hungarian Fight Championship 9, she’d secure the win by Unanimous Decision.  She’d then face Melinda Fábián for the same promotion winning by Submission (Armbar.)  Sijara Eubanks would be her next opponent Chookagian would beat her by Unanimous decision. Eubanks would later Corner for Chookagian in her later fights. She’d win her next two fights including championship bouts for the Cage Fury Flyweight title and Bantamweight title. She’d then get the call to fight for the UFC.

Chookagian made her UFC debut against Lauren Murphy in July of 2016 She’d win by unanimous decision. She’d then face Liz Carmouche losing by split decision, her first loss in her career. She’d then win her next three fights against Irene Aldana, Mara Romero Borella, and Alexis Davis. She’d then face Jessica Eye losing by Split Decision. She’d then score victories against Joanne Calderwood and Jennifer Maia earning her a title fight against women’s Flyweight GOAT Valentina Schevchenko, Schevchenko would win the fight by TKO (Elbows and Punches) in the third round. She’d then face Schevchenko’s sister Antonina winning by Unanimous decision. She’d then drop a fight to  Jéssica Andrade. She’d Win her next three fights against Cynthia Calvillo, Viviane Araújo, and Jennifer Maia.

Currently Chookagian is a free agent and no one knows who she’ll be facing next or in what promotion. We hope to see her in the Octagon soon.