Henry Cejudo (15-2-0) joined Conor McGregor, Daniel Cormier, and Amanda Nunes as the company’s only dual champions by defeating Marlon Moraes (22-6-1) to add the bantamweight title to his flyweight crown at Chicago’s UFC 238 Saturday night.
Moraes attacked the legs of Cejudo early which game Cejudo trouble throughout the fight. But Cejudo attacked the body of Moraes, with knees and strikes that eventually opened up other opportunities by the third round. The end came when Moraes tried to roll out of a Cejudo takedown and choke attempt. Cejudo maneuvered to keep Moraes on the ground and unloaded elbows and punches with seconds to go in the third round that forced referee to call the bout at 4:51.
With the win, Cejudo is also the seventh UFC fighter to hold a belt in two different weight classes. He called out Urjah Faber, Dominick Cruz, and Cody Garbrandt after the fight as possible challenges. He also revealed that on Tuesday before the fight, he suffered a sprained ankle.
Tony Ferguson and Donald Cerrone secured Fight of the Night, while Valentina Shevchenko and Cejudo earned performances of the night. Each fighter earned a $50,000 USD bonus, except for Cejudo who doubled up with $100,000 USD.
Just as expected!@CowboyCerrone and @TonyFergusonXT take home FOTN! #UFC238 pic.twitter.com/poiSldVoIr
— UFC (@ufc) June 9, 2019
UFC 238 FIGHT PASS PRELIMS
KATLYN CHOOKAGIAN VS. JESSICA CALDERWOOD
An absolute mood. #UFC238 pic.twitter.com/sDvz7iOkiV
— UFC (@ufc) June 8, 2019
WINNER: KATLYN CHOOKAGIAN VIA UD (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: JESSICA CALDERWOOD VIA SD
Andrews: Chookagian outstruck Calderwood, but Calderwood inflicted more damage. Good fight and tough call for the judges.
EDDIE WINELAND VS. GRIGORY POPOV
He is THROWING!@EddieWineland is holding nothing back early. #UFC238 pic.twitter.com/JwOSW2ofiq
— UFC (@ufc) June 8, 2019
WINNER: EDDIE WINELAND VIA TKO (PUNCHES) R2 4:47
ANDREWS PREDICTION: GRIGORY POPOV VIA TKO
Andrews: I thought Popov would get the bg upset, but it’s clear he needs more seasoning. Wineland was too much.
BEVON LEWIS VS. DARREN STEWART
The Dentist!@Darren_MMA #UFC238 pic.twitter.com/6jz5JJt7dD
— UFC (@ufc) June 8, 2019
WINNER: DARREN STEWART (29-28, 29-28, 30-27) VIA UD
ANDREWS PREDICTION: BEVON LEWIS VIA TKO
Andrews: Not much of a barnburner of a fight, but credit to Stewart for nullifying the height and reach of Lewis.
XIAONAN YAN VS. ANGELA HILL
Turning on the heat! #UFC238 pic.twitter.com/0otK1m3rwk
— UFC (@ufc) June 8, 2019
WINNER: XIOANAN YAN VIA UD (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: ANGELA HILL VIA UD
Andrews: Yan’s striking is something to contend with.
RICARDO LAMAS VS. CALVIN KATTAR
LEFT! RIGHT! OUT!@CalvinKattar enjoy your moment! #UFC238 pic.twitter.com/4lovgsLr2s
— UFC (@ufc) June 9, 2019
WINNER: CALVIN KATTAR VIA KO (PUNCHES) R1 4:06
ANDREWS PREDICTION: RICARDO LAMAS VIA TKO
Andrews: Wow! That was impressive by Kattar.
KAROLINA KOWALKIEWICZ VS. ALEXA GRASSO
Alexa Grasso!
🇲🇽 @AlexaGrasso is looking great in her return. #UFC238 pic.twitter.com/yDHaLX54Tz
— UFC (@ufc) June 9, 2019
WINNER: ALEXA GRASSO VIA UD (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: ALEXA GRASSO VIA UD
Andrews: It’s time for Karolina to consider hanging them up.
ALJAMAIN STERLING VS. PEDRO MUNHOZ
Went the distance!
Another great showing in Chicago. #UFC238 pic.twitter.com/7mu3yoCXKg
— UFC (@ufc) June 9, 2019
WINNER: ALJAMAIN STERLING VIA UD (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: PEDRO MUNHOZ VIA TKO
Andrews: Good job by Sterling to shut down Munhoz and avoiding the big shots.
TATIANA SUAREZ VS. NINA ANSAROFF
By unanimous decision!@TSPMMA115 #UFC238 pic.twitter.com/wR7Yw2eOKO
— UFC (@ufc) June 9, 2019
WINNER: TATIANA SUAREZ VIA UD (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: TATIANA SAUREZ VIA TKO
Andrews: Suarez as expected was too big and strong for Ansaroff even with a neck injury, but credit Nina for going the distance.
TAI TUIVASA VS. BLAGOY IVANOV
"This is crazy!"
These heavyweights are slugging it out in round 3️⃣! #UFC238 pic.twitter.com/rAzeaoadlu
— UFC (@ufc) June 9, 2019
WINNER: BLAGOY IVANOV VIA UD (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: TAI TUIVASA VIA TKO
Andrews: Good performance by Ivanov to outslug Tai.
JIMMIE RIVERA VS. PETR YAN
Déjà vu!@PetrYanUFC drops Rivera at the end of the round. #UFC238 pic.twitter.com/iiciClUD99
— UFC (@ufc) June 9, 2019
WINNER: PETR YAN VIA UD (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: PETR YAN VIA TKO
Andrews: Rivera tried his best, but Yan as too strong. Yan obviously is a beast.
TONY FERGUSON VS. DONALD CERRONE
THE FIGHT THEY PROMISED!
FIVE MINUTES DOWN! #UFC238 pic.twitter.com/t2U6xb0Hmj
— UFC (@ufc) June 9, 2019
WINNER: TONY FERGUSON VIA TKO (DOCTOR STOPPAGE) R2 5:00
ANDREWS PREDICTION: TONY FERGUSON VIA UD
Andrews: Wow! An old-school performance by both guys. Even if it went further, Ferguson would have still won. Hats off to Cowboy for his usual tough self.
VALENTINA SHEVCHENKO VS. JESSICA EYE
Faster than a speeding bullet!@BulletValentina is an ASSASSIN! #UFC238 pic.twitter.com/iayJQpCr4S
— UFC (@ufc) June 9, 2019
WINNER: VALENTINA SHEVCHENKO VIA TKO (HEAD KICK) R2 0:26
ANDREWS PREDICTION: VALENTINA SHEVCHENKO VIA TKO
Andrews: Wow! Shevchenko used her toolbelt. Eye did as well as she could as she only had striking and ground defence.
Andrews Prediction: Valentina Shevchenko via UD
MAIN EVENT
HENRY CEJUDO VS. MARLON MORAES
DOUBLE CHAMP! @HenryCejudo #UFC238 pic.twitter.com/gsFpDN2KCw
— UFC (@ufc) June 9, 2019
WINNER: HENRY CEJUDO VIA TKO R3 4:51 (PUNCHES)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: HENRY CEJUDO VIA UD
Andrews: Cejudo grinded out another win after a good start from Moraes. He still needs to rematch Benavidez and DJ before this GOAT conversation talk though. Good win.
