CHICAGO – Joanne Calderwood has been honest in her opinion about Katlyn Chookagian since their fight was announced for UFC 238. Now that she’s gone through the training camp, she admits it presented some challenges.

Calderwood (13-3 MMA, 5-3 UFC) said she thrives off knowing an opponent presents danger inside the octagon. Chookagian (11-2 MMA, 4-2 UFC) doesn’t offer much of that in her eyes, and it has somewhat dampened her spirit.

“I’m always impressed with any fighter no matter what their style is,” Calderwood told MMA Junkie on Wednesday. “I just don’t really see the style for her as one that gets me excited to fight against because I like going in knowing there’s a war ahead of me. I feel she’s a counter fighter and doesn’t want to engage, and that’s the part that bothers me.”

UFC 238 takes place Saturday at United Center. Calderwood vs. Chookagian opens the card on ESPN+/UFC Fight Pass prior to televised prelims on ESPN and the pay-per-view main card.

For Calderwood, No. 13 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie MMA women’s flyweight rankings, fighting No. 6 Chookagian is a necessary task in order to advance in the division. “Blonde Fighter” doesn’t have an easy style to solve, though, and Calderwood believes the onus is on her to push the pace.

“I’ve had to bring someone (to my training camp) that has a kind of longish range and doesn’t engage much,” Calderwood said. “It wasn’t the funnest rounds, but we have a gameplan, and that’s what we were wanting to do and want to get in there and see what I can do to make it exciting.”

Calderwood said she doesn’t feel alone in her thoughts on Chookagian’s style. She was “shocked” to learn she was the opening fight on the card for the first time in her career and made it clear it’s not a spot she relishes.

“I don’t want to be first fight of the night again,” Calderwood said. “For sure I’m going to go in there, and the violence comes out, and I excite and perform and never be first fight again.”

For more on UFC 238, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.