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411’s UFC 238 Report: Cejudo Wins

June 9, 2019 | Posted by Robert Winfree
Henry Cejudo UFC 238, Dana White

MAIN CARD (Pay-per-view, 10 p.m. ET)
Henry Cejudo (134 lbs.) vs. #1 Marlon Moraes (134 lbs.) – for vacant bantamweight title
Champ Valentina Shevchenko (124 lbs.) vs. #1 Jessica Eye (125 lbs.) – for women’s flyweight title
#4 Donald Cerrone (155.5 lbs.) vs. #2 Tony Ferguson (155 lbs.)
#7 Jimmie Rivera (136 lbs.) vs. #9 Petr Yan (136 lbs.)
#13 Blagoy Ivanov (251 lbs.) vs. #11 Tai Tuivasa (259 lbs.)

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN, 8 p.m. ET)
#3 Nina Ansaroff (115 lbs.) vs. #2 Tatiana Suarez (114 lbs.)
#4 Pedro Munhoz (135.5 lbs.) vs. #3 Aljamain Sterling (134 lbs.)
#13 Alexa Grasso (115 lbs.) vs. #10 Karolina Kowalkiewicz (116 lbs.)
#15 Calvin Kattar (146 lbs.) vs. #10 Ricardo Lamas (145 lbs.)

PRELIMINARY CARD (UFC Fight Pass, 6:15 p.m. ET)
Angela Hill (116 lbs.) vs. #12 Yan Xiaonan (116 lbs.)
Bevon Lewis (186 lbs.) vs. Darren Stewart (185.5 lbs.)
Grigorii Popov (136 lbs.) vs. Eddie Wineland (136 lbs.)
#6 Joanne Calderwood (125 lbs.) vs. #2 Katlyn Chookagian (126 lbs.)

Hello everyone and welcome to 411mania’s LIVE coverage of UFC 238. I’m Robert Winfree and I’ll be your host for this event, relaying all of the action to you just as I see it. Tonight the UFC is back on PPV and has brought one of the best main cards in a long time with them. The main event sees flyweight champion Henry Cejudo moving up to bantamweight to battle top contender Marlon Moraes over the vacant bantamweight title, which was vacated by TJ Dillashaw after his much publicized failed drug test and two year suspension. The co-main event is the first attempted title defense of women’s flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko as she battles Jessica Eye. As if that wasn’t enough there’s a lightweight bout that’s all but guaranteed to be violent fireworks as top lightweight contenders Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone and Tony Ferguson go to war. Oh, and there’s also another relevant bantamweight fight as surging Petr Yan takes on the battle tested Jimmie Rivera.

The prelims are pretty solid too, a relevant bantamweight fight between top contenders Pedro Munhoz and Aljamain Sterling, Nina Ansaroff and Tatiana Suarez fight it out for position in the strawweight title picture, and veteran Ricardo Lamas tries to turn back the rising prospect Calvin Kattar. For the discerning fight fan this is a can’t miss card, now all we can do is hope that the fights live up to our expectations. Please MMA gods, and this card has been shockingly free of major issues up to now. Just let it hold together a little longer.

UFC 238 comes to the world from United Center in Chicago, Illinois, USA. On commentary we have the trio of Jon Anik, Joe Rogan, and UFC heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier while Megan Olivi will be handling reporting duties. We’re under the new rules tonight so you need both palms or fists flat on the mat to be considered downed, extending fingers towards your opponent is a foul regardless of contact being made, and the language around scoring is clearer and more encouraging of 10-8 scores. There will also be the limited use of instant replay for fight ending sequences if the officials want it, though per usual once replay has been used the fight cannot be restarted.

Katlyn Chookagian has gone 4-2 in the UFC but is coming off of a split decision loss to Jessica Eye in an absolutely dismal fight. Chookagian is trying to avoid her first ever losing streak and get back towards the title scene. Joanne Calderwood is undefeated at flyweight in the UFC, she’s 2-0 since the UFC instituted the division and is looking to get into the title scene with a third consecutive win in a shallow division. The odds have this as a -115 pick ’em.

Women’s Flyweight Bout: #6 Joanne Calderwood (13-3, 125 lbs.) vs. #2 Katlyn Chookagian (11-2, 126 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Chookagian is three inches taller and has two and a half inches of reach on Calderwood. Calderwood opens with an inside leg kick. A few more inside leg kicks from Calderwood. Chookagian is struggling to find the target while Calderwood kicks her in the lead leg. Body kick from Chookagian. Calderwood is really committing to those leg kicks both inside and out. Both women swing rights that are partially successful. Bit of a jab from Calderwood, Chookagian still struggling with the range. Chookagian avoids a high kick and misses one of her own. Calderwood lands a right but walks into a couple of jabs. Chookagian lands a leg kick of her own. Body kick from Calderwood lands. Calderwood avoids a combination and lands a body kick. They trade body kicks then Calderwood goes back to leg kicks. Calderwood blocks a high kick and lands a leg kick. A couple more inside leg kicks from Calderwood and Chookagian is a little unsteady on her lead leg. A right from Chookagian lands and they both miss punches in closer quarters as the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Calderwood

ROUND TWO: More inside leg kicks from Calderwood and Chookagian avoids the follow up offense. Chookagian lands a leg kick. Another leg kick from Chookagian then a high kick. Calderwood catches a kick and trips Chookagian down, they wind up with Calderwood holding a front headlock then landing punches as they get up on the fence. Knees from Calderwood, Chookagian is able to spin free and separate. Calderwood lands a leg kick, Chookagian returns it. Bit of a left from Chookagian, she’s finding the range now and it’s giving Calderwood some problems. One two from Chookagian, Calderwood responds with a body kick. Another body kick from Calderwood, again Chookagian lands a one two. Both women have swelling on the face. Left from Chookagian, she’s getting Calderwood to walk onto offense now. Calderwood forces a clinch and lands a body kick on the break. Calderwood catches another kick and trips Chookagian down, this time she can secure top position in the guard. Chookagian goes to a body triangle from her back. A few punches go back and forth but neither woman is doing a whole lot. Chookagian’s guard goes high, she thinks about an armbar but it’s not really there as the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Chookagian, 19-19 overall

ROUND THREE: There’s a big hematoma on the left forehead of Chookagian, not quite Mark Hominick bad but definitely notable. Bit of a clash of kicks to star the round then Calderwood starts landing leg kicks. body kick from Calderwood lands. Chookagian lands a jab then eats a leg kick. They trade punches in close, Calderwood isn’t moving as well now and Chookagian is still moving well. Chookagian lands a right. Chookagian lands a right, Calderwood returns it. Another caught kick and again Calderwood gets a takedown into the guard of Chookagian. This time Calderwood doesn’t seem to like the position and lets her back up, Chookagian thanks her with a right hand to the face. Calderwood lands a leg kick. Chookagian is getting her jab to the target now, Calderwood is bleeding from the nose. Calderwood lands another inside leg kick, Chookagian lands a right. Hard leg kick from Calderwood. Chookagian avoids a spinning back fist, she’s mostly out working Calderwood at this point. They trade leg kicks then separate. Both women engage in some mocking, mostly Calderwood, but nothing will come of it. A few more kicks go back and forth then they trade lefts as time runs down.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Chookagian, 29-28 Chookagian overall but this has split written on it

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Katlyn Chookagian via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28 x2)

I don’t agree at all with 30-27. Mic time for Chookagian as the crowd boos, she says the fight was close and calls all these close fights not fun. She dismisses the leg kicks of Calderwood and talks about adjusting her attitude and calls for a title shot.

