Free agent Katlyn Chookagian hopes to re-sign with UFC after UFC on ESPN 32 win

LAS VEGAS – Katlyn Chookagian is hoping to continue to be a UFC fighter.

The former women’s flyweight title challenger is a free agent after the UFC chose not to offer her a new contract upon the expiration of her latest deal.

Chookagian (17-4 MMA, 10-4 UFC) fought out the last fight on her contract this Saturday on the main card of UFC on ESPN 32. She beat Jennifer Maia by unanimous decision in a rematch from a 2019 fight, which Chookagian also won.

Chookagian is surprised the UFC let her fight out her contract and hasn’t yet offered her a new deal.

“The first time I heard it, I was a little shocked,” Chookagian told reporters at the UFC on ESPN 32 post-fight news conference. “Being (ranked) No. 2 coming off a two-fight win streak … I beat, I don’t know what ranks they are, but No. 2, 3, 4, 5. I beat most girls who are in the top 10 already with dominant performances, so I thought it was just kind of a given.

“I think for a day, I was thrown back a bit. But then it’s like, ‘Whatever.’ You just have to fight. So I’ve been focused on the fight. I was confident. I knew I would win. I was just like, ‘Whatever.’ If I get a dominant performance, I’d be coming off a three-fight win streak going into the next contract instead of a two-fight. It was just a little more motivation.”

Chookagian is uncertain what the future may hold, but one thing is for certain: She wants to remain a UFC fighter.

“I don’t know – we’ll see. This was the last fight on my contract,
Chookagian said. “I think the UFC needs to re-sign me before I think about that. I mean, I’m on a three-fight win streak – I think all top five opponents. So I’m hoping they’ll re-sign me.

“They didn’t want to extend my fight contract before this, so hopefully I proved I belong here. I’m No. 2 in the division. I’ve been No. 1 or No. 2 in the division for three or four years since the division started. I have just as many wins as (champion) Valentina (Shevchenko). I’ve probably beaten more top-10 fighters than any other fighter in the UFC – male or female. This is my 13th UFC fight and I think all but two were top-10 opponents.”

UFC president Dana White was asked about Chookagian’s future in the company following the event.

“She’s a free agent right now,” White said. “I don’t know – that was between her and Mick (Maynard), that deal with her. We’ll see what happens. We’ll get back in the room on Tuesday and figure out what’s next.”