Preview: UFC on ESPN 36 ‘Blachowicz vs. Rakic’

Women’s Flyweights

#1 FLW | Katlyn Chookagian (17-4, 10-4 UFC) vs. #9 SW | Amanda Ribas (11-2, 5-1 UFC)

ODDS: Chookagian (-170), Ribas (+150)

This is a strange pairing, in part because Ribas moving up to flyweight—however short-lived it may be—was not on anyone’s radar. Ribas’ UFC debut was delayed roughly two years due to issues with USADA, but the Brazilian was a revelation once she hit the Octagon, stringing together multiple impressive performances while showing a superstar level of bubbly charisma. Ribas is a powerful and well-rounded athlete, capable of blasting her opponents on the feet and seemingly impossible to outgrapple. A 2019 win over Mackenzie Dern, during which Ribas had no difficulty engaging with the longtime Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt on the mat, that marked the Brazilian as a potential title contender. Ribas’ momentum slowed a bit after a loss to Marina Rodriguez in 2021, as she got caught with a knockout out of nowhere, but she rebounded well with an impressive win over Virna Jandiroba. Slated for a strawweight bout against Michelle Waterson at two different points this year, Ribas instead makes this unexpected move to flyweight for what figures to be a tough matchup against Chookagian. Initially a bantamweight in the UFC, Chookagian dropped down to 125 pounds as soon as the UFC opened the division and has hung around near the top of the rankings ever since. Chookagian’s style has traditionally been built around an evasive and low-powered striking approach meant to neutralize her opponents, though she has done well to mix in some pressure as needed and, in particular, add some wrestling to her repertoire. “Blonde Fighter” is still a tried-and-true neutralizer. The most dynamic finishers in the division—Valentina Shevchenko and Jessica Andrade—have been able to handle her, but otherwise, Chookagian can use her reach and footwork to outmaneuver her opponents and make things ugly. Ribas is persistent enough that she will likely find some moments of success, particularly with her wrestling, but this looks like another fight where Chookagian can coast to a steady if uninspiring win. Even if the lack of a weight cut unlocks some additional athleticism for Ribas, she was not a particularly large strawweight and should be outgunned from a size standpoint. The pick is Chookagian via decision.

Blachowicz vs. Rakic
Cutelaba vs. Spann
Grant vs. Smolka
Chookagian vs. Ribas
Camacho vs. Torres
Hadley vs. Nascimento
The Prelims