Eddie Wineland is just 2-4 in his last six fights and is on his second two fight losing streak in that stretch, he needs a win badly if he wants to remain a relevant fighter in the division. Grigorii Popov brings a ten fight winning streak into his UFC debut, he’s looking to prove himself against a veteran in Wineland and get his UFC career up and running with a win. The odds for this one are with Wineland at -155 against a slight +125 comeback on Popov.

Bantamweight Bout: Grigorii Popov (14-2, 136 lbs.) vs. Eddie Wineland (23-13-1, 136 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Wineland is half an inch taller and has an inch of reach on Popov. They touch gloves to get things going. Wineland is coming forward immediately looking to land punches. Popov lands a couple of body kicks. Wineland lands a right, then another one. Popov lands a side kick but eats a counter right. They trade punches in close but Wineland seems to have more fire power. Leg kick from Popov lands but Popov is cut around the left eyebrow. Hard inside leg kick from Popov, who’s gone southpaw now and likes the left kick into the open side. More inside leg kicks from Popov and he avoids the counters of Wineland. Body kick from Popov, it’s partially blocked but that was a hard kick. Popov lands a couple of lead rights then misses an elbow. Wineland lands a right. A lot of stance switching from Popov now, he’s looking to confuse the entries of Wineland and find his own offense. Popov lands a body kick but gets rocked by a counter right. Wineland is chasing him down but Popov lands a body kick to push him off. Another right lands for Wineland but he’s more cautious on the follow up this time. Popov has recovered and they’ll feint away the final few seconds.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Wineland

ROUND TWO: They touch gloves for the second round. Popov lands a right that wobbles Wineland for a second, then another one that drops him to a knee. Popov is coming forward more, Wineland is circling more now and has his legs back under him. Body kicks from Popov and Wineland lands a jab. Popov defends a double leg attempt and lands a leg kick. Another body kick from Popov, the left side of his face is swelling though. Wineland is trying to get his jab working, Popov is still the one coming forward this round. Popov lands a few more body kicks. Now Wineland lands a couple of leg kicks then a right to the body. Left from Wineland in close that included a couple of body shots. Popov lands a hard body kick then they trade jabs. Popov lands a right. Wineland slips a left hook and lands a couple of counters then Popov kicks the body again. Popov lands another couple of leg kicks. Wineland hits a double leg but is immediately elevated and swept and they wind up standing again. Popov catches a kick and nearly gets a takedown but Wineland slips free. Popov lands another body kick. Wineland lands a series of rights and Popov is down but sits up and Wineland thinks about a ninja choke but decides instead to let things get back up. Popov is circling away, Wineland clobbers him with another right along the fence and that finally ends things.

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Eddie Wineland via KO, punches, at 4:47 of Round 2

Fun little fight, both guys got to show off their skills but the power of Wineland won out as Popov’s defense started faltering. Mic time for Wineland he says the fight was do or die and puts over the mustache mafia, his mustache is quite glorious. He puts over his family then talks us through the finish, noting that he’s getting better about following up on dropping guys to get finishes. Asked about what’s next he says he just wants to fight, puts over his coaches for getting him into great shape and he feels he’s still got some years left in him.

This clip is a bit perfunctory, Popov is already hurt here and Wineland shifts up his timing just a little bit to draw the defense of Popov out of position so the right hook lands clean and ends the fight.

Bevon Lewis had a good showing in his UFC debut before a minor mistake got him knocked out by Uriah Hall. Lewis is trying to rebound from that setback and get his first UFC win. Darren Stewart has a UFC record of 2-4 with 1 No Contest and is coming off of a loss, he’s trying to avoid his second UFC losing streak and is likely fighting for his job given his record in the promotion. The odds are with Lewis at -175 to a +145 comeback on Stewart.

Middleweight Bout: Bevon Lewis (6-1, 186 lbs.) vs. Darren Stewart (9-4 1 NC, 185.5 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Lewis is three inches taller and has a whopping five inches of reach on Stewart. Both men showing the lead hand early, Stewart lands a couple of leg kicks that off balance Lewis and they wind up clinched. They jockey for position along the fence while Lewis lands a couple of knees to the body. Stewart lands an elbow. Lewis gets Stewart on the fence and they trade knees, then resume spinning for position. Now they trade body work, Stewart lands a knee to the head, Lewis returns it. Lewis lands a couple of more knees then they break apart. Stewart is bouncing forward, misses a right and they clinch up again. More knees from Lewis to the body, Stewart lands a right as they break and Lewis has to force another clinch to recover. Stewart spins free and they separate. Stewart lands a leg kick. Another hard leg kick from Stewart that drops Lewis for a second. Lewis is doing some stance switching now, lands a jab. They get close and Lewis lands a heavy right just as the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Stewart

ROUND TWO: Stewart lands a leg kick to get the round going. Lewis lands a counter right then an oblique kick. Lewis blocks a spinning back fist but his offense has been very muted this round. Stewart lands another leg kick, those are really adding up now. Lewis lands a right and gets a clinch, Stewart lands an elbow and gets free. Lewis lands a right and a knee, Stewart is backing up now. Lewis lands a right. Bit of a right from Stewart. Stewart lands another leg kick. They punch into a clinch as the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Stewart, 20-18 Stewart overall

ROUND THREE: Lewis is looking to up the pace this round, and walks into a right from Stewart. Lewis lands a left hook. They clinch up again, Stewart gets Lewis on the cage. Lewis reverses that position and gets Stewart on the fence. A few knees from Lewis and they break. Stewart lands a leg kick. Neither guy is really committing to anything or finding sustained success. Lewis gets the back standing after they clash and he drives things to the fence but isn’t getting Stewart down yet. Stewart turns into him and spins Lewis into the fence. Lewis keeps thinking about changing levels but Stewart is defending so far. They trade some knees while fighting for position. Elbow from Lewis, Stewart spins him and they break as time runs down.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Lewis, 29-28 Stewart overall

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Darren Stewart via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28 x2)

Utterly forgettable fight. No mic time for Stewart.

Yan Xiaonan is 3-0 in the UFC and she’s looking to continue climbing the strawweight ranks by extending that streak here. Angela Hill took this fight on relatively short notice when Felice Herrig tore an ACL, Hill is coming off of a win though and is trying for her first ever UFC winning streak at the expense of a noted prospect in Xiaonan. Xiaonan is the -190 favorite to a +160 comeback on Hill.

