UFC 288 Recap: Sterling Makes History by Defeating Cejudo in Split Decision

Aljamain Sterling overcame his greatest challenge at UFC 288, defeating Henry Cejudo by split decision to extend his reign as bantamweight champion.

With the victory, Sterling (23–3) extends his win streak to nine. It was a competitive bout, one where Sterling set the record for most successful title defenses of the bantamweight belt.

Cejudo (16–3) was also chasing history, but he fell just short. The Olympic gold medalist was seeking to become a three-time champion in the UFC, and after a three-year layoff, he came incredibly close.

Sterling pushed forward to start, but 80 seconds into the fight, Cejudo delivered his first takedown. That lasted for just over a minute, and Sterling was again aggressive throwing punches once he got back to his feet. But Cejudo locked him up again, which was eventually reversed into a takedown for Sterling, winning the round for the champ.

Cejudo’s attack was more focused around his striking in the second. But he could not land the type of shot he was seeking. Cejudo’s speed caused problems for Sterling, and his body kicks likely won him the round. Sterling was clearly prepared, and he used his strength to lock up Cejudo. The third ended with a takedown by Cejudo after a failed attempt by Sterling, giving a slight advantage to Cejudo in a closely contested round.

The fourth was, again, close. But Sterling did enough damage to win the round, appearing to put extra pressure on both men to win the fifth. Sterling and Cejudo were aggressive with the kicks to open the final round. Midway through, Cejudo finally landed a strike that briefly rattled Sterling. A critical sequence occurred when Cejudo capitalized by catching Sterling’s left leg and brought him to the ground for one final takedown, but it was not enough to give him the win.

The future is clear for Sterling, who will defend the belt next against Sean O’Malley. But Cejudo appears to be on the precipice of a second retirement, this one likely more permanent than the first.

Belal Muhammad is ready for his title shot.

Muhammad defeated Gilbert Burns by unanimous decision in the co-main event of 288, a tense bout that lacked the type of physicality that this bloodthirsty crowd in Jersey craved.

This marked the third fight of the year for Burns (22–6), but the third time was not the charm. The victory extends an unbeaten streak for Muhammad, who has not lost in his last 10 fights—and puts himself in position to challenge the winner of the Leon Edwards-Colby Covington welterweight title fight.

A difference for Muhammad (23–3, 1 NC) was his punishing left kick. Burns appeared to be dealing with an injured left arm, clearly disturbing his explosiveness. The loss ends Burns’s two-fight win streak, removing him, at least for the time being, from title contention.

Muhammad wore down Burns throughout the five rounds, honing in on a distance where he could land his kicks but Burns could not strike with any semblance of consistency. Despite more aggression from Burns in the fifth, he was unable to inflict punishment on Muhammad.

The first round belonged to Muhammad, who was able to land far more consistently and effectively. He was measured in his attack in those first five minutes, delivering a blend of kicks and strikes. Round two was tighter, but the pace continued to favor Muhammad. Up until that point, the majority of damage was issued by Muhammad, which continued throughout the third. The output kept adding up, with Burns on the receiving end of too many kicks.

Bloodied and frustrated, Burns opened the fourth on the defensive. Muhammad kept pushing the action, drilling Burns with kicks to the rib section. The jab was also an effective weapon for Muhammad, partially due to its landing on Burns’s nose, but also because it kept Burns at a distance where he was unable to land. Burns did land one solid shot in the fourth, but Muhammad quickly regained control.

Muhammad wanted this bout to go five rounds, a distinction typically saved for main events and title shots, and that request was granted. His cardio was better, no doubt aided by the blows to Burns’s nose, and he absorbed very little punishment.

This was not, by any means, the most exciting victory of Muhammad’s career. Yet it was one he desperately needed, and attaining it finally puts him in reach of the gold.

Yan Xiaonan delivered the first knockout of the main card, drilling Jéssica Andrade with a right hand to end their bout only two minutes and 20 seconds into the opening round.

Andrade (24–11) was looking to respond to a defeat this past winter against Erin Blanchfield, but she was caught with a vicious shot as she was charging forward.

Xiaonan (17–3, 1 NC) is suddenly now a contender in the women’s strawweight division. She has won two in a row, both in impressive fashion, particularly with this finish. While she would be an underdog against reigning champ Zhang Weili, it would mark a long awaited title shot for Xiaonan.

Diego Lopes fought like a man with his career on the line.

Best known as Alexa Grasso’s jiu-jitsu coach, this marked his UFC debut. And the challenge was steep, facing off on short notice against undefeated Movsar Evloev, who is the 10th-ranked featherweight in the division.

Despite losing by unanimous decision, Lopes (21–6) went the distance with Evloev, proving he belongs in the Octagon. Lopes came close to victory on three different occasions. He applied what appeared to be a walk-off armbar in the opening round, but Evloev escaped. There were two other occasions in the final round where he came close to a submission, especially with the knee bar, but Evloev fought through the adversity.

Evloev (17–0) could not afford to drop this bout. He now seeks a ranked opponent to test himself against after doing just enough to bypass what would have been a damaging loss to Lopes.

Charles Jourdain opened the UFC 288 main card with a disciplined victory against Kron Gracie, winning by unanimous decision.

The crowd was almost immediately frustrated by this featherweight bout. Gracie (5–2) wanted to keep the fight on the ground, where there was hardly a speck of action. With black belts in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and judo, he was dangerous in that position, though it never materialized despite pressing to find a submission.

Jourdain (14-6-1) resisted the temptation to fall prey to Gracie’s attack. He remained patient and refused to open himself up to a submission. That meant the pace of the fight slowed significantly, but Jourdain did strike whenever he was standing.

The victory is important for Jourdain, as it snaps a two-fight losing streak. For Gracie, who was competing in his first bout since October 2019, it adds a question mark to his future in the UFC.

Newark, NJ — For the first time in three years, Henry Cejudo returns to active competition at UFC 288—and he has a tremendous challenge in front of him.

Cejudo will challenge Aljamain Sterling in the main event, chasing a third UFC title reign. Sterling is pursuing his own piece of history, as a victory will give him a record third bantamweight title defense.

The 288 card is full of intrigue. Kron Gracie steps back into the Octagon for the first time since October 2019, where he will face off against Charles Jourdain. There is a featherweight bout pitting no. 10 ranked Movsar Evloev against Diego Lopes, as well as fourth-ranked women’s strawweight contender Jéssica Andrade battling Yan Xiaonan, who sits two spots beneath her.

Business picks up further in the co-main, as Belal Muhammad and Gilbert Burns took a fight on short notice—replacing the scrapped Charles Oliveira-Beneil Dariush bout—to determine either Leon Edwards’s next challenger for the welterweight title, or Colby Covington’s first. Burns will have his hands full with a relentless opponent in Muhammad, who can grapple and strike, and has not tasted defeat in his last nine bouts. Incredibly, this is already Burns’s third fight of the year. He competed last month at UFC 287, defeating Jorge Masvidal, but could not resist accepting this bout, which equates to a title shot.

Sterling and Cejudo carries the card, but it should be an entertaining night of fights at UFC 288.