Katlyn Chookagian

Professional UFC Fighter

Eagle Moon Hemp Fight Team

Katlyn is a professional MMA fighter. Her amateur career began in 2012 and she transitioned to professional fighting in 2014. Two years later Chookagian had her UFC debut. She currently ranks #2 in the UFC women’s flyweight division and she is #10 in the UFC women’s pound for pound rankings. Chookagian is currently one of the top female flyweight competitors in the world.

The Beginning For Katlyn Chookagian

Katlyn Chookagian was born December 28, 1988 in Quakertown, Pennsylvania. She has one older brother. Like many younger siblings Chookagian wanted to do whatever her big brother did. When he got into karate, she did too — at 4 years old. Chookagian graduated from Quakertown Community Senior High School. Her first job was at Q-Mart. She also trained kids in martial arts while in High School and College.

When she started High School Chookagian became interested in boxing and began competing early. By the time she was sixteen she’d won the Pennsylvania Golden Gloves. Later, she trained in Jiujitsu and in mixed martial arts grappling.

Chookagain credits her mother with being the greatest influence in her life. Following after her brother as she did, Chookagain became a bit of a tomboy. Her mother supported her martial arts training at first because it was a means for her to defend herself. She would pick Chookagain up from High School, drive her two hours to her boxing training, wait for the class to end, and then drive them both back home. Chookagain explains how her mother always pushed her to be the best at whatever she chose to do, without being “being a crazy athlete parent.”

At Fairleigh Dickinson University Chookagain earned a degree in Business Marketing and Management. Over the last year she has been studying real estate investing so she’ll have a full-time job when she eventually retires from fighting. Chookagain says the best thing that ever happened to her was marrying her husband, Kyle Cermaria, in September, 2019. Chookagain says not only is Kyle her best friend but he has been a powerful force of motivation, pushing her to achieve more than she could imagine without him.

Amateur Career

Chookagain began her amateur fighting career in 2012. Over the next year and a half, she developed a 7-0 record. She also acquired amateur titles in three states.

Going Professional

In June of 2014 Chookagain began her professional mixed martial arts career by facing Rebecca Heintzman in CFFC 37 (Cage Fury Fighting Championships). Chookagain won by unanimous decision after three rounds.

She had her second professional fight in September, at WSOF 13 (World Series of Fighting) Vs Brigitte Narcise. The fight ended in another victory, this time a KO 38 seconds in the final round.

After having two fights cancelled, Chookagain fought twice on May 9th, 2015 at PMMAL 9 (PMMAL Hungarian Fight Championship). The first fight, against Linn Wennergren, was a win by unanimous decision. The second fight was yet another victory, this time defeating Melinda Fábián by submission.

Chookagain’s next three fights were with the CFFC. In March she defeated Sijara Eubanks by unanimous decision. In January, 2016 she fought Isabelly Varela and won again by unanimous decision. This win earned her the then vacant CFFC Women’s Flyweight Championship. Finally, in her last fight before joining the UFC, Chookagain moved to bantamweight and defeated Stephanie Bragayrac with a knee KO 45 seconds into the first round. This defeat earned her the CFCC Women’s Bantamweight Championship.

UFC

Chookagain’s UFC debut was in July of 2016 where she defeated Lauren Murphy by unanimous decision. In November she lost to Liz Carmouche via split decision. Chookagain faced Irene Aldana in April, 2017, and won by decision. For her next fight, in January, 2018, she returned to flyweight and won a bout against Mara Romero Borella by unanimous decision. In July Chookagain fought Alexis Davis, winning once again by unanimous decision. She lost her next fight by a split decision against Jessica Eye in December. In June, 2019 Chookagain returned to her winning ways, defeating Joanne Calderwood by unanimous decision.

Chookagain fought Jennifer Maia in November of 2019. At the weigh-ins Maia weighed in at 127.2 pounds, which was 1.2 pounds over the flyweight fight limit of 126 pounds for non-title fights. The competition continued at catchweight, Maia had to pay a fine of 25% of her purse, which went to Chookagain, who defeated Maia by unanimous decision.

Chookagain climbed her way to the top of the division and earned a shot at the UFC Flyweight Championship in February of 2020, but lost to Valentina Shevchenko whom is still currently the champion. In May she faced Valentinas younger sister Antonina Shevchenko, and defeated her via unanimous decision. Chookagian dominated this fight from bell to bell and put on a grappling / takedown clinic. Later, she went on to face another top prospect and rising star in Cynthia Calvillo, but Katlyn was able to derail this hype train and won by unanimous decision, in November.

In May of 2021, Chookagain will be facing Viviane Araújo at UFC 262 in Houston, TX in front of a sold out crown. This will be the second event that UFC has done with a full crowd since the pandemic.

Chookagain lives on the water where she loves to spend time on the beach or in her boat. She also loves to cook and has set herself up with a new career in real estate investing once she retires from MMA.

When she joined the UFC, she tended bar. This worked well for her because she could train during the day with pros and work at night.

When asked what she is most proud of, Chookagain said: “I am most proud of my mindset and always doing what I want to do and making the life I want… there is not any part of my life that I am not obsessed with and I don’t think I’m lucky for that, I think that I work extremely hard and never settled for anything less than what I wanted.”

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