Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Katlyn Chookagian
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Pulls upset over Cynthia Calvillo
Chookagian defeated Cynthia Calvillo via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) at UFC 255 on Saturday in Las Vegas.
ANALYSIS
It was an easy victory for Chookagian and one that leaves the division in an even more difficult place than they were entering the evening. Katlyn is a one-dimensional striker with zero power but the smaller Calvillo was content with turning this into a kickboxing match and Chookagian used her size to take full advantage. She threw plenty of kicks to keep Calvillo off balance and on the outside. The fact Chookagian remains in the title picture at 125 pounds says more about the division than anything Katlyn has done inside the octagon. She's defeated lesser fighters but has been destroyed by the two best fighters the division has to offer in Valentina Shevchenko and Jessica Andrade. The UFC would never be able to justify booking Chookagian against either of those women any time soon and that means Katlyn will have to keep racking up the victories in order to stay relevant at flyweight.
It was an easy victory for Chookagian and one that leaves the division in an even more difficult place than they were entering the evening. Katlyn is a one-dimensional striker with zero power but the smaller Calvillo was content with turning this into a kickboxing match and Chookagian used her size to take full advantage. She threw plenty of kicks to keep Calvillo off balance and on the outside. The fact Chookagian remains in the title picture at 125 pounds says more about the division than anything Katlyn has done inside the octagon. She's defeated lesser fighters but has been destroyed by the two best fighters the division has to offer in Valentina Shevchenko and Jessica Andrade. The UFC would never be able to justify booking Chookagian against either of those women any time soon and that means Katlyn will have to keep racking up the victories in order to stay relevant at flyweight.
Expected to face Cynthia Calvillo
Chookagian is expected to face Cynthia Calvillo in a flyweight matchup at UFC 255 on Nov. 21, Brett Okamoto of ESPN reports.
ANALYSIS
The matchup isn't quite finalized, but the pair appear set to meet in Las Vegas in a few weeks. Chookagian will be looking to bounce back from a first-round knockout loss against Jessica Andrade in October, her second loss in three fights this year. Calvillo is undefeated in her last four fights, losing just once in 10 matches as a professional. Chookagian has major height and reach advantages which should help her on the feet, but she's historically struggled against grapplers like Calvillo. In Chookagian's four losses with the UFC, she's been taken down a combined nine times, and also sports a worrisome 48 percent takedown defense overall. Calvillo averages 1.97 takedowns per 15 minutes of fight time, and lands with a 46 percent accuracy.
The matchup isn't quite finalized, but the pair appear set to meet in Las Vegas in a few weeks. Chookagian will be looking to bounce back from a first-round knockout loss against Jessica Andrade in October, her second loss in three fights this year. Calvillo is undefeated in her last four fights, losing just once in 10 matches as a professional. Chookagian has major height and reach advantages which should help her on the feet, but she's historically struggled against grapplers like Calvillo. In Chookagian's four losses with the UFC, she's been taken down a combined nine times, and also sports a worrisome 48 percent takedown defense overall. Calvillo averages 1.97 takedowns per 15 minutes of fight time, and lands with a 46 percent accuracy.
Gets stopped cold in first round
Chookagian lost to Jessica Andrade via TKO (punches to the body) at 4:55 of Round 1 at UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Abu Dhabi.
ANALYSIS
Chookagian was seemingly getting her timing down after a shaky start to Round 1, using her height and length to fire jabs and knees up the middle. A clinch situation at the end of the frame became her undoing, however, as she was visibly hurt by a shot to the body after the two seperated. Chookagian clearly has skills as a kickboxer and a BJJ brown belt but simply had trouble handling the pressure of the relentless Andrade. If she can string two wins together, she may get back to the top in short order, as this division lacks many true contenders for the strap. She falls to 14-4 in professional MMA as a result of the loss.
Chookagian was seemingly getting her timing down after a shaky start to Round 1, using her height and length to fire jabs and knees up the middle. A clinch situation at the end of the frame became her undoing, however, as she was visibly hurt by a shot to the body after the two seperated. Chookagian clearly has skills as a kickboxer and a BJJ brown belt but simply had trouble handling the pressure of the relentless Andrade. If she can string two wins together, she may get back to the top in short order, as this division lacks many true contenders for the strap. She falls to 14-4 in professional MMA as a result of the loss.
Will welcome Andrade to flyweight
Chookagian will take on Jessica Andrade in a flyweight matchup at the UFC event scheduled for Oct. 17, Guilherme Cruz of MMAFighting.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Chookagian will tower over Andrade when the two step in the cage, as she's eight inches taller with a six-inch reach advantage. That's not to discount Andrade, however, as "Bate Estaca" throws with tremendous striking volume, and also averages more than a takedown per round in the UFC. Chookagian, on the other hand, sports just a 50 percent takedown defense. Chookagian won't be getting a title shot again any time soon after getting stopped via strikes against Valentina Shevchenko in February, but she's been successful against the rest of the division, and this is a fight against a well-respected opponent that could certainly keep her name relevant.
Chookagian will tower over Andrade when the two step in the cage, as she's eight inches taller with a six-inch reach advantage. That's not to discount Andrade, however, as "Bate Estaca" throws with tremendous striking volume, and also averages more than a takedown per round in the UFC. Chookagian, on the other hand, sports just a 50 percent takedown defense. Chookagian won't be getting a title shot again any time soon after getting stopped via strikes against Valentina Shevchenko in February, but she's been successful against the rest of the division, and this is a fight against a well-respected opponent that could certainly keep her name relevant.
Rebounds with dominant win
Chookagian defeated Antonina Shevchenko via unanimous decision (30-25, 30-25, 30-25) at UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Las Vegas.
ANALYSIS
Chookagian was destroyed by Valentina Shevchenko in her UFC Women's Flyweight Title fight in February, but she got a measure of revenge by dominating Valentina's older sister Saturday. Buoyed by her wrestling and upper-body strength, Chookagian got Antonina to the mat moments after the bell rang in both Rounds 1 and 2 and was able to keep her there for the majority of each frame. This fight could have been over extremely quickly had Shevchenko not been able to survive a couple of deep submission attempts. Chookagian was less effective in the final frame, but the fight was long over by then. Katlyn is in a tough spot moving forward. She's an impressive 7-3 with the UFC, but all of her victories have come via decision and she is clearly not on the level of Valentina. No one will be clamoring for that rematch any time soon (or ever) so expect Chookagian to continue to fight all sorts of different opponents in the immediate future.
Chookagian was destroyed by Valentina Shevchenko in her UFC Women's Flyweight Title fight in February, but she got a measure of revenge by dominating Valentina's older sister Saturday. Buoyed by her wrestling and upper-body strength, Chookagian got Antonina to the mat moments after the bell rang in both Rounds 1 and 2 and was able to keep her there for the majority of each frame. This fight could have been over extremely quickly had Shevchenko not been able to survive a couple of deep submission attempts. Chookagian was less effective in the final frame, but the fight was long over by then. Katlyn is in a tough spot moving forward. She's an impressive 7-3 with the UFC, but all of her victories have come via decision and she is clearly not on the level of Valentina. No one will be clamoring for that rematch any time soon (or ever) so expect Chookagian to continue to fight all sorts of different opponents in the immediate future.