One of the best flyweights in the UFC is staying put. MMA Junkie reported yesterday that the promotion and “Blonde Fighter” Katlyn Chookagian (17-4) have come to terms on a new contract and they finalized her next upcoming fight.
Combate was the first to report a couple of weeks ago that the UFC had been working towards a matchup between Chookagian and Amanda Ribas (11-2). While that fight was agreed to in principle, there were just some t’s to cross and i’s to dot on Chookagian’s new contract.
Chookagian also hired Ali Abdelaziz to be her new representative per The Underground. Abdelaziz was instrumental in getting her new UFC contract done. Chookagian will enter this May 14th contest riding a three-fight winning streak.
Her ultimate goal is to get another crack at the champion Valentina Shevchenko. In her last eight UFC fights, Chookagian is 6-2 with the two losses coming against Shevchenko and former UFC strawweight champion Jessica Andrade.
UFC Test for Ribas
Originally, Amanda Ribas was set to face off against Michelle Waterson on the May 14th Fight Night. However, Waterson had to have surgery and ultimately had to pull out of the fight. The UFC is perhaps giving Ribas a blessing in disguise with this matchup.
While a fight with Waterson was a matchup between fan-favorites, this matchup is much better for Ribas’ spot in the division. If Ribas is able to go in there and beat Katlyn Chookagian next month, it’s massive for her career.
After entering the UFC at 6-1 professionally, Ribas won her first four fights. Two of those wins came against the likes of Mackenzie Dern and Paige VanZant. After that start, she was booked to face off against Marina Rodriguez at UFC 257.
Ribas looked great in the first round of their fight. However, she was stopped less than a minute into the second round. After taking some time to regroup, Ribas returned last October when she took on fellow Brazilian Virna Jandiroba.
It was a big time performance for Ribas and she was able to get back to her winning ways. Now, she has the biggest fight of her UFC career in terms of rankings.