Strawweight Bout: Angela Hill (9-6, 116 lbs.) vs. #12 Yan Xiaonan (10-1 1 NC, 116 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Xiaonan is two inches taller while Hill has an inch and a half of reach advantage. Hill starts out circling, Xiaonan lands a couple of inside leg kicks. Xiaonan lands an inside leg kick then a left hand behind it. Bit of a combination from Xiaonan. More kicks to the leg from Xiaonan then a right in close. Hill didn’t like that, she lands a knee to the body but she was a little rattled by that punch. Xiaonan lands a leg kick then a right. Hill avoids a few jabs and misses a spinning attack. Hill avoids a right. There’s a Superman punch from Hill and she gets a takedown off of it into the guard of Xiaonan. Xiaonan goes to rubber guard almost immediately, she’s trying to set up attacks from her back. Hill pulls free and makes things come back to the feet. They trade rights then Hill tries that stupid headlock throw and Xiaonan stuffs it then gets on top. Hill has to fight to get guard but does get it and closes things up. Xiaonan lands a few lefts. Hill is trying to get her guard in play, Xiaonan is landing lefts and elbows to try and dissuade her. There’s a triangle choke attack from Hill, the legs are in position and locked up, but there’s not enough time to really finish this but Xiaonan is going to be saved by the bell.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Hill

ROUND TWO: Xiaonan is back to pushing forward, she off balances Hill with a side kick to the chest and we get a bit of brawling but Hill came off the worse for it. Hill looks a little fatigued, she’s not moving nearly as well this round. Xiaonan lands a right then a glancing high kick. Xiaonan is still pressing the issue, she lands a right. There’s a high kick that’s blocked from Xiaonan and a left hook. They trade left hooks in close but Xiaonan lands a leg kick and a body shot as well. A couple of lefts from Xiaonan and Hill lands a jab. Xiaonan lands a leg kick. Hill lands a left. Xiaonan with a side kick to the face then she avoids a takedown and lands a right. Hill lands a body kick but eats a couple of counters. Things are breaking down now, we’re getting brawling exchanges now whenever they clash. Bit of a right from Xiaonan. They both land rights. Another side kick from Xiaonan lands to the body. Body lock takedown from Xiaonan, she lands an elbow as Hill fights to her feet and they’re clinched. Xiaonan drops Hill with punches in close, Hill is back up as the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Xiaonan, 19-19 overall

ROUND THREE: Xiaonan is pushing forward again, lands a leg kick. Another leg kick from Xiaonan. They trade jabs but Xiaonan is landing leg kicks frequently to disrupt Hill. Xiaonan with jabs and low kicks. Hill lands a body kick but eats a couple of counters. Combination from Xiaonan is mostly successful. Both women land left hooks in close, then Xiaonan lands a side kick to the body. Xiaonan with a side kick high to the head of Hill. Xiaonan lands an uppercut, Hill lands a jab then an inside leg kick. Xiaonan avoids a right and lands in close then Hill lands a right of her own that stuns Xiaonan for a second. Xiaonan lands a right of her own then a body kick. Bit of a right from Hill, Xiaonan lands to the body. Uppercuts in close from Xiaonan then a jab. Bit of a right from Hill but she’s using just that one weapon now. Right from Hill, Xiaonan lands a counter left. Knee from Hill in close, Xiaonan lands a left on the break. Hill is coming on now, both women land jabs. Right from Hill and a left from Xiaonan. Xiaonan lands a right, Hill evades the follow ups and they feint the final few seconds away.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Xiaonan but a close round, 29-28 Xiaonan overall

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Yan Xiaonan via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)

No time for an interview due to time constraints, also no real issue with 29-28 either way. That’ll do it for Fight Pass, on to ESPN for the rest of the prelims.

Ricardo Lamas is a veteran of the UFC and just broke a two fight losing streak by stopping Darren Elkins, now he’s after another UFC winning streak and is trying to get back towards the title picture. Calvin Kattar has emerged as a legitimate prospect at featherweight, he’s coming off of a finish of Chris Fishgold and now he’s trying to build another UFC winning streak at the expense of a former title challenger in Lamas. Kattar is your -150 favorite against +120 for Lamas.

Featherweight Bout: #15 Calvin Kattar (19-3, 146 lbs.) vs. #10 Ricardo Lamas (19-7, 145 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Kattar is three inches taller but has just one inch of reach on Lamas. Kattar is circling to start things, Lamas looking to close distance on him. Bit of a leg kick from Lamas. Lamas lands a leg kick. Kattar is the one coming forward now, he’s avoiding a lot of the kicks from Lamas. Bit of a leg kick from Lamas. Kattar avoids a bad double leg attempt. Right to the body from Kattar. Lamas gets a bit of a body kick but eats a couple of body shots after a failed takedown attempt. Kattar lands a right that wobbles Lamas. Glancing right from Kattar then a front kick to the face. One two lands for Kattar. Lamas lands a body kick. Kattar lands another right to the body. Lamas lands another body kick but this time gets dropped by a left hook then a straight right and Kattar swarms him on the mat to prompt the stoppage.

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Calvin Kattar via KO, punches, at 4:06 of Round 1

The First Round Finis Club thanks Mr. Kattar for his work this evening. Big win for Kattar there, and he’ll get an interview with Joe Rogan. He says the win feels great and tells his mom that her son is on ESPN. He talks us through the finish, he feels his hands are among the best in the world and that he hasn’t even been hit that much with hands in the UFC given all of his training with high level boxers. Asked what’s next for him he says anyone above him is gonna get it. To close he remembers a close friend who he lost recently and implores people struggling with addiction to seek help.

Pretty fundamental stuff here, Kattar uses the left hook to both draw out the guard of Lamas and straighten him up after it lands then lowers the metaphorical boom with his right and that’s essentially all she wrote.

Karolina Kowalkiewicz has gone just 2-4 in her last six fights and is on a two fight losing streak, granted those losses were to now champion Jessica Andrade and top contender Michelle Waterson but she needs a win badly if she wants to get back towards the title she previously fought for. Alexa Grasso has been trading wins and losses in the UFC, she’s coming off of a loss to near top contender Tatiana Suarez but if she wants to realize the potential a lot of us have seen in her fighting she needs to bounce back with a win here. The odds are with Kowalkiewicz at -120 to a -110 comeback on Grasso.

