Picks for UFC 238: Ivanov Ready to Climb the Heavyweight Ranks

• UFC 238 takes place in Chicago on Saturday, June 8th at 10:00 p.m. ET
• Can Xiaonan Yan stay unbeaten in UFC competition?
• Can Karolina Kowalkiewicz get back on track? 

This weekend’s UFC pay-per-view event from the United Center in Chicago features multiple title fights with Henry Cejudo looking to become champ-champ as he takes on Marlon Moraes for the vacant Bantamweight belt. Also, Valentina Shevchenko defends her UFC Flyweight strap against top contender Jessica Eye.

The most compelling bets are found on the earlier portions of the card though. Peep my predictions below!

Ivanov Goes Over on Tuivasa

A clash between top 15 heavyweights is slated for UFC 238. Ivanov sits at no. 13 and Tuivasa is no. 11, per UFC’s rankings. Tuivasa seems to be getting the edge from oddsmakers because he’s perceived as a young, rising contender that has more of a shelf life than Ivanov.

Ivanov vs Tuivasa Odds

*All odds taken 06/04/2019

This is heavyweight MMA though, and I think Blagoy has all the tools to land those equilibrium shifting punches. The Sambo champion also has a notable grappling acumen. So I feel he’s the more well rounded fighter and Ivanov also has the experience advantage.

RT MMAWorldSeries RT MMAWorldSeries: Heavyweights with heavy hands! Blagoy Ivanov def. Jordan and remains WSOF hea… pic.twitter.com/JTlrZP7Zje

— Susan Cingari MMA (@SusanCingari) March 19, 2017

Tuivasa has finished the majority of his bouts with strikes in the first round and does have a W over former champ Andrei Arlovski. Tuivasa is certainly no pushover, but I feel like he won’t be doing a shoey after this one.

Pick: Blagoy Ivanov (+120)

Grasso Edges Out Kowalkiewicz

This is a high stakes strawweight bout in the UFC women’s ranks. Kowalkiewicz is the former title contender looking to get back on track after repeat losses. Grasso is the bright-eyed prospect on the rise through the 115 lb hierarchy. UFC’s rankings have Kowalkiewicz at no. 10 while Grasso sits at no. 13.

Grasso vs Kowalkiewicz Odds

Though Grasso has  a.500 UFC record, she has shown promising signs on the Invicta circuit and also netted a strong UFC win over Randa Markos.

VIDEO: Alexa Grasso shows off her blazing hand speed at #ufchouston workouts. (@ekc) pic.twitter.com/E2qaKEiQPu

— MMA Fighting (@MMAFighting) February 3, 2017

Grasso has been  inactive for over a year since her RNC loss to powerhouse Tatiana Suarez so it will be interesting to see what improvements she has been able to make since.

Alexa Grasso has been  inactive for over a year since her RNC loss to powerhouse Tatiana Suarez.

Since her victory over Thug Rose, Kowalkiewicz has gone 2-4 in the division. There are multiple consequential strawweight tilts on UFC 238 and this is certainly one of them. I’m going with Grasso via Decision.

Pick: Alexa Grasso (+105)

Hill Hands Yan Her First UFC Loss

Speaking of high stakes bouts at 115 lbs, another one of note is Angela Hill vs Xiaonan Yan. Hill is a former Invicta FC Strawweight Champion and Xiaonan Yan has gone unbeaten in her last nine and is presently 3-0 in the octagon.

Hill vs Yan Odds

I think Hill’s constant activity will give her an advantage in this one. This octagon foray will be Angela’s third in less than three months. Hill is a gamer and stepped up on short notice for this one after Felice Herrig tore her ACL. I think Hill has faced the superior opposition overall and is also on the heels of a comprehensive performance when she last defeated Jodie Esquibel.

That’s not necessarily saying Yan can’t rise to the occasion. Just going off of prior track records and the inferences we have available to us, I have to edge it to Hill. Angela “Overkill” Hill gets it done at UFC 238.

Pick: Hill (+170)