Las Vegas, NV – When Katlyn Chookagian left the UFC Apex in January after defeating Jennifer Maia in their rematch, she was unsure about her future. She wasn’t confident that she would receive a new contract, and there was some doubt that she would fight in the UFC again.
“I wasn’t super confident [that I would get a new contract]. Just because I didn’t think I would be in that position to have to fight out my contract. So, I wasn’t super confident. You never know. Even coming off of a win, I wasn’t very sure,” Chookagian told Cageside Press during this week’s UFC Vegas 54 media day. “Especially after the following week, when I didn’t really hear anything. I was like, ‘okay’, you know what I mean? Like, is there something gonna happen? But I’m happy that it all worked out because, I’m such a fan of the UFC, and I want to fight at the best level. I mean, you could go anywhere else and fight, and you know, that’s great. But the UFC is a whole different level. And I want to fight at the highest level.”
With her new contract, the No. 1 ranked flyweight welcomes Amanda Ribas back to the division. The 33-year-old was surprised that the Brazilian was coming back to the division and especially that she accepted the fight with her.
“Yeah, I was super surprised. They asked me if I wanted to fight Amanda Ribas; I was like, wait, what weight class? 125? I didn’t hear anything about her wanting to move up. So I was a little shocked,” Chookagian said. “I was like, yeah, definitely, but I was like, ‘Oh, she’s probably not going to say yes.’ And then they came back and said she said yes… So, I was like, ‘wait, why did she say yes, to me?’ I was like ‘ew.’… But yeah, I’m excited. I’ll fight anyone. I don’t really care.”
Watch the rest of Katlyn Chookagian’s UFC Vegas 54 media day interview above. More coverage can be found below. The event takes place Saturday, May 14, 2022 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada.
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