Which Ranked Fighters Are Competing This Weekend? UFC 238 Rankings Tracker

The ordering process for Ultimate Fighting Championship pay-per-views has changed: UFC 238 is only available on ESPN+ in the U.S.

The ordering process for Ultimate Fighting Championship pay-per-views has changed: UFC 238 is only available on ESPN+ in the U.S.

UFC 238 takes place this weekend at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. A number of champions and ranked fighters are competing on the main card. Let's take a look at them and the possible implications their fights could have on the rankings.

In the main event, flyweight champion Henry Cejudo battles Marlon Moraes for the vacant bantamweight title. Cejudo (14-2) moved up the pound-for-pound ranks not only because he became the new 125-pound king, but because he did it by beating Demetrious Johnson. A quick knockout victory over then bantamweight champion T.J. Dillashaw earlier this year saw him move up further. As a result, he is rated as the fourth-best pound-for-pound fighter in the world by Sherdog, ESPN and the Ultimate Fighting Championship. A win this weekend could see him become just the fourth simultaneous two-weight champion and possibly move up further.

However, it won't be easy as Moraes (22-5-1) is as tough as they come. "Magic" boasts of four consecutive wins, including three first-round finishes over Aljamain Sterling, Jimmie Rivera and Raphael Assuncao. It comes as no surprise then that he is rated as the best bantamweight in the world by Sherdog, ESPN and the UFC. A win over Cejudo would make him UFC champion for the first time as well as likely shoot him up high in the pound-for-pound ranks.

In the co-main event, women's flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko (16-3) defends her title against Jessica Eye. Shevchenko won the vacant title following a comfortable unanimous decision win over former strawweight champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk. With just two decision defeats to Amanda Nunes in her UFC career, "The Bullet" is rated as the second-best female pound-for-pound fighter in the world by Sherdog while ESPN have her at third. Shevchenko is also No. 14 on the UFC pound-for-pound ranks.

As for her opponent, Eye (14-6, 1 NC) is currently on a three-fight winning streak and will look to become UFC champion in her first attempt. She is unranked in Sherdog's Top 10 but is rated as the third-best women's flyweight in the world by ESPN. She is also the No. 1 contender in the UFC rankings. Though she is a huge betting underdog, a win would likely see her jump all the way up to the pound-for-pound ranks.

A pivotal lightweight clash is also on the main card as Tony Ferguson collides with Donald Cerrone. Ferguson (24-3) is on a 11-fight win streak and another win should guarantee him to be the next challenger for the lightweight title. "El Cucuy" is already rated as the second-best lightweight in the world by Sherdog, third by ESPN, and is the No. 2 contender in the UFC rankings. In addition, he is No. 8 in ESPN's pound-for-pound list as well as No. 12 in the UFC's pound-for-pound list.

Cerrone (36-11, 1 NC), meanwhile, has won his last two fights since returning to lightweight, including an impressive decision win over Al Iaquinta. With four victories in his last five bouts, a win over Ferguson could put "Cowboy" in the driver's seat for the next title shot as well as in the pound-for-pound ranks. He is currently rated as the fourth-best lightweight in the world by Sherdog and ESPN, while he is also the No. 4 contender in the UFC rankings.

Ranked bantamweights are also in action as Jimmie Rivera takes on the surging Petr Yan. Rivera (22-3) has lost two of his last three but is still one of the top contenders. He is the fourth-best 135-pounder in the world according to Sherdog, 10th according to ESPN, while he is the No. 7 contender in the UFC rankings.

Yan (12-1), on the other hand, is unbeaten in four fights since making his UFC debut and will be looking for his biggest win yet in Rivera. The Russian is rated as the 10th-best bantamweight in the world by Sherdog, however, ESPN have him seventh while he is also No. 9 in the UFC rankings. He clearly has more to gain with a win than Rivera as a fifth consecutive victory could put him in position for a top five opponent next.

Finally, heavyweights are in action as Tai Tuivasa collides with Blagoy Ivanov in the event's opener. Tuivasa (8-1) suffered his first loss against Junior dos Santos last year and will be looking to bounce back with a bang. Ivanov (17-2), meanwhile, got his first UFC win with a contentious unanimous decision win over Ben Rothwell earlier this year. Both fighters are currently unranked in Sherdog and ESPN's Top 10, however, Tuivasa is No. 11 in the UFC rankings while Ivanov is No. 13. A second consecutive win for Ivanov could see him climb up the rankings further.