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After an unusual week of absence, UFC returned with another PPV offering which was stacked from top to bottom.
Henry Cejudo headlined the event in a Bantamweight Championship bout against Marlon Moraes while Valentina Shevchenko defended the Women's Flyweight strap against Jessica Eye in the co-main event.
Tony Ferguson returned to the Octagon and took on Donald Cerrone in a mouth-watering clash that was billed as the real main event of the evening.
There were a total of 13 fights featured on the card including the Prelims and 8 of them ended in decisions. UFC 238 delivered in terms of action as there were three finishes on the main card including an epic head kick knockout.
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With that being said, here are the results and highlights of UFC 238:
UFC 238 Results: Prelims
Tatiana Suarez def. Nina Ansaroff via unanimous decision (29-28. 29-28, 29-28)
Aljamain Sterling def. Pedro Munhoz via unanimous decision (30-27. 30-27, 30-27)
Alexa Grasso def. Karolina Kowalkiewicz via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Calvin Kattar def. Ricardo Lamas via TKO (punches) (4:06, Round 1)
Yan Xiaonan def. Angela Hill via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Darren Stewart def. Bevon Lewis via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
Eddie Wineland def. Grigory Popov via KO (punches) (4:47, Round 2)
Katlyn Chookagian def. Joanne Calderwood via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
UFC 238 Results: Main Card
#1. Tai Tuivasa (8-1-0) vs. Blagoy Ivanov (17-2-0-1) (Heavyweight)
The heavyweights kicked off the main card proceedings in a fight that, uncommonly for a fight involving 265+ pounders, went the distance.
Ivanov was on the counter-attack in the first round and even managed to drop Tuivasa with a hook at one point in the round. Tuivasa missed many strikes while Ivanov kept chipping away by landing his in the exchanges.
Tuivasa got into the groove in the second round as he had Ivanov on the ropes. However, the Bulgarian Ivanov fought his way back and somehow did enough to win the round. The stand-up affair carried onto the third round as both tried to match each other blow for blow.
In the end, Ivanov had better statistics as he landed 81 of his 131 total strikes with 73 significant attacks and two successful takedowns to complement them.
Result: Blagoy Ivanov def. Tai Tuivasa via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
Ivanov handed Tuivasa his second consecutive loss in what was a solid main card opener.
#2. Jimmie Rivera (22-3-0) vs. Petr Yan (11-1-0) (Bantamweight)
Two Bantamweight prospects took centre stage next as #9 ranked Petr Yan looked to overcome a stiff challenge posed by the #7 ranked Jimmie Rivera.
Yan and Rivera put on a highly technical bout as neither one of them could finish off their opponent. Rivera had the upper hand in the first two rounds, however, he conceded both in the eyes of the judges as Yan put together good combinations and stole the rounds.
Rivera took the third round but it wasn't enough to get him the win as Yan prevailed with a unanimous decision win.
There were some good exchanges in the centre of the Octagon and the fight was closer than the outcome suggests. Rivera landed more total and significant strikes throughout the fight but got taken down on one occasion by Yan, which may have proved to be the deciding factor.
Result: Petr Yan def. Jimmie Rivera via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
#3. Tony Ferguson (24-3-0) vs. Donald Cerrone (36-11-0-1) (Lightweight)
There was more hype surrounding this tantalizing showdown than the title double-header. Donald Cerrone and Tony Ferguson are two of the most popular fighters currently on the UFC roster and seeing them face each other was a legit dream scenario playing out in real life.
And the exceptional lightweights didn't disappoint.
It was a back-and-forth contest as Cerrone took the first round courtesy of some crisp striking that included strong jabs and right-hand shots.
Ferguson upped the ante in the second round and bloodied Cerrone's face with well-placed jabs and strikes of his own. Cerrone's nose got busted by a straight right from Ferguson as the fight was evenly poised with a potential third round in the offing.
Ferguson aced the second round and the damage was all to be seen. Cerrone's right eye was swollen and as a result, ringside doctors were forced to call off the fight as the Cowboy wasn't in a condition to continue.
There was controversy, however, as Ferguson was given a warning for landing a punch after the bell of the second round.
Replays showed that the illegal punch landed on Cerrone's nose and had it been deemed a foul, the fight would have been adjudged a no contest or DQ.
Result: Tony Ferguson def. Donald Cerrone via TKO (Doctor Stoppage) (5:00, Round 2)
El Cucuy was at his ruthless and inventive best in the second round and was classy enough to say that he has no problems in having a rematch. As revealed by Dana White, Cerrone suffered a broken right orbital bone. This was Cowboy's first loss since putting together a three-fight win streak.
We won't mind a Ferguson vs. Cerrone 2. The questionable ending warrants another fight, doesn't it?
#4. Valentina Shevchenko (16-3-0) vs. Jessica Eye (14-6-0-1) (Women's Flyweight Championship)
While the night thus far was filled with many engaging moments, we were yet to witness a highlight reel knockout. Valentina Shevchenko - "Hold my beer'!
The reigning Women's Flyweight Champion reminded us all of her elite kickboxing credentials with a picture-perfect head kick knockout of Jessica Eye.
Eye came into the first round as the aggressor and looked to catch Shevchenko with a right. Shevchenko scouted for an opening, got in the body lock and took Eye down. The champ controlled the fight and even attempted a few submissions only to lose position.
The second round began and Shevchenko realised the importance of kicks. She fired a few body kicks initially. Eye was then expecting another body kick but Shevchenko went up top instead and landed a head kick of the highest order, knocking Eye out cold.
Result: Valentina Shevchenko def. Jessica Eye via KO (head kick) (0:26, Round 2)
Shevchenko's first title defence earned her a well-deserved performance of the night bonus.
#5. Henry Cejudo (14-2-0) vs. Marlon Moraes (22-5-1) (Bantamweight Championship)
The man with an Olympic gold medal and two UFC belts took on a highly-rated Brazilian with a 4-fight win streak. The main event title fight was a great match-up on paper and it seemed like a stern test for a polarizing figure in Cejudo.
Moraes kicked off the fight in his favour as he controlled the first round by keeping a distance using leg kicks. Cejudo got his range in the second round and answered with variations of leg kicks. Cejudo hurt Moraes with some big knees in the middle of the round and did enough to outscore his opponent.
Cejudo pushed forward in the third round and kept up his volume of strikes. Cejudo wrapped Moraes up near the fence after two minutes. Moraes gave up the half guard position and it was all downhill from there onwards as Cejudo unleashed some elbows and hammer fists until the referee stepped in to stop the fight.
Result: Henry Cejudo def. Marlon Moraes via TKO (elbows and punches) (4:51, Round 2)
The win extends The Messenger's streak to five victories on the trot. A clinical performance from a man who is cementing himself as one of the greatest combat sports athletes of this generation.
