{"id":106505,"date":"2019-06-07T19:00:53","date_gmt":"2019-06-08T02:00:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/?p=106505"},"modified":"2019-06-07T19:00:30","modified_gmt":"2019-06-08T02:00:30","slug":"cejudo-faces-moraes-for-bantamweight-title-at-ufc-238","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/cejudo-faces-moraes-for-bantamweight-title-at-ufc-238\/","title":{"rendered":"Cejudo and Moraes Battle for Bantamweight Championship at UFC 238"},"content":{"rendered":"

Henry Cejudo will look to pick up a second championship belt, while Valentina Shevchenko attempts to defend her women\u2019s flyweight title at UFC 238 in Chicago on Saturday night.<\/p>\n

\"UFC
Henry Cejudo (top) will try to pick up a second title while Valentina Shevchenko (bottom) will defend her flyweight crown at UFC 238. (Images: Sarah Stier\/Getty, Jason Silva\/USA Today Sports)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Two titles fights headline the action at the United Center, while the loaded card includes eight other fights between ranked contenders.<\/p>\n

Cejudo Taking On New Challenge<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The main event at UFC 238 is a bantamweight title fight between current flyweight champion Henry Cejudo and No. 1 ranked bantamweight contender Marlon Moraes. The 135-pound title is currently vacant following former champion TJ Dillashaw\u2019s<\/a> positive drug tests around his January loss to Cejudo in a flyweight title bout.<\/p>\n

For Cejudo (14-2), that means an attempt to move up in weight and become a two-division champion. It\u2019s yet another lofty goal for a man who has always looked to find new achievements during his career as a fighter.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo me, it\u2019s about challenging my mind, my heart and soul,\u201d Cejudo told the Orange County Register<\/em>. \u201cAs much as I love talking about gold and my Olympic gold medal, it\u2019s about the emotions that come with it and it\u2019s beautiful to know how far I can push the mind and accomplish it.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Meanwhile, Moraes (22-5-1) has been waiting to get a title shot in the UFC, an opportunity he has earned thanks to a four-fight winning streak that was capped off in February with a victory over Raphael Assuncao. While Moraes isn\u2019t underestimating his opponent, he\u2019s confident that he has what it takes to beat the flyweight champ.<\/p>\n

\u201cI respect him moving up,\u201d Moraes told Fansided. \u201cIt\u2019s a challenge, and he believes that he can beat me, but that\u2019s not going to happen.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bookmakers are expecting a competitive fight, but the larger Moraes has been given the slight edge. FanDuel Sportsbook has Moraes listed at -138, with Cejudo a modest underdog at +114.<\/p>\n

Shevchenko Expected to Dominate Eye<\/strong><\/h2>\n

There\u2019s a lot more agreement over who the favorite is in the co-main event. Shevchenko (16-3) is widely expected to put in a dominant performance over Eye (14-6), who is seen as a talented fighter but one that isn\u2019t in the same class as the current champion.<\/p>\n

Shevchenko won the flyweight champion with a unanimous decision victory over Joanna Jedrzejczyk at UFC 231, making this her first title defense \u2013 but likely not her last.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor now, I\u2019m focused on defending my belt as many times as I can,\u201d Shevchenko told MMA Fighting. \u201cWhatever happens in the future, we never know. Everything that\u2019s in my way, I\u2019ll take it.\u201d<\/p>\n

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UFC 238 Main Card Odds (Via FanDuel Sportsbook)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n