Strawweight Bout: #13 Alexa Grasso (10-2, 115 lbs.) vs. #10 Karolina Kowalkiewicz (12-4, 116 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Grasso has two inches of height and reach on Kowalkiewicz. They touch gloves to get things going. Grasso lands an inside leg kick, she’s the one circling so far. Right from Grasso lands, then another and this one is followed with a left hook. Another one two from Grasso, her hands are looking fast tonight. Kowalkiewicz lands a knee in close. Grasso lands another inside leg kick then draws Kowalkiewicz into a left. Another right lands for Grasso, Kowalkiewicz is bleeding from the nose and mouth. Kowalkiewicz blocks a couple of kicks and walks into a jab. Grasso is working her lead hand, then lands a left to the body. Kowalkiewicz lands a body kick. Double jab then a right from Grasso. Grasso avoids a spinning back fist. A few more jabs from Grasso then an inside leg kick. Kowalkiewicz lands a leg kick. Grasso lands another right. Grasso with an inside leg kick then a body kick. Kowalkiewicz is really struggling with the boxing of Grasso. They clinch up and wind up on the fence. Grasso with knees and elbows as they break. One more body kick from Grasso ends the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Grasso, might be a 10-8 argument in there under the new rules

ROUND TWO: They touch gloves for the second round. Grasso is back to working her lead leg, inside leg kick then a body kick. Kowalkiewicz lands a bit of a right to counter a leg kick. Grasso lands a right. Kowalkiewicz is missing with a lot of her offense so far, she’s trying but is struggling to find the target. One two from Grasso lands. Grasso lands a bit of a right. Another right from Grasso, she’s starting to really walk Kowalkiewicz onto that punch. Kowalkiewicz misses a knee but that was a close one. Grasso stuns Kowalkiewicz with a three punch combination. More jabs from Grasso then she blocks a spinning back fist. Kowalkiewicz lands a knee to the body then clinches up and drives Grasso into the fence. Grasso lands knees to the body and a few elbows. Grasso pulls free without incident and resets at distance. More inside leg kicks from Grasso then a bit of a left hook. Kowalkiewicz is still coming forward, lands a knee and they trade lefts in close. Grasso lands another body kick then lands a right. They trade rights then Grasso lands a combination that ends with a body kick to close the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Grasso, 20-18 Grasso overall

ROUND THREE: Touch of gloves for the final round. Grasso is circling again, and lands a jab. Another left lands for Grasso then a bit of a high kick. Kowalkiewicz lands a right in close then Grasso lands an inside leg kick then a body kick. They clinch again, trade knees to the body then Grasso lands a series of knees as they break. Another clinch from Kowalkiewicz and Grasso knees her way out of it. A few more lefts from Grasso as she’s moving away. Grasso lands a right then a stiff jab. Grasso digs another body kick an they clinch. More knees and elbows from Grasso before she forces the break. Kowalkiewicz is getting thoroughly out classed thus far. Inside leg kick from Grasso and a couple of jabs. More jabs from Grasso and a leg kick. Grasso walks Kowalkiewicz onto a stiff right, Kowalkiewicz is bleeding more from the nose now. Another right from Grasso stuns Kowalkiewicz again. Grasso punches in close. Kowalkiewicz is pushing forward now but is getting chewed up. Kowalkiewicz lands a right in close, Grasso fires back and we get some exchanges then Grasso jumps for a standing guard guillotine that actually gets a little close as the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-8 Grasso, 30-26 Grasso overall

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Alexa Grasso via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)

Easily the best Grasso has looked in the UFC, she absolutely rose to the occasion for this fight. Mic time for Grasso who says the last year has been tough but she kept working through it all and thanks her coaches. She mentions again how hard she trained for this and credits always pushing forward as part of her success.

Here’s the finishing sequence, just a lot of fun but even in this you can see Grasso getting the better of basically everything.

Aljamain Sterling is on a three fight winning streak and his only loss in his last six fights was a knockout to half of the main event tonight, Marlon Moraes. Sterling is trying to make a case for a title shot with a fourth consecutive win here. Pedro Munhoz has just two losses in the UFC, both via split decision, and is also currently on a three fight winning streak. Munhoz is coming off of the biggest win of his career when he knocked out former champion Cody Garbrandt, he’s also trying to make a case for fighting for the belt next with a win over fellow top contender Sterling. Sterling is your -150 favorite against +120 for Munhoz.

Bantamweight Bout: #4 Pedro Munhoz (18-3 1 NC, 135.5 lbs.) vs. #3 Aljamain Sterling (17-3, 134 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Sterling is an inch taller but has a whopping six inches of reach on Munhoz. Both men come out kicking early. Sterling is hanging out southpaw this fight so far, he lands a couple of front kicks to the body. Munhoz lands a body kick. Bit of a left from Sterling lands. Sterling lands a left to the body, he’s using his length well so far. A couple of lefts land for Sterling. Munhoz is pushing Sterling towards the fence, and lands a leg kick. Bit of a left hook from Munhoz, Sterling lands a couple of body shots. Sterling shoots a takedown, Munhoz blocks it and lands a right. Stepping elbow form Sterling, Munhoz lands a body kick but he’s getting out worked. A couple of rights land for Sterling. Munhoz blocks another takedown attempt and lands a body kick. Sterling lands a couple of right hooks, he’s using that long reach to just constantly touch Munhoz. More long distance punches from Sterling and he’s moving around Munhoz. Munhoz lands a head kick. Munhoz lands a knee in close that staggers Sterling for a second, they trade again but again Sterling is getting the better of things as the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Sterling

ROUND TWO: Munhoz opens up with an inside leg kick then a front kick to the body. Another front kick from Munhoz and then he avoids a takedown attempt. More body work from Munhoz, Sterling is a little hurt to the body now. Calf kick from Munhoz lands. Sterling lands a right but he’s not moving nearly as much now. Another front kick from Munhoz, then another. Sterling is trying to punch after those kicks but they’re getting to him. Munhoz misses a counter combination. Sterling with a few front kicks to the body now, and Munhoz returns them then fires a high kick but Sterling responds with a series of punches. Sterling is jabbing again but is backing up and Munhoz is finding him more consistently now. Spinning back elbow from Sterling mostly lands then Munhoz digs a couple more front kicks to the body. Both men land punches then Sterling digs the body after taking a leg kick. Another leg kick from Munhoz drops Sterling and he jumps for the guillotine but Sterling spins free and stands again. More leg kicks go back and forth but Munhoz is the harder kicker. Bit of a right from Munhoz then a knee to the body. More front kicks to the body from Munhoz. Sterling lands a one two then eats a body kick. More body kicks from Munhoz, Sterling lands a long left counter. They split jabs as the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Munhoz, 19-19 overall

ROUND THREE: Munhoz is pushing forward again. Sterling fires some front kicks to the body but Munhoz will not be deterred. Body kick from Munhoz then a leg kick. Sterling’s left leg is hurt and Munhoz fires a body kick. Munhoz lands a front kick to the body but Sterling lands a counter punch. Bit of a right from Munhoz, Sterling lands a couple of punches. Another body kick from Munhoz, Sterling lands a left to the body. Bit of a high kick from Munhoz. Both men land jabs then Munhoz fires a leg kick. Munhoz lands a right, Sterling lands a couple of body kicks. Another leg kick from Munhoz. Sterling blocks a high kick and lands a couple of jabs. Sterling lands to the body a few times, Munhoz lands a left hook. More leg kicks from Munhoz, Sterling lands a couple of rights. Glancing right from Munhoz then he easily shucks off a takedown attempt. Flicking jabs from Sterling then a straight left, Munhoz lands a few more kicks to the body. They trade leg kicks, Sterling keeps firing more and we get just a little bit of a firefight as the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Sterling, 29-28 Sterling overall

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Aljamain Sterling via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)

Really good fight, shame it wasn’t on the main card. I thought Munhoz had the second but Sterling fought a great fight, and will get an interview as he’s the presumptive number one contender now. He says he hopes that was exciting enough for everyone, he’s a star and wont be stopped from shining then says he wants the winner of the main event. Asked about the leg kicks he says he’s got skinny legs, and notes he and Munhoz just cursed at each other whiling firing leg kicks at the end of the fight. He says to get the Rivera vs. Yan fight out of here, this was the number one contenders fight to close.

