UFC 238: Henry Cejudo TKOs Marlon Moraes to Become 4th UFC Fighter To Hold 2 Belts At Once
Plus: Valentina Shevchenko delivers the head kick heard around the internet.
I stand corrected, triple champ now! However Cejudo just said he wants to go up to 145 and challenge for a third belt in the UFC….. bro GTFOH! #UFC238 pic.twitter.com/XJjwK4mez9
— Combat Sports Global (@ChampSportsProd) June 9, 2019
There were no fireworks at UFC 238, but there was enough drama to go around. The top of the ticket, Henry Cejudo vs. Marlon Moraes, ended in a solid TKO for Cejudo, netting him his second belt, and making him the fourth UFC fighter to hold titles in weight classes at the same time.
If there were at least some sparks, they came from the undercard, specifically Valentina Shevchenko‘s matchup with Jessica Eye, which Shevchenko ended with one of the ugliest, most brutal head kicks in UFC history.
On the button. Shin to head isn’t a good mix, ever. RT Valentina Shevchenko has MURDERED Jessica Eye…#UFC238 https://t.co/8hdfnCbXtS
— Maverick (@boi1der06) June 9, 2019
Yeah, that was just nasty as hell. If anything, it was worse from overhead.
Valentina Shevchenko is still your UFC Women's Flyweight champ. And she just about flatlined Jessica Eye. Frightening. #UFC238 pic.twitter.com/W5B24wzl6S
— Bulgogi Jones (@Hamderlei) June 9, 2019
That epic kick ensured Shevchenko’s hold on the UFC Women’s Flyweight belt until her next title match.
As for Cejudo, he walked in the men’s Flyweight champ, poised to take the empty Bantamweight position. Initially it didn’t look like he was going to achieve his goal—Moraes started strong, aiming attacks at his opponent’s legs.
It took Cejudo a little time to get his bearings, and things looked pretty even until round 3. That was when, near the very end, Cejudo had Moraes on the mat, pounding away with a flurry of elbows and punches.
He got the job done with the ensuing technical knockout and thoroughly enjoyed his victory.
The other major match in UFC 238 was between lightweights Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone and Tony Ferguson.
Donald 'Cowboy' Cerrone's eye swelled shut in a brutal TKO loss to Tony Ferguson https://t.co/pVG2ZiOeTr
— Insider Sports (@SportsInsider) June 9, 2019
It started out with some fire and fury, but by round 2 Cerrone had a busted eye. And that was when he handed himself his own TKO, basically—by blowing his nose. His eye immediately ballooned to horror movie proportions. Physicians stopped the match after checking on Cerrone, despite his pleas to continue.
THE FIGHT THEY PROMISED!
FIVE MINUTES DOWN! #UFC238 pic.twitter.com/t2U6xb0Hmj
— UFC (@ufc) June 9, 2019
Speaking to Joe Rogan afterward, Cerrone demonstrated the striking humility so many UFC fighters often show once the match is over and the need for posturing is gone, saying, “I shouldn’t have blown my nose. I’m a veteran, I’m old school, and I should’ve known that. But I did, and I humbly couldn’t finish the fight, and I apologize.”