Chookagian Will ‘Dominate’ Shevchenko For UFC 247 Shocker!

Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

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 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.

MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC 247 fight card below, starting with the ESPN+/Fight Pass “Prelims” matches online, which are scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. ET, then the remaining undercard balance on ESPN at 8 p.m. ET, before the PPV main card start time at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN+.