Tatiana Suarez is undefeated and has emerged as the brightest prospect at strawweight, so bright in fact that despite areas of her game being a little green she’s very nearly the top contender to champion Jessica Andrade. Suarez is trying to make her case for a title shot even stronger with a win here. Nina Ansaroff has really found her stride lately, she’s on a four fight winning streak and is looking to derail the hype around Suarez and make her own case for a shot at the title. Suarez is a massive -650 favorite to a +450 payout for Ansaroff.

Strawweight Bout: #3 Nina Ansaroff (10-5, 115 lbs.) vs. #2 Tatiana Suarez (7-0, 114 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: These two are the same height while Suarez has two inches of reach on Ansaroff. Southpaw for Suarez, she lands a leg kick. Ansaroff lands an inside leg kick but Suarez shoots on her and gets them tot he fence then starts looking for a takedown. Single leg not for Suarez and she gets Ansaroff down. Ansaroff tries to get her legs in play, Suarez is avoiding all of those attempts though and moves to half guard. Elbows from Suarez but she can’t get a whole lot on these yet as Ansaroff is able to get full guard. Ansaroff kicks her off but Suarez gets a front headlock as they stand then switches to a single leg and is after the takedown again along the fence. Now a double leg, the takedown transition game from Suarez is excellent and she gets Ansaroff down again along the fence. Ansaroff closes her guard, Suarez lands body shots. Suarez picks an ankle and passes to half guard then lands a few more blows to the body and head. Ansaroff gets full guard back. Suarez stands, eats a few up kicks but goes back into the guard and resumes attacking. Hammer fists from Suarez and now she’s looking for the old Dagestani handcuff as Ansaroff tries to wall walk. Suarez switches to a cradle position, goes to a guillotine then just swings body shots as the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Suarez, almost 10-8 if there had been more damage

ROUND TWO: Ansaroff is back to circling, lands a body kick then eats a side kick. Suarez lands a bit of a left but she’s following Ansaroff a lot instead of cutting her off. Suarez is after a low single leg, switches to a high crotch and drives Ansaroff into the fence. Suarez gets the single leg and this time passes to side control, they scramble and Suarez has the ride position. Ansaroff wall walks back up but can’t get free of the grip of Suarez. Another high crotch attempt from Suarez and she gets it without too much resistance and Ansaroff closes her guard again. A few rights land for Suarez. Ansaroff is just holding on trying to mitigate damage right now. Bit of an elbow from Ansaroff off of her back, Suarez hits her a few more times in response. Hammer fists from Suarez but she can’t pass the guard. Ansaroff kicks her off but Suarez shoots back into her and keeps her on the fence. Body shots from Suarez then knees, but at least one of those went into the groin so we’ve got time for Ansaroff to recover. Replay confirms the crotch shot, Ansaroff is good to continue and we’re back to fighting. Ansaroff misses a few kicks, Suarez lands a leg kick. Body kick from Ansaroff and Suarez lands a left. They just kind of circle away the last seconds.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Suarez, another near 10-8, 20-18 Suarez overall

ROUND THREE: More circling from Ansaroff, she lands a long right. Body kick from Ansaroff and she avoids a takedown attempt. Ansaroff lands a right to counter a leg kick. There’s a real lack of ring craft from Suarez on display, Ansaroff is just circling and Suarez is just following her. Body shot from Ansaroff lands. Suarez lands a left. The fight body kick followed by a right punch from Ansaroff has been working so far. Suarez gets in on a single leg, drives Ansaroff to the fence but this time Ansaroff keeps her hands from connecting and spins free. Suarez pushes into another clinch, again Ansaroff is able to spin free. Wheel kick from Ansaroff mostly misses. Ansaroff avoids another takedown attempt, Suarez lands a body kick. Another body kick then a right for Ansaroff. Suarez is slowing down, still in the fight but doesn’t have the same kind of pep she did earlier. Ansaroff lands a left hook and a high kick, Suarez is bleeding around the right eye. Suarez is circling away, Ansaroff lands a jab. Ansaroff comes on strong and flurries but time will run out before she can really develop anything off of it.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Ansaroff, 29-28 Ansaroff overall

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Tatiana Suarez via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)

Mic time for Suarez, she says the fight was tough and puts over Ansaroff and her coaches for finding ways to make her game hard to execute. Asked who she’d like next she says she wants Jessica Andrade next, she feels she’s earned her shot next and wants the belt around her waist.

That will do it for prelims, now to PPV for the main card.

Tai Tuivasa is coming off of the first loss of his career when he wasn’t quite up to the task of Junior dos Santos, he’s trying to rebound from that loss and prove he’s still a heavyweight prospect to pay attention to. Blagoy Ivanov has gone 1-1 in the UFC but is coming off of a win over Ben Rothwell, he’s looking for his first UFC winning streak here while making his own case as an up and coming heavyweight. The odds are with Tuivasa at -145 to a +115 comeback on Ivanov.

Heavyweight Bout: #13 Blagoy Ivanov (17-2 1 NC, 251 lbs.) vs. #11 Tai Tuivasa (10-1, 259 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Tiuvasa is three inches taller and has two inches of reach on Ivanov. They touch gloves, Ivanov fighting southpaw. Both men kind of pawing with their lead hands, Tuivasa is doing some stance switching now. Ivanov avoids a leg kick. Tuivasa lands a right while looking to bull forward, Ivanov lands a left to the body. Straight right lands for Tuivasa then an inside leg kick and they clinch. Ivanov is on the fence. Tuivasa is fighting for head position, and lands a short elbow. Another elbow from Tuivasa lands. They break as Tuivasa misses a spinning elbow. Ivanvov floors Tuivasa with a right, he gets a front headlock as Tuivasa fights back up and lands a right of his own then they resume fighting in the clinch. Ivanvov wraps up the head again and spins Tuivasa into the cage. Tuivasa lands an elbow and they trade in close then break. Another clinch, then Tuivasa lands a left as they break. Both men miss punches. Leg kick from Tuivasa but Ivanov lands a couple of counters. One two from Tuivasa lands. Stiff right from Ivanov. Ivanvov lands a couple of straight lefts to close out the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Ivanov

ROUND TWO: They touch gloves for the second round. Inside leg kick from Tuivasa, then another. They punch into a clinch and Tuivasa lands a right on the break. One two from Tuivasa wobbles Ivanov, he’s looking to flurry but they hit the fence and tie up. They break without much happening and then Tuivasa lands another inside leg kick. Right lands for Tuivasa. Bit of a left from Ivanov lands. Ivanov sneaks another left through the guard of Tuivasa. Both men are sucking wind. Right lands for Ivanvov then a one two. Tuivasa misses a right and lands an inside leg kick. Another inside leg kick from Tuivasa then they trade power hand punches. Ivanov lands a few more punches then a one two. Another inside leg kick from Tuivasa. Technique, what little there was, is going out the window rapidly. A few jabs land for Ivanov. They clinch up, hit the fence, and Ivanov snaps him down with a front headlock and goes for a top side guillotine but time runs out. Tuivasa tapped a bit after the round ended, that was closer than it looked apparently.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Ivanov, 20-18 Ivanov overall

ROUND THREE: Tuivasa misses a few jabs, Ivanov lands a left. Bit of an inside leg kick from Tuivasa, now they trade a few of them. One two from Tuivasa lands. Ivanov punches into a clinch and they hit the fence. Tuivasa gets Ivanov on the fence but Ivanvov gets the front headlock again and snaps him down, then gets the back as they stand. Ivanov can’t keep the back and they wind up just clinched chest to chest again. A few knees go back and forth. Another front headlock from Ivanov, he lands a few knees to the head before Tuivasa gets his head out. They break without incident then Tuivasa lands an inside leg kick. Ivanov lands a left but his lead leg is hurt. They trade power hand punches. Another left from Ivanov then an inside leg kick from Tuivasa. A couple more lefts from Ivanov land. We get a little bit of slow motion brawling to close things out.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Ivanov, 30-27 Ivanov overall

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Blagoy Ivanov via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28 x2)

Well that fight kind of sucked. Ivanov gets some mic time, he puts over Tuivasa as a tough guy, he’s so out of breath he can barely speak. He switches to Bulgarian, then does his own translation wherein he dedicates the win to all the Bulgarians in the building and his home country.

Jimmie Rivera has gone 2-2 in his last four fights but those two losses were his first losses in just about ten years. Rivera is trying to bounce back from a loss to Aljamain Sterling and prove he’s still a possible title contender. Petr Yan has been surging lately, he’s only lost once in his entire career and that was a split decision that could have gone his way. In the UFC he’s 4-0 against a steadily escalating level of competition, he’s trying to score the biggest win of his career in this fight and move firmly into the title picture. Yan is a sizable -340 favorite against a tempting +270 comeback on Rivera.

Bantamweight Bout: #7 Jimmie Rivera (22-3, 136 lbs.) vs. #9 Petr Yan (12-1, 136 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Yan is three and a half inches taller but Rivera has an inch and a half of reach on him. They touch gloves to get us going. Rivera misses a leg kick. Yan is stalking forward and evading leg kicks. Calf kick from Yan. Bit of a jab from Yan, both men still feeling for the distance. Yan lands a looping right. Rivera lands a calf kick. They clinch, Yan lands a knee then they trade rights on the break. Jab from Yan, Rivera lands a right in close and they break. Glancing right from Yan but he’s leaning too much when throwing it. Rivera evades a combination then lands an inside leg kick. Calf kick from Rivera. They clinch up then break without anything really happening. They clash in close, Rivera landed an uppercut. Yan lands a left to the body. Bit of a knee to the body from Yan. Rivera sneaks a couple of lefts through, then lands a calf kick. Yan shoots for a single leg, they hit the fence then he lands an elbow on the break. Yan lands a body kick. They clash and Yan rolls under for a heel hook, they scramble and wind up back at distance on the feet. Yan clobbers Rivera with a left and lands punches as he stands then lands knees from the back as they end the round on the feet against the fence.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Yan

ROUND TWO: They touch gloves for the second round. Rivera is jabbing a bit now to try and establish distance. Yan lands a left hook in close. Clubbing right from Rivera lands but Yan just eats it. Both men are starting to work the lead hand now, Yan lands a bit of a right. Yan is starting to show his stance switching, looking for the right entry angle. Calf kick from Rivera lands. Rivera lands a one two, that left leg of Yan is feeling that last calf kick. Yan is hanging out southpaw at the moment, lands a left to the body. Body kick from Yan. Again to the body with a kick from Yan then a right when Rivera closed distance. Rivera lands a right then a left to the body. Yan has Rivera backed into the fence, misses an uppercut. They split a few jabs, Rivera lands a calf kick. They get close and trade body shots then Rivera lands a right as they separate. Yan has Rivera on the fence again, lands a wicked head kick and Rivera grabs a single leg to tie up and regain his wits. Rivera is cut badly from that kick and they separate. Yan evades a low single leg and they trade in close. Left from Yan lands. Yan backs him into the fence and lands a stepping knee. A right uppercut from Yan drops Rivera again, he lands again as Rivera slumps on the fence but there’s not enough time to really develop a finish.

BSCORECARD: 10-9 Yan, 20-18 Yan overall

ROUND THREE: They touch gloves for the last round. Both men showing the lead hand, Yan lands a bit of a right. Body kick from Yan is caught but he gets the leg back. Rivera is after a single leg but can’t finish it and they separate. Straight left lands for Yan, Rivera lands an inside leg kick. A couple of body kicks from Yan, Rivera is letting himself get backed into the fence too often. Another body kick from Yan. Yan lands a left then a right uppercut that knocks the mouthpiece out from Rivera. Rivera blocks a high kick. Body shots from Rivera in close land, Yan then lands an uppercut to the body. Rivera lands a straight right. Yan digs a body kick and Rivera lands a left to the body. Bit of a left from Yan then he takes an eye poke as Rivera tried to counter. Replay confirms the poke and the doctor is in to double check Yan. Yan is good to continue and we’re back to fighting. Rivera walks into a long left then lands a body kick. Rivera ducks under a head kick. Yan lands another long left, they clinch up and Rivera winds up on the fence. Knees from Yan then he thinks about a level change, Rivera defends and they break. Left hook lands for Rivera. Yan gets the back standing, drags Rivera down just as the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Rivera but a close round, 29-28 Yan overall

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Petr Yan via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28 x2)

Petr Yan now has the longest active winning streak in the UFC at bantamweight at 5. I love watching Yan fight, he’s on the mic now. He tries some English, plays with the crowd then says he’s fought five times in twelve months and won all of them and wants his next fight to be a title shot. He puts over Rivera as a strong and good fighter, he’s doing a bit of English and some that needs to be translated and I give him credit for that, and mentions pressure was key to his success. Asked about the main event, he says he’ll fight Moraes, Cejudo, or whoever has the title. To close he thanks a bunch of people.

