Tag: Katlyn Chookagian

The UFC’s latest pay-per-view offering sees two of the most dominant champions in the organization return to action in Houston at UFC 247. Light heavyweight champion [autotag]Jon Jones[/autotag] will look to add another victim to his growing list when he faces undefeated challenger [autotag]Dominick Reyes[/autotag], while women’s flyweight champion [autotag]Valentina Shevchenko[/autotag] puts her title on the line against [autotag]Katlyn Chookagian[/autotag].

Both challengers are long-odds underdogs to capture championship gold, but can an argument be made for either contender causing an upset? That’s the question MMA Junkie’s Farah Hannoun, Simon Head and Nolan King attempt to answer in the latest edition of Triple Take.

Farah Hannoun: “And Still” – Jones and Shevchenko retain

Jones and Shevchenko are two of the most dominant champions in the UFC.

UFC light heavyweight champ Jones has yet to lose, minus that one disqualification on his record. He has run through competition across all generations and has continued to reign supreme. He’s also faced every kind of opponent, from striking specialist Lyoto Machida, to the tall and rangy Alexander Gustafsson, to Olympic-level wrestler Daniel Cormier, and he has prevailed in all tests.

Saturday, Jones takes on undefeated Reyes, who has shown power and accuracy in his hands. He’s also one of the taller opponents Jones has faced, which at times, has proven to be a little tougher of a challenge for him.

But Jones comes at you with different techniques on the feet, a strong clinch, as well as the ability to take things to the mat. He’s comfortable everywhere, and quite frankly, there’s nothing he hasn’t seen in the octagon before. Can Reyes catch him? Sure – it’s a fight, and Reyes is talented. But I think Jones will be too much on the night and has far more experience than Reyes, who’s only competed six times in the UFC.

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UFC flyweight champ Shevchenko is another very well-rounded fighter. The former bantamweight was forced to compete in a weight class in which she was undersized, yet was able to beat the likes of former 135-pound champ Holly Holm, as well as Julianna Pena.

But once the UFC 125-pound division was introduced, Shevchenko found her home. She captured the vacant flyweight title with a dominant win over former strawweight queen Joanna Jedrzejczyk and already has notched two title defenses.

Shevchenko has a phenomenal striking background, mixing it up with punches, kicks, elbows and knees. She has used her ever-improving ground game in wins over Pena and Jedrzejczyk and her undeniable striking power when she knocked out Jessica Eye with a brutal head kick.

Against Chookagian, she will have a 4-inch height disadvantage. Chookagian is very comfortable and well-versed on her feet and is a brown belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. But I’d give the edge to Shevchenko in every aspect of the fight. I just think she does everything a little better than Chookagian, and has certainly faced tougher competition.

Chookagian will definitely be game, though, and I don’t expect Shevchenko to take her lightly. But ultimately, I see Shevchenko’s hand being raised by the end of the night.

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