UFC flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko is set to take on her next challenge in Katlyn Chookagian at UFC 247. The fight will be co-main event and will take place on February 8 at the Toyota Center.
The fight is slated to serve as a co-main event for a light heavyweight title bout between Jon Jones and Dominick Reyes.
Ahead of her title fight, she gave her thoughts on her opponent Chookagian during a conference call.
“I think it’s going to be a good fight. Katlyn will put everything inside the Octagon. Being in the position I’m in right now, it’s pushing me to train harder than anyone. Every training is like a mini-competition. I’m ready for anything, It doesn’t matter what my opponent has.”
“I want to be the best, everyone says this but few can do it. You have to keep your goals inside you. When people prepare for action and have this goal, they think first and then do. In my mind, it’s do first and think later.”
Thoughts on opponent, Katlyn Chookagian? When and why did you start training for fighting?
I started training Taekwondo when I was five years old because it’s a family tradition. My mother is the sportswoman of the family – she is a 3rd dan black belt in taekwondo. I have been training multiple disciplines since the early beginnings of my journey as a martial artist. My coach Pavel Fedotov has taught all his students mixed martial arts (what he called Universal Martial Arts) long before they were popular like
today. Every time we trained, we practised sambo, judo, wrestling, boxing, and taekwondo. Every week we competed in different styles and sometimes at two different events with different styles on the same day. I have been training mixed martial arts (MMA) since the beginning, and I started competing in MMA professionally in 2003.
What ranks and titles have you held? UFC women’s flyweight champion?
World Championship Titles (17-Time World Muay Thai and K1 Champion). Master of Sport International Class in Muay Thai, Master of Sport in Boxing (Russian Amateur National Champion), Kickboxing, Taekwondo and Judo.
Do you have any heroes?
My heroes are my family, my friends, and my supporters.
What does it mean for you to fight in the UFC?
It means having the opportunity to compete against the best fighters in the world.
Did you go to college and if so what degree did you earn?
The University of Arts Kyrgystan, Undergraduate Degree in Film Directing.
What was your job before you started fighting?
I have been a fighter in combat sports since the age of 12.
Specific accomplishments in amateur competition?
FMA (International Muay Thai Federation) Champion – 9 Times
UFC 247 UNDERCARD
- Champ Jon Jones vs. Dominick Reyes – for the light heavyweight title
- Champ Valentina Shevchenko vs. Katlyn Chookagian – for women’s flyweight title
- Derrick Lewis vs. Ilir Latifi
- Mirsad Bektic vs. Dan Ige
- Ovince Saint Preux vs. Ryan Spann
- Andrea Lee vs. Lauren Murphy
- Juan Adams vs. Justin Tafa
Who do you guys think wins in a fight between Valentina Shevchenko and Katlyn Chookagian?
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Katlyn Chookagian speaks about her fighting origins: ‘I started Karate when I was four!’
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