Here’s the head kick from the second round. Look this fight up if you missed it, it was a good one.

The UFC announces the last inductee into this class of the UFC Hall of Fame, it’s the fight between Clay Guida and Diego Sanchez from 2009 going into the Fight Wing. There’s several fights I’d have put in before that one, but that’s just me. That fight was a wild brawl from start to finish and is still remembered fondly for a reason.

Tony Ferguson is one of the premier lightweights of this generation, he hasn’t lost a fight since 2012 and is on an eleven fight winning streak. Ferguson is trying to secure what has been an elusive title shot as circumstances have constantly conspired against him, but a win here would make the undeniable next in line for the lightweight title. Also making his case for a title shot is Donald Cerrone. Cerrone is the UFC’s all time leader in wins, finishes, post fight bonuses, and knockdowns. He’s proven himself an all time great but a win over Ferguson would be arguably his biggest win and would almost certainly secure a second shot at the UFC lightweight title. Ferguson closed as a -180 favorite to a +150 payout for a Cerrone win.

Lightweight Bout: #4 Donald Cerrone (36-11 1 NC, 155.5 lbs.) vs. #2 Tony Ferguson (24-3, 155 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Cerrone is two inches taller but Ferguson has three and a half inches of reach advantage. Ferguson does a lot of stance switching, they touch gloves to get us going. Cerrone lands a leg kick then a bit of a body kick. Head kick from Ferguson partially lands. Ferguson looking to get his jab going, Cerrone firing back in kind. Right to the body from Ferguson. Inside leg kick from Ferguson and they trade some punches. They trade some lefts, Ferguson lands a right. Ferguson lands a couple of jabs, Cerrone lands an inside leg kick. Both men land lefts and rights. Leg kick from Ferguson, Cerrone returns it. Elbow from Ferguson lands. Cerrone lands a right, Ferguson lands a stepping knee then a left hand. Long lefts to the body from Ferguson, Cerrone lands a left to the head. Front kicks to the body now from Ferguson. Another front kick then a right hand. Cerrone ducks under a spinning elbow. Bit of a head kick from Cerrone then they trade rights. They clinch briefly, Ferguson lands a left then a couple of body kicks. More jabs from Ferguson then he avoids some counters. Body shot from Cerrone, Ferguson lands a front kick to the body. Right from Ferguson lands. Cerrone lands a left hook, they get close and trade and both men land then a couple of Ferguson body kicks get Cerrone to back off and end the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Ferguson

ROUND TWO: Body kick from Ferguson to get the second round going. Jab from Ferguson, his pace and pressure are getting to Cerrone a bit. More body kicks and a right from Ferguson. Again body kicks from Ferguson then a left to the chin. That body work is getting to Cerrone already. Ferguson with a step through jab, Cerrone lands a couple of punches but Ferguson lands a head kick. Left from Ferguson after he took an inside leg kick. They trade lefts then Ferguson avoids a combination and lands a left. Cerrone ducks under another spinning elbow but his face is a bit messed up. Ferguson blocks a high kick and lands a leg kick then a spinning elbow. More front kicks from Ferguson then he catches Cerrone with an elbow as Cerrone tried to rush him. Cerrone gets a takedown off of a missed spinning elbow, he gets the back standing but can’t keep it and Ferguson then kicks his body again. Both of Cerrone’s eyes are swollen. Ferguson barely avoids a head kick and kicks the body again. Hard leg kick from Ferguson. Long right from Ferguson then a front kick to the body. Bit of a jab from Cerrone then an inside leg kick. More body kicks from Ferguson, he just wont be deterred. Elbow from Ferguson then a right. They trade kicks then they trade, and Ferguson lands a right after the bell.

SCORECARD: 10-8 Ferguson, 20-17 Ferguson overall

ROUND THREE: Ferguson got a hard warning for that late shot, but both of Cerrone’s eyes are swollen, Cerrone blew his nose and his eye blew up between rounds. The doctor is in to check the eye, it’s swollen completely closed and the doctor is waving this off. They’re just double checking that the illegal blow from Ferguson wasn’t a deciding blow in the end.

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Tony Ferguson via TKO (doctor stoppage) at 5:00 of Round 2

That’s a damn shame, the fight was really cooking along but Cerrone clearly blew his nose and you can’t do that when your eyes are swollen or your nose is busted up because this is what happens. The crowd is pissed, and I don’t blame them, that was such a great fight going along and to have it end like that always sucks. Mic time for Ferguson, he just tells Rogan to talk with Cerrone first. Cerrone, swollen eye and all is smiling and laughing, he says he tried to push the air back down from the swelling, says the late punch had nothing to do with it and he says he should know better than to blow his nose. He apologizes for not being able to finish the fight but he’s got a big smile on his face.

Ferguson gets his mic time now, he doesn’t look very happy about this but lets the crowd boo a bit before talking. He says he didn’t want the fight to go like this, talks a bit about his hard year and says he’d be happy to rematch Cerrone. He thanks the fans, says he doesn’t want to win like that and doesn’t care who’s next anymore he’s just gonna be pissed at himself for that late blow for a long time. He hopes the crowd enjoyed the fight, which they clearly did despite the ending.

Just a little clip here, but you can see how badly Cerrone’s right eye swells immediately after he blows his nose. He knows it too, the look on his face tells it all.

Jessica Eye has found her footing at flyweight and has won three fights in a row to get her first shot at UFC gold here. Valentina Shevchenko has only lost to Amanda Nunes in the UFC and is coming off of a win over former strawweight champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk to become the women’s flyweight champion. Shevechenko is trying to get her first title defense under her belt and continue carving out a legacy in the sport. Shevchenko is the biggest favorite on the card at -1400 to a whopping +800 comeback on Eye.

Women’s Flyweight Title Bout: (c) Valentina Shevchenko (16-3, 124 lbs.) vs. #1 Jessica Eye (14-6 1 NC, 125 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Eye is an inch taller while Shevchenko has half an inch of reach advantage. Shevchenko fighting southpaw per usual. Eye misses a couple of rights, Shevchenko lands a body kick. Another body kick from Shevchenko then a third and right behind that last one. Eye misses a right and Shevchenko gets a body lock takedown into side control. Half guard for Eye now. Shevchenko moves to side control then to full mount, Eye uses a butterfly hook to get half guard back. A few body shots go back and forth. A few more short punches from Shevchenko to the body and head but there’s not a lot happening. Shevchenko lands some lefts. Eye tries to get some motion going, she’s able to get full guard and closes it. Eye is trying to wall walk, Shevchenko lands lefts as she does so and keeps the clinch. Another trip takedown for Shevchenko into side control again. Shevchenko is looking for the mounted crucifix, Eye is still mostly flat on her back trying a few knees. Shevchenko gets the mounted crucifix and lands elbows then locks up an Americana, Eye rolls through to survive as the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-8 Shevchenko

ROUND TWO: Eye misses a side kick and falls short on some punches. Shevchenko lands another couple of body kicks. Head kick from Shevchenko ENDS Eye and she’s out cold stiff as a board.

