Katlyn Chookagian has inked a new UFC deal, signed with new management and found herself a fight.
Chookagian is now being represented by Dominance MMA’s Ali Abdelaziz and will take on Amanda Ribas at the UFC’s Fight Night event May 14, which likely will take place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas with a broadcast on ESPN and ESPN+.
Two people with knowledge of the matchup recently informed MMA Junkie of the booking but asked to remain anonymous since the promotion has yet to make an official announcement. Combate was first to report the booking, whereas The Underground was first to report Chookagian’s new management.
Chookagian (17-4 MMA, 10-4 UFC) has won four of her past five since losing to flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko at UFC 247 in February 2020. The 33-year-old is coming off three straight wins over Cynthia Calvillo, Viviane Araujo, and most recently Jennifer Maia at UFC on ESPN 32 in January.
Ribas (11-2 MMA, 5-1 UFC), who dabbled at flyweight when she defeated Paige VanZant at UFC 251, will try her hand at 125 pounds once again. After suffering her first octagon setback to Marina Rodriguez at UFC 257, Brazil’s Ribas rebounded with a unanimous decision win over Virna Jandiroba at UFC 267 this past October. She was scheduled to face Michelle Waterson at UFC 274, but the fight was scrapped after Waterson withdrew due to injury.
With the addition, the UFC’s May 14 lineup now includes:
- Ion Cutelaba vs. Ryan Spann
- Viviane Araujo vs. Andrea Lee
- Frank Camacho vs. Manuel Torres
- Jamall Emmers vs. Daniel Pineda
- Angela Hill vs. Virna Jandiroba
- Nick Maximov vs. Andre Petroski
- Jake Hadley vs. Allan Nascimento
- Davey Grant vs. Louis Smolka
- Katlyn Chookagian vs. Amanda Ribas