Inching closer to a title shot against Valentina Shevchenko with a decisive win at UFC 244, Katlyn Chookagian is staying ready.
New York, NY — Coming out of her win against Jennifer Maia at UFC 244 on Saturday night, Katlyn Chookagian spoke of a “a different calmness around fight week.”
“I always want to win where ever I am,” she explained, speaking to reporters including Cageside Press. But being at home, where she could train at Renzo Gracie’s Academy and be around her friends, contributed to that calmness.
“Last time I was in Madison Square Garden, I got my first loss, so I was definitely happy to be back with redemption,” she added.
Redemption, and her fourth win in five flyweight fights in the UFC. After the bout, Chookagian had but one name on her lips: Valentina Shevchenko.
The 125lb champion does not have a dance partner currently, and Chookagian certainly fits the bill. Asked about the fight by reporters backstage, ‘Blonde Fighter’ said she’d take it “Whenever they give it to me.”
“Valentina, as everyone knows, she’s always down to fight. She likes to stay very active,” noted Chookagian. “She hasn’t fought in a while, but she did fight I think like three times this year. There’s a lot of fights that are already booked. So you never know. I’ll stay ready, whenever it comes, I’m ready to go.”
As for how she matches up with the champ, Chookagian answered by saying “really good. I think we’re both counter-strikers. I’ve been sparring lefties for the last year, because I knew that she was a lefty. I’m excited, I think I match up with her really well.”
Whenever that fight comes, should it be made, she’ll be ready. For now, Katlyn Chookagian can revel in the moment. A job well done at UFC 244. One that came with some extra cash in the end, thanks to Maia missing weight.
“It makes it better because I get more money,” Chookagian joked. “I was like ‘yep!’ I knew she came in heavy, and I was like ‘I hope this girl weights a pound over so I can get some extra money.'”
Having said that, Chookagian added that she was just hoping there weren’t any medical issues that would have scrapped the fight. For her part, she had no thought of declining it after the weight miss. “It’s a pound, I don’t care. I’m going to fight.”
Watch the full UFC 244 post-fight press scrum with Katlyn Chookagian above!
