Does Katlyn Chookagian know something the rest of us don’t?
Chookagian (13-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC) appears to have gotten the nod to fight Shevchenko primarily because, well, the UFC needed to put someone in that slot. We’re not going to pretend women’s flyweight is the company’s deepest weight class, and we’re not going to pretend Chookagian brings the intrigue of Shevchenko’s fights with Amanda Nunes or Joanna Jedrzejcyzk.
However, Chookagian is 13-2 for a reason. She’s won five of her past six fights, and the only loss in the span was a debatable split decision against a fellow title challenger in Jessica Eye.
Chookagian is a point fighter, having gone the distance in all eight of her UFC fights. She’s unapologetic about her approach and she said she has no intention of changing her game plan heading Shevchenko fight.
Maybe, just maybe, that’s the answer to the riddle Shevchenko poses.
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