UFC 244: Katlyn Chookagian bullies Jennifer Maia, looks for a title fight against Shevchenko

Fighting in New York for the third time, Katlyn Chookagian knew the risks of facing Jennifer Maia at UFC 244. The clear number one contender at flyweight, Chookagian put it all on the line against someone who didn’t make weight and was on a two-fight win streak. Inside Madison Square Garden, Chookagian’s gamble paid off.

“Blonde Fighter” defeated Maia via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28), winning her second in a row and is 5-1 in her last six fights. After the bout, Chookagian (13-2) once again called for a fight against UFC Flyweight Champion Valentina Shevchenko. Having a feeling she will be passed by again, The PA/NJ native had other alternatives.

“The UFC knows exactly who I want,” Chookagian stated after the fight. “If they’re not going to give it to me, I’m going to keep taking down every girl in the top five until they give it to me.”

Chookagian dominated the fight from the get-go. She utilized her fast jab to keep Maia (17-6-1) on the outside. After she was done with punches, Katlyn used her classic kicks to the body, with a few to the head as well. While Maia threw more punches, she couldn’t execute them with the same accuracy as Katlyn. The latter’s versatility was the key part of the bout, as her defensive skills allowed her to move around smoothly in order to gain any offensive advantage.

New York's own!@BlondeFighter gets it done at #UFC244 pic.twitter.com/KrCyPe8rNC

— UFC (@ufc) November 2, 2019

The first two rounds were all Chookagian, as Maia had no choice but to play her game. Maia managed a late takedown in the third along with a few swift kicks, but it was all for naught. Every so often, Chookagian would hit multiple combinations. While not all of them landed, the judges saw that as the ultimate sign of dominance.

Maia is now 2-2 in her last four fights. The hope is that Shevchenko is next for Katlyn. “Blond Fighter” had to turn down a proposed fight back in September due to her wedding. With nothing holding either fighter back now, the fight makes the most sense. If anything, both fighters should be well-rested for a fight in the early stages of 2020.