After losing to Valentina Shevchenko, can Katlyn Chookagian beat her sister instead?
If we didn’t know better, we’d think the UFC matchmakers were playing with [autotag]Katlyn Chookagian[/autotag]’s head. Just when she’d thought she’d seen the last of the Valentina Shevchenko – at least for a while – former UFC women’s flyweight title challenger Chookagian (13-3 MMA, 6-3 UFC) has been booked to face Valentina’s sister, Antonina (8-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC), in her very next fight.
That fight is this Saturday, where Chookagian will not only have to face the reigning UFC champion’s sister, she’ll also have to do it with her nemesis watching from the shadows in Antonina’s corner. To make it worse, she’ll be fighting in an empty arena, which will be punctuated by Valentina’s voice as she barks instructions at her sister during the fight.
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They’re all additional distractions Chookagian could do well without. She fought hard to get her chance at the title, and after losing out to “Bullet,” she’ll have to work even harder to convince the matchmakers she’s worthy of a rematch.
A big win over the champion’s sister, followed by a strong callout, would certainly help her case.
Next up: No crowd, no problem?
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