UFC 288 Results: Aljamain Sterling Edges Henry Cejudo in Razor-Thin Title Fight
The waiting is over for the big bantamweight championship fight between Aljamain Sterling and Henry Cejudo at UFC 288.
Sterling and Cejudo will be colliding inside the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, tonight (May 6). Sterling is looking for his third successful UFC Bantamweight Championship defense. As for Cejudo, this will be his first bout since May 2020, and he hopes to pick up right where he left off. When "Triple C" initially retired, he was the 135-pound titleholder.
READ MORE: How To Watch UFC 288
The co-main event could have UFC Welterweight Championship implications. Number-four-ranked UFC welterweight Belal Muhammad will be taking on the fifth-ranked Gilbert Burns. "Durinho" Burns has told reporters that the winner has been guaranteed a title opportunity. Colby Covington still waits in the wings as the next title challenger for Leon Edwards.
The main card will also see former UFC Strawweight Champion Jessica Andrade take on Yan Xiaonan. Andrade is coming off a second-round submission loss to Erin Blanchfield. Xiaonan is hoping to earn her second straight victory, as she defeated Mackenzie Dern via majority decision back in October 2022.
Fight fans will also see Movsar Evloev meet his late replacement opponent, Diego Lopes. Evloev was expected to face Bryce Mitchell, but "Thug Nasty" suffered an undisclosed injury.
The main card will open up with a featherweight matchup between Kron Gracie and Charles Jourdain. This will be Gracie's first pro MMA bout since 2019.
MMA Knockout has you covered with live quick results throughout the night. Keep refreshing this page for live updates.
Main Card (ESPN+ PPV, 10 p.m. ET)
- Aljamain Sterling (c) def. Henry Cejudo via split decision (47-48, 48-47, 48-47) - for the UFC Bantamweight Championship
- Belal Muhammad def. Gilbert Burns via unanimous decision (50-45, 49-46, 49-46)
- Yan Xiaonan def. Jessica Andrade via TKO (strikes) - R1, 2:20
- Movsar Evloev def. Diego Lopes via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
- Charles Jourdain def. Kron Gracie via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Prelims (ESPN/ESPN+, 8 p.m. ET)
- Matt Frevola def. Drew Dober via TKO (strikes) - R1, 4:08
- Kennedy Nzechukwu def. Devin Clark via submission (standing guillotine choke) - R2, 2:28
- Khaos Williams def. Rolando Bedoya via split decision (27-30, 29-28, 29-28)
- Virna Jandiroba def. Marina Rodriguez via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
Prelims (ESPN+, 6:30 p.m. ET)
- Parker Porter def. Braxton Smith via TKO - R1, 2:10
- Ikram Aliskerov def. Phil Hawes via KO - R1, 2:10
- Claudio Ribeiro def. Joseph Holmes via TKO - R2, 3:21