Jessica Andrade is out of her fight with Manon Fiorot at UFC: Paris (aka UFC Fight Night 209) on September 3rd due to a medical issue and so Katlyn Chookagian has now been drafted in to replace here.
It’s an unusual situation because Andrade had actually come in to replace Chookagian when she withdrew for unknown reasons a month ago, but it seems that ‘Blonde Fighter’ is able to fight after all and so that makes life much easier for the matchmakers.
The 33-year-old Chookagian comes into the fight riding a four-fight winning streak, having beaten the likes of Cynthia Calvillo, Viviane Araujo, Jennifer Maia and most recently Amanda Ribas, sealing her spot as the No.1 contender in the division.
That’s not been enough to secure here a second title shot at 125lbs though and so she’ll also have to get past the 32-year-old Fiorot, who also happens to have racked up four wins in a row since joining the UFC just last year.
It’s a run that started with TKO wins against Victoria Leonardo and Tabatha Ricci, while decision victories against Mayra Bueno Silva and Jennifer Maia have followed to secure the No.6 spot on the flyweight ladder.
Chookagian vs. Fiorot features on a UFC: Paris card that will be headlined by Ciryl Gane vs. Derrick Lewis, with Robert Whittaker vs. Marvin Vettori taking the co-main event spot.