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER and STILL UFC Women’s Flyweight Champion – Valentina Shevchenko via KO head kick, at :26 of Round 2

Good Lord that was a brutal kick from Shevchenko. Eye is down for a while, stiff and her legs are convulsing. It took Eye a long time to even get onto her stool, that was absolutely brutal. Mic time for Shevchenko, she thanks Eye for taking the fight and hopes she isn’t hurt too badly. She says she felt the body kicks were breaking her down and that would set up the high kick in the second round. She says she expected a brutal fight as Eye is a tough fighter and was prepared to show all of her skills, she’s happy to be at flyweight which is her natural weight class. Asked about future challengers she says all the top ten fighters are tough and she’ll fight all of them, then calls flyweight the future of women’s MMA. To close she thanks Krgysztan for all of their support, thanks all the people of Peru who support her, she’s actually switching between Russian and Spanish almost flawlessly. That is a ridiculously talented woman.

Shevchenko set her up with those body kicks then fired one of the most brutal finishes in a while into the head of Eye.

And a better angle, in slow motion.

Henry Cejudo is the reigning flyweight champion, he’s getting this shot at the vacant bantamweight title off of the back of a win over former champion TJ Dillashaw earlier this year, now he’s trying to become another of the UFC’s simultaneous double champions and continue making a case for himself as one of the premier combat sports athletes of this generation. Marlon Moraes has been on a heck of a roll lately, he’s 4-1 in the UFC and that one loss was a controversial split decision that he avenged in his last fight. In fact his last three fights have ended via first round finish, now he’s getting his first shot at UFC gold and is trying to prove himself the best bantamweight in the world. The odds are with Moraes at -160 to a +130 comeback on the flyweight champion Cejudo.

Bantamweight Title Bout: Henry Cejudo (14-2, 134 lbs.) vs. #1 Marlon Moraes (22-5-1, 134 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Moraes is two inches taller and has three inches of reach on Cejudo. Moraes opens with a leg kick. Cejudo is showing stance switching, and just avoids a head kick. Moraes misses a leg kick, then lands a leg kick. Cejudo misses a kick. Bit of a left hook from Moraes lands. Cejudo avoids a high kick. Moraes lands a counter combination after taking a leg kick. Check hook from Moraes lands after Cejudo landed a leg kick. Another leg kick from Moraes. Moraes lands another leg kick and defends a takedown attempt. Cejudo seems a little befuddled at the moment, he’s looking for an angle to attack and he’s not really finding anything yet. Moraes blocks a high kick and swings a couple of hooks in close that partially land. Inside leg kick from Moraes lands then a head kick is avoided. Another inside leg kick from Moraes, and another. He’s just chewing up the legs of Cejudo and Cejudo doesn’t have an answer to the kicks. Moraes lands a body kick. Right then a left from Moraes to counter a leg kick. Bit of a body kick from Cejudo. Moraes slips a left and misses a right then lands a hard inside calf kick. One more leg kick from Moraes will close out the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Moraes, might be 10-8 given how ineffective Cejudo was

ROUND TWO: Cejudo opens southpaw this time, misses a head kick and they both miss punches. Moraes misses a high kick then lands an inside calf kick. Another leg kick from Moraes lands and Cejudo can’t land a counter. Cejudo is pushing forward, eats an uppercut and lands a bit of a left to counter. Moraes kicks the calf again. Glancing left high kick from Moraes lands but Cejudo avoided the brunt of it. Cejudo avoids a wheel kick. Again Moraes kicks the inside of Cejudo’s lead leg. Cejudo misses a few jabs then Moraes chops at him with another leg kick. Moraes lands a left to counter a body kick. Cejudo lands a couple of rights, Moraes fires back with one of his own. Another right lands for Cejudo and he avoids a head kick counter. Moraes lands an uppercut then a head kick, Cejudo is bleeding now. Cejudo is making this an ugly brawl because he can’t deal with the technique of Moraes and it’s working. they trade uppercuts in close then Cejudo with a series of knees to the head. Cejudo avoids a takedown attempt and they clinch up. They trade punches on the break, Moraes stuns Cejudo with a right as the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Cejudo but a close one, 19-19 overall

ROUND THREE: Cejudo comes out aggressively again. They both land rights in close then Cejudo ducks under a high kick. Straight right from Cejudo lands. They clinch up and Cejudo gets Moraes to the fence. Moraes spins free and they separate. Cejudo misses a right and a knee but he’s pushing the pace. We get time for an eye poke to Moraes, he’s good to continue and we’re back to fighting but Cejudo gets a warning. They touch gloves on the restart. Bit of a head kick from Moraes and he avoids a takedown. Cejudo gets close and lands some knees. They clinch up again, trade knees then break. Moraes is fading, once this turned into a dog fight he seems to be on the wrong end of things. Another clinch and Cejudo with more knees to the body. Cejudo gets an anaconda choke, Moraes is able to roll and break his grip but Cejudo lands a knee to the chest along the fence. Moraes is really struggling, he winds up closing his guard with Cejudo on top. Armbar attempt from Moraes, Cejudo pulls free and lands hammer fists while passing to half guard. Elbows from Cejudo now. Moraes is looking to roll under for a leg entanglement, Cejudo just tees off with elbows and hammer fists. More hammer fists put Moraes more or less out and the ref stops the fight.

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER and NEW UFC Bantamweight Champion – Henry Cejudo via TKO, hammer fists, at 4:51 of Round 2

It’s hard to overstate that one for Cejudo, dude has beaten Demetrious Johnson, TJ Dillashaw, and Marlon Moraes in consecutive fights to become a simultaneous two weight world champion in the UFC. It’s hard to argue against that man as one of the best of all time. Mic time for Cejudo, he says he’s not a champ champ, it’s triple C, Olympic champion, flyweight champion, and bantamweight champion. He calls himself the greatest combat spots athlete of all time. He says he sprained his left ankle in the lead up to this fight but he fought through it and just kept believing then puts over his coach who he thinks will be the coach of the year for 2019. Asked about the bad first round he knew that Moraes threw too much power and burned out, then says he just won a dog fight. He says he saw the fading in the demeanor of Moraes and he knew he could take him out. He says he’s got a hit list, he wants Cruz, Gargrandt, Faber at bantamweight, wants to try his hand a featherweight and win a belt there as well.

On that note UFC 238 comes to a close. That was the best card they put together on paper in a long time and it delivered on pretty much every level. There is no event next Saturday so the 411 Ground and Pound MMA Podcast tomorrow will be focusing on this event and the news of the week. If you’ve got a question or a comment you’d like addressed feel free to leave it below. Until next time everyone thank you so much for reading, stay safe out there, and keep checking 411mania for all of your pop culture needs.

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