Report | Valentina Shevchenko targeted to make first title defense vs Jessica Eye at UFC 238
With our questions now answered in regards to the next pay-per-view UFC event that is UFC 236 on April 13, it’s onto figuring out what will steal the spotlight at UFC 238. Some signs of clarity have begun to show.
ESPN is reporting that the third UFC flyweight title bout in the promotion’s history is currently being finalized for the event on June 9 in Chicago, Illinois. That bout would feature the current champion, Valentina Shevchenko (16-3) as she would look to make her first title defense against the resurgent Jessica Eye (14-6).
For Cleveland, Ohio’s own “Evil” Eye, a title-winning effort would be absolutely perfect for her 10th career win at 125-pounds, a division that she has never lost in.
When joining the UFC in 2013, Eye would make her debut at bantamweight as the UFC had yet to create their flyweight class. From here, Eye would falter as she went 1-5 (1 NC) before getting the opportunity to drop back down.
Since being given that chance, she has more than made the best of it as Eye has won three fights in a row and earned her first career UFC title shot after being on the brink of release from the company.
As for the champion in Shevchenko, she too is a former bantamweight who has made the best of her drop to 125.
The “Bullet” has gone unbeaten since returning to the division as well, as she has scored two dominant victories over the likes of Priscila Cachoeira and the former strawweight champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk whom she defeated at UFC 231 to earn the vacant title.
UFC 238 is currently in the process of taking shape as this bout would be the very first added to the card. Whether or not the fight would be the main event remains to be determined.
This article first appeared on BJPenn.com on 3/8/2019
