“I think I’ve grown a lot, both in my technical game and as an athlete,” Maia said. “I made changes to make weight in a better way. And after I fought the champion, after I had a tough fight against Valentina, that, for me, was a real growth as an athlete.”
There is no doubt that Maia wants another shot to take down Shevchenko and become champion, and defeating Chookagian could potentially put Maia right back in the title picture, as she currently sits at the No. 4 ranked flyweight, while Chookagian sits in the No. 2 spot.
Chookagian’s reach could be a challenging aspect for Maia, and she acknowledged that. Chookagian stands at 5’9 with a 68-inch reach and a 42-inch leg reach, while the Brazilian is 5’4 with a 64-inch reach and a 38-inch leg reach. During the bout, Maia must be cautious to not let Chookagian dictate the fight with her size and movement.
