A chance to face flyweight champ Valentina Shevchenko following UFC 244 is a big motivating factor for Jennifer Maia.

New York, NY — Jennifer Maia’s fight with Katlyn Chookagian at UFC 244 was widely seen as a title eliminator. Whether it stays that way, after Maia missed weight for the bout at the official weigh-in Friday morning, remains to be seen.

Stranger things have happened. After all, Yoel Romero was granted a title shot despite missing weight in his previous outing. Maybe Maia could as well.

In any case, before the drama at the scales on Friday, Maia spoke to Cageside Press about her fight with Cookagian at UFC 244 in NYC. “I’m happy. It’s a special card, the first time in New York,” she said via translator.

The bottom line, beyond Maia being happy to be in a key fight on a major card, is that she’s been “training hard.”

And the title, of course, is the goal. Maia sees herself as “going up in the division.” And should she come out victorious in her next fight, “I hope the fighter is Valentina [Shevchenko],” she said, adding that she’s “ready for this.”

Time will tell if Friday’s mishap at the scales changes that. But for now, Maia will look to build on a two-fight win streak at UFC 244.

Jennifer Maia vs. Katlyn Chookagian takes place Saturday, November 2 at UFC 244 in New York, NY.