ABU DHABI – [autotag]Manon Fiorot[/autotag] is here at UFC 280 to put on a show and earn a title shot.
Fiorot (9-1 MMA, 4-0 UFC) meets former women’s flyweight title challenger [autotag]Katlyn Chookagian[/autotag] (18-4 MMA, 11-4 UFC) in Saturday’s pay-per-view main card opener at Etihad Arena, which streams on ESPN+ pay-per-view.
Fiorot went from being booked against Chookagian, to Jessica Andrade, and then back to Chookagian. But the rising contender, who is on a nine-fight winning streak, is happy to be fighting the No. 1-ranked flyweight and expects a win to earn her a shot at champion Valentina Shevchenko.
“It’s better for the rankings, because Katyln is higher,” Fiorot told MMA Junkie. “But I respect her. I know she’s one of the most technical fighters in the division, but I win this fight, and I swear it’s not boring.”
She continued, “She’s definitely a gatekeeper, if I can talk like that, but I’m happy, because I’ll show that I can beat the gatekeeper and do my job. .. Definitely after the fight I’ll call out Valentina for the belt.”
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Chookagian has taken out plenty of top flyweight contenders to cement her No. 1 spot. But everything Chookagian does well, Fiorot thinks she does better.
“Most of her wins are by footwork and fight IQ, but I have better,” Fiorot said. “… I’m coming here to do a standup fight, but I really think after the first round she’ll want to wrestle me.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 280.
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