Report | Jimmie Rivera and Petr Yan agree to fight at UFC 238
On June 8, the UFC will return to Chicago, Illinois for UFC 238. In the card’s main event, a new bantamweight champion will be crowned as the vacant title will be fought over when flyweight champion, Henry Cejudo moves up to face Marlon Moraes.
As the UFC has been doing lately, they’ve installed back up fights or fighters in the case that the main event or title fight has an issue with one of its participants. In the UFC 238 co-main event, Valentina Shevchenko looks to defend her flyweight title against Jessica Eye. Also on the card is Joanne Calderwood facing Katlyn Chookagian. Calderwood has revealed since the fight’s announcement that she will be on standby in case something happens in the title fight.
Nothing has been said in regards to the 135-pound strap, however, but it could be implied with the next fight that’s in the works.
ESPN’s Ariel Helwani has reported that a top 10 clash between Jimmie Rivera (22-3) and Petr Yan (12-1) has been agreed to for the event.
If this fight gets signed for 238 (239 was also discussed) with Sterling v. Munhoz as well as Moraes v. Cejudo (still not signed to, but expected), that card in Chicago will look like a mini 135 tournament with 5 of the best BW (+ 1 FW king) on the same card.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) April 4, 2019
“UFC is targeting Jimmie Rivera vs. Petr Yan for UFC 238 on June 8, according to sources. Fight has been agreed to and they hope to sign shortly.
“If this fight gets signed for 238 (239 was also discussed) with Sterling v. Munhoz as well as Moraes v. Cejudo (still not signed to, but expected), that card in Chicago will look like a mini 135 tournament with 5 of the best BW (+ 1 FW king) on the same card.” Helwani tweeted.
Also mentioned is a possible bout between surging contenders Aljamain Sterling who just defeated Rivera, and the red-hot Pedro Munhoz who is fresh off of knocking out former champion, Cody Garbrandt at UFC 235 last month.
As for Yan, a win over Rivera would make him 5-0 in the UFC after impressive wins over John Dodson, Douglas Silva de Andrade, Jin Soo Son, and Teruto Ishihara.
UFC 238 is still coming together. But as of right now, check out the current line-up below.
- Bantamweight – 135lbs: (C) – (Fly C)Henry Cejudo vs Marlon Moraes
- Flyweight – 125lbs: (C)Valentina Shevchenko vs. Jessica Eye
- Strawweight – 115lbs: Tatiana Suarez vs. Nina Ansaroff
- Flyweight: Katlyn Chookagian vs. Joanne Calderwood
- Heavyweight – 207-265lbs: Tai Tuivasa vs. Blagoy Ivanov
- Strawweight: Felice Herrig vs Yan Xiaonan
- Featherweight – 145lbs: Ricardo Lamas vs Calvin Kattar
This article first appeared on BJPenn.com on 4/4/2019
Topics:
Jimmie Rivera Petr Yan UFC UFC 238
