UFC 238: Quick Picks

UFC 238 in Chicago, Illinois brings a stacked card featured with two title fights. Take an inside look at my quick picks from the early prelims to the main event with an in depth breakdown of the final three fights of the night.

Photo creds: sportskeeda.com

The UFC makes a stop at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois, this Saturday June 8 with a fight card filled from top to bottom with talent. This Pay-Per-View event brings two title fights between the Flyweight King, Henry Cejudo and Marlon Moraes for the vacant Bantamweight belt and Valentina Shevchenko making her first Flyweight title defense against top contender Jessica Eye. The card also features an electric matchup between top-five Lightweights Tony Ferguson and Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone in what many have called "The people's main event". The card features plenty of exciting bouts along with the title doubleheader to cap off the night.

Let’s take a look at my quick picks for UFC 238 in its entirety.

Main Card on Pay-Per-View

Henry Cejudo vs Marlon Moraes (Main event - title fight)

• Cejudo, the Flyweight champ, is moving up a weight class to try and claim the vacant throne of the Bantamweight division but is going against a vicious finisher in Marlon Moraes. I think this fight is going to be too much for Cejudo as I see no way of Henry to be able to out-strike Moraes in the early rounds; I see it going no more than two rounds. Cejudo will have to implement his olympic wrestling in order to avoid the striking of Moraes but I see him getting caught before he can get there. Moraes will find the strike early and hurt Cejudo before finishing him off on the ground with a submission. Moraes is just too explosive for Cejudo and I feel that will be the difference in the main event this Saturday.

Fight Prediction: Moraes via submission

Shevchenko vs Eye (Co-Main - title fight)

• On paper, this fight seems very one-sided as the odds lean heavily in the favor of Valentina Shevchenko. Every knowledgable analyst should pick Shevchenko to win this fight but my gut is telling me an upset win is coming for Jessica Eye. Here is why, I feel Eye has the ability to win this fight if it goes the distance, which with her fight style it very well can. I do not see Eye being able to finish Shevchenko but I would not be surprised to see her try and out-wrestle her opponent to get her above on the scorecards. Eye has had some success in the past throwing 'punches in bunches' which would be the key to shutting down the striking of Shevchenko. If Eye can flurry Valentina, push the pace of the fight, and bring her to the ground, I think she can edge out Shevchenko for a win. Jessica is the biggest underdog on the card, as expected, but I can see her earning a split-decision victory on Saturday. I know, it's a risky prediction but history shows that underdogs in fighting can have unexpected success. We will see how it all plays out Saturday.

Fight Prediction: Eye via decision

Tony Ferguson vs Donald Cerrone

• In the "People's main event" we have the best possible matchup one could make in the Lightweight division. Ferguson and Cerrone are both veterans of the sport and two of the toughest, no nonsense fighters on roster. It's a fight that has 'Fight of the Night' written all over it as both fighters have electric striking and prevalent ground-game. Although this is truly a pick-em' fight, I think Cerrone will get the best of Ferguson and put him to sleep in the second round. Cerrone seems to fight better when he puts together a string of fights in a short period of time as he can easily ride the momentum from his brilliant outing against Al Iaquinta. For Ferguson, I feel his baggage outside the Ocatagon with his personal issues and downfalls will have an impact on his ability to perform at the elite level we are used to seeing. I believe Cowboy will get the best of him on Saturday and earn himself a solid argument to get a shot at the Lightweight belt.

Fight Prediction: Cerrone via KO

Jimmie Rivera vs Peter Yan

Fight Prediction: Rivera via decision

Tai Tuivasa vs Blagoy Ivanov

Fight Prediction: Tuivasa via KO

Prelims on ESPN 2

Tatiana Suarez vs Nina Ansaroff

Fight Prediction: Suarez via decision

Aljamain Sterling vs Pedro Munhoz

Fight Prediction: Munhoz via submission

Karolina Kowalkiewicz vs Alexa Grasso

Fight Prediction: Kowalkiewicz via decision

Ricardo Lamas vs Calvin Kattar

Fight Prediction: Lamas via KO

Early Prelims on Fight Pass

Yan Xiaonan vs Angela Hill

Fight Prediction: Xiaonan via decision

Bevon Lewis vs Darren Stewart

Fight Prediction: Lewis via KO

Eddie Wineland vs Grigory Popov

Fight Prediction: Wineland via decision

Katlyn Chookagian vs Joanne Calderwood

Fight Prediction: Calderwood via decision