Katlyn Chookagian-Maycee Barber Flyweight Tilt Booked for UFC 299

Another Ultimate Fighting Championship women’s flyweight title challenger might emerge in March.

On March 9, the organization will be running the pay-per-view card of UFC 299. MMA Mania broke the news on Wednesday that Katlyn Chookagian (18-5) will be making her comeback to the cage after nearly a year and a half off against Maycee Barber (13-2) at this show. Both women confirmed their involvement in this 125-pound contender pairing on their social media profiles, while also stating that it will go down in Miami, presumably at the Kaseya Center.

This will be the first appearance for Chookagian since an unsuccessful outing against Manon Fiorot at UFC 280 in October 2022. The New Jersey native fell short to Fiorot on the scorecards, which put a halt to a four-fight win streak—all by decision. In her run from 2020 to 2022 that restored her status as a top contender, she defeated Amanda Ribas, Jennifer Maia, Viviane Araujo and Cynthia Calvillo. In the last five years, Chookagian has only come up short four times, most notably for the belt against Valentina Shevchenko at UFC 247. The veteran is currently tied with the most fights in her division (13) along with the most victories (nine).

Since her loss to future champ Alexa Grasso at UFC 258 in 2021, Barber has been a woman possessed, prevailing in five straight. In her most recent appearance, Barber wrecked Ribas with punches and elbows. Before that victory, she topped Andrea Lee, Jessica Eye, Montana De La Rosa and squeaked by Miranda Maverick. Barber is one shy of Shevchenko’s record for the most knockouts in women’s 125-pound history with three.

UFC 299 will presumably go down inside of the Kaseya Center in Miami—although that destination has not yet been confirmed—on March 9. The main attraction will see a rematch for bantamweight gold as Sean O'Malley tries to hold the line against former foe Marlon Vera. Other fights booked for this event thus far include a bantamweight banger pitting Pedro Munhoz against Kyler Phillips, and a flyweight clash when C.J. Vergara meets Asu Almabaev. A welterweight thriller between Gilbert Burns and Jack Della Maddalena has also been linked to this billing, but it has not been made official.