UFC 288 live results: Aljamain Sterling vs. Henry Cejudo

The Octagon is back in Newark, New Jersey, for the first time since August 2019 with tonight’s UFC 288 — a show that features a title fight on top and a card filled with several exciting matchups.

UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling defends the title against former UFC bantamweight and flyweight champion Henry Cejudo in the main event.

Sterling will be making his third title defense and is looking to extend an eight-fight win streak. Cejudo is returning from a retirement and is on a quest to regain a title he never lost. He last fought in May 2020, defending the bantamweight title in a fight against Dominick Cruz at UFC 249.

In the co-main event, it will be another five-round bout with a potential title shot in the welterweight division on the line as Belal Muhammad takes on Gilbert Burns. Muhammad is riding a nine-fight unbeaten streak, while Burns fought just one month ago, scoring a win over Jorge Masvidal.

Also on the main card: former UFC strawweight champion Jessica Andrade vs. Yan Xiaonan; undefeated Movsar Evloev vs. the debuting Diego Lopes, and the return of Kron Gracie vs. Charles Jourdain. 

A nice prelim card is capped off by an exciting lightweight matchup between Drew Dober and Matt Frevola.

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> Middleweights*- Joseph Holmes (8-3, 1-2 UFC) vs. Claudio Ribeiro (10-3, 0-1 UFC)

*Holmes missed weight by three pounds

Holmes with some leg kicks. They clinch against the fence. Holmes reverses position. Holmes with some knees to the legs and body. They remain tied up against the fence. They separate. Ribeiro lands a calf kick. Ribeiro with a big combo and Holmes backs to the fence. Ribeiro gets a takedown. Holmes is controlling trying to get to his feet. Ribeiro gets him back on his back. Ribeiro with some big shots from the top and he almost got the finish before the round ended. 10-9 Ribeiro.

Ribeiro lands a leg kick followed by a right hand before they clinch against the fence. Holmes reverses position. Ribeiro reverses and they break. Ribeiro lands a big inside leg kick. Holmes lands the jab. Holmes lands a leg kick but eats a counter left from Ribeiro. Ribeiro then lands a big right hand and they clinch. Ribeiro drops Holmes with a knee and is on top and lands some. Ribeiro with some more punches from the top and it is stopped! What a showing from Ribeiro.

Official Result- Claudio Ribeiro def. Joseph Holmes by TKO (punches) at 3:21 of Round 2

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> Middleweights- Phil Hawes (12-4, 4-2 UFC) vs. Ikram Aliskerov (13-1, 0-0 UFC)

Hawes lands some leg kicks and the jab. Aliskerov lands a leg kick. Hawes scores a leg kick then a body kick. He lands another. Hawes with a right hook then a body kick. Hawes hurts Aliskerov with a right hand. Hawes lands another hard body kick. They trade inside the pocket. Aliskerov lands after slipping and landed a head kick. Aliskerov  then knocks Hawes out with a clean right hand. What a finish from Aliskerov!

Official Result- Ikram Aliskerov def. Phil Hawes by knockout (punch) at 2:10 of Round 1

> Heavyweights- Braxton Smith (5-1, 0-0 UFC) vs. Parker Porter (13-8, 3-3 UFC)

Smith lands a body kick. They throw big shots and Porter clips Smith with a left hand. They trade big punches in close range. Both land more big punches. Porter drags Smith to the mat and Smith is already tired. Porter with lots of punches from the top and it is stopped! Just a thrashing from Porter.

Official Result- Parker Porter def. Braxton Smith by TKO (punches) at 2:10 of Round 1

> Women’s Strawweights- #5 Marina Rodriguez (16-2-2, 6-2-2 UFC) vs. #9 Virna Jandiroba (18-3, 4-3 UFC)

They both look for openings. Rodriguez lands a leg kick and a few punches before Jandiroba scores the takedown. Jandiroba is on top and gets to the mount and is keeping pressure looking to set up a choke. Jandiroba lets go and lands a short elbow as she’s working from the top. Jandiroba looks for a kimura. She lets go and lands some punches from the top. Jandiroba gets on her feet. Jandiroba lands an elbow as she gets back on top. 10-9 Jandiroba.

Both swinging and missing to start the second. Jandiroba looks for the takedown but Rodriguez defends. Jandiroba shoots for the leg and Rodriguez grabs the fence to defend. Jandiroba is able to get the body and drags it down for a moment. Jandiroba looks for a leg lock and Rodriguez lands from the bottom, but Jandiroba remains on top. She ends the round controlling from the top. 10-9 Jandiroba, 20-18 Jandiroba.

Rodriguez lands a combo on the feet after Jandiroba misses some spinning back fist attempts. Rodriguez lands another combo and lands a flying knee. Jandiroba shoots for the single leg and pushes it against the fence and this crowd is not happy. Jandiroba gets Rodriguez down for a brief moment. She ends up getting Rodriguez fully down. Jandiroba fully on top and looking for the arm-triangle choke. She lets go and lands some elbows. Jandiroba stands and Rodriguez is throwing a lot of upkicks and some are landing. Jandiroba gets back on top and Rodriguez lands from the bottom. 10-9 Jandiroba, 30-27 Jandiroba.

Official Result- Virna Jandiroba def. Marina Rodriguez by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)

> Welterweights- Khaos Williams (13-3, 4-2 UFC) vs. Rolando Bedoya (14-1, 0-0 UFC)

Bedoya lands a leg kick. Williams lands to the body. Williams lands a body kick. They trade in close range. Bedoya lands a right hand. They clinch. They separate and trