The UFC returns to New Jersey, and pay-per-view, this Saturday night. UFC 288 promises a night packed with all-in MMA action. The main event sees UFC Bantamweight Champion Aljamain Sterling take on Henry Cejudo. The challenger is a former two-weight world champion who retired from the Octagon in 2020.
At the time, many thought ‘The Messenger’ was using the threat of quitting as a negotiation tactic. While The Sportsman can neither confirm nor deny this, the fact Cejudo has walked straight back into a title fight tells its own story.
The co-main event sees the feared Belal Muhammad look to make it ten fights in a row unbeaten as he faces elite grappler Gilbert Burns. Former UFC Strawweight Champion Jessica Andrade gloves up against China’s Yan Xiaonan. Meanwhile, the latest chapter in the Gracie family legacy is written as Kron Gracie returns to take on Charles Jourdain.
Here’s everything you need to know about a huge night of action in Jersey.
Where: Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey, United States
When: Saturday 6th May, (1am Sunday UK time)
How To Watch: BT Sport 1HD
Tale Of The Tape:
Sterling:
Place Of Birth: Uniondale, New York, United States
Age: 33
Alias: Funk Master
Record: 22-3
Height: 5’7”
Reach: 71’’
Stance: Orthodox
Last Fight: Sterling needed just two rounds to dispatch T.J. Dillashaw by TKO in Abu Dhabi last October.
Cejudo:
Place Of Birth: Los Angeles, California, United States
Age: 36
Alias: The Messenger
Record: 16-2
Height: 5’4”
Reach: 64 ”
Stance: Orthodox
Last Fight: Cejudo last fought three years ago. He entered a temporary retirement after stopping Dominick Cruz in two rounds back in May 2020.
Full fight card:
Main card
Aljamain Sterling vs. Henry Cejudo
Belal Muhammad vs. Gilbert Burns
Jéssica Andrade vs. Yan Xiaonan
Kron Gracie vs. Charles Jourdain
Preliminary card
Drew Dober vs. Matt Frevola
Kennedy Nzechukwu vs. Devin Clark
Khaos Williams vs. Rolando Bedoya
Marina Rodriguez vs. Virna Jandiroba
Early preliminary card
Braxton Smith vs. Parker Porter
Phil Hawes vs. Ikram Aliskerov
Rafael Estevam vs. Zhalgas Zhumagulov
Joseph Holmes vs. Claudio Ribeiro
Daniel Santos vs. Johnny Muñoz Jr.
*18+ | BeGambleAware | Odds Subject To Change
