A new contender for the Ultimate Fighting Championship women’s flyweight title might be on the horizon. In March, specifically on the 9th, the UFC is set to host the pay-per-view card of UFC 299.
MMA Mania broke the news on Wednesday. They revealed that Katlyn Chookagian (18-5) is planning her return to the cage after a hiatus of nearly a year and a half. Her opponent? Maycee Barber (13-2).
Both women confirmed their participation in this 125-pound contender pairing. They took to their social media profiles to announce the news. The fight is set to take place in Miami, likely at the Kaseya Center.
Chookagian’s last appearance was at UFC 280 in October 2022. It wasn’t her best outing. She was defeated by Manon Fiorot and her four-fight win streak came to an abrupt end.
From 2020 to 2022, Chookagian had a successful run. She defeated Amanda Ribas, Jennifer Maia, Viviane Araujo, and Cynthia Calvillo. This restored her status as a top contender. In the last five years, she has only lost four times. Her most notable loss was against Valentina Shevchenko at UFC 247.
Barber, on the other hand, has been on a roll since her loss to future champ Alexa Grasso at UFC 258 in 2021. She has won five straight fights. In her most recent fight, she defeated Ribas with a flurry of punches and elbows.
UFC 299 is expected to take place at the Kaseya Center in Miami on March 9. However, this has not yet been confirmed. The main event is a rematch for the bantamweight gold. Sean O’Malley is set to face off against former opponent Marlon Vera.
Other fights booked for this event include a bantamweight match between Pedro Munhoz and Kyler Phillips. There’s also a flyweight clash between C.J. Vergara and Asu Almabaev. A welterweight thriller between Gilbert Burns and Jack Della Maddalena has been linked to this event, but it’s not official yet.