Valentina Shevchenko vs. Katlyn Chookagian is scheduled for five rounds in the co-main event of UFC 247 on February 8.

Shevchenko’s flyweight title is up for grabs on the night, but those looking for the best sites to bet on UFC 247’s penultimate matchup will find that she is a heavy favorite across the board.

As such, those betting on Shevchenko vs. Chookagian and hoping to wager on Shevchenko to win might find odds are a little… well, short. This, unfortunately, comes with the territory when you are one of the greatest female mixed martial artists of all time.

Nevertheless, I think it’s worth taking a look at betting on on the co-main event at UFC 247. After all, Shevchenko will still need to show up for this fight.

In this post I share Shevchenko vs. Chookagian predictions, betting odds, and best bets.

Who Will Win – Shevchenko or Chookagian?

Let’s cut to the chase here — I can’t see anything other than Shevchenko winning this fight.

The 31-year-old looks as close to unbeatable as there is at flyweight, and I can’t see Chookagian being the one to take her title.

I expect Shevchenko to win this fight by way of TKO in the third round.

A technically gifted fighter with proven knockout power, Shevchenko is an incredible fighter to watch. She is a multiple-time Muay Thai, K-1, and kickboxing champion, and one of the most accomplished strikers in MMA.

Her ground game isn’t bad, either.

But as for why I think Shevchenko has too much for Chookagian? Well, stick with me, as I will get into that a little later.

Latest Shevchenko vs. Chookagian Odds

The odds below come from the Bovada sportsbook. They are subject to change, but don’t expect too much movement on either side.

Valentina Shevchenko to Win -1200 Katlyn Chookagian to Win +700

Shevchenko’s odds tell us pretty much everything there is to know about her.

She is essentially the boss at flyweight, and it is difficult to see anyone beating her at this weight. At odds of -1200, the bookmakers clearly see this one as a formality, which is what a fighter like Chookagian will use as fuel heading into the Octagon.

Chookagian’s odds to beat Shevchenko come in at +700, which might be enticing to those who are not familiar with either fighter.

Still, the American will have a puncher’s chance against Shevchenko. No fighter is impervious to being shocked, but it is admittedly difficult to envisage Chookagian with her arm raised in victory at the end of this one.

As it stands, I wouldn’t be too keen on backing Shevchenko at those odds. So, instead, I’m going to break down other bets and scenarios to target for this fight.

Best Bets for Shevchenko vs. Chookagian

Unfortunately, there are no props yet released for this bout.

Without seeing the odds first, it is going to be difficult to gauge what the best odds for Shevchenko vs. Chookagian are.

But what I can tell you right now is that you would be better off waiting for them to be released — which they should be a few days or so before fight night — rather than taking the moneyline.

Now, that only applies to those of you betting on Shevchenko to defend her title.

If you are betting on Chookagian to beat Shevchenko, I see nothing wrong with odds of +700. I wouldn’t exactly be too confident of it happening, but if that is what you are leaning towards, I can’t stop you.

As I am predicting Shevchenko to win, I am going to take a quick look at the bets to target. Once again, odds other than the moneyline have yet to be released, but these bets will undoubtedly make you more money on the night.

Method of Victory – Shevchenko to Win by KO/TKO

Shevchenko’s striking acumen will give her the edge over Chookagian on the night.

Expect the Kyrgistan-born fighter to pick her opponent apart before landing the crucial blows to end the contest.

Round Betting – Shevchenko to Win in Round 3

Just like her 2nd-round finish over Jessica Eye in June, I believe Shevchenko will get the job done inside the distance.

But I can see Shevchenko ending the contest in the third round. If you find decent odds on this, go for it.

Over/Under Betting – Over 2.5 Rounds

As you can probably gather by now, I believe the fight will go past the 2nd round. If you get on this bet, and the fight makes it past the midway point of Round 2, you will win your bet.

Given that I think this one will end in the third stanza, I would definitely recommend this bet.

Why Shevchenko Will Beat Chookagian

All right, I promised you a bit of a breakdown of this fight, so that’s what I am going to give you now.

The best odds for Shevchenko vs. Chookagian might yet to be released — and we might have nothing but the moneyline to go on, at least at the time of writing — but you can make money on this fight.

How? Well, backing Shevchenko to start 2020 off the way she means to go on. That’s how.

Remember, Valentina Shevchenko is no ordinary fighter. Her only two losses in the UFC came against Amanda Nunes, the greatest female fighter of all time in my book, and she arguably did enough to win the second.

Having seen what Nunes has accomplished over the years — battering Cris Cyborg, Ronda Rousey, Holly Holm, and pretty much everyone else there is to beat — Shevchenko did well. Very well.

MMA math isn’t something that I am particularly fond of, but when you compare the resumes of both fighters, you might say that the difference in class here is easy to see.

Size-wise, Chookagian comes in at 5’9″ — exceptionally tall for a fighter at this weight — compared to Shevchenko’s 5’5″. Still, her reach of 68″ to the champ’s 66.5″ is not much of an advantage at all.

Another area where Chookagian excels in is her work rate. She has 4.35 significant strikes per minute, compared to Shevchenko’s 3.02. But I wouldn’t put too much emphasis on this, especially when you consider the contrast in styles and caliber of opponents.

Shevchenko is, by some distance, the best fighter in the division, and I can’t see her struggling against the challenger.

If Chookagian wins this one, it will rank up there with the biggest upsets in UFC history, in my opinion.

I will film myself literally eating my hat if Shevchenko loses this one. So, if Chookagian does end up winning, check back here after the fight, and I will happily oblige.

Final Thoughts on the Fight

While Jon Jones vs. Dominick Reyes is getting all the attention that the best of UFC 247 can offer, some folk are suggesting that Valentina Shevchenko vs. Katlyn Chookagian could be just as good.

The leading UFC betting sites don’t seem to agree, however. The oddsmakers are suggesting that Shevchenko will walk through her opponent on the night, and it will be far from close.

So, make what you will of that.

For what it’s worth, I agree with the bookies. This one will not be close. Shevchenko will retain her title, and the featherweight division will continue to be under the spell of “The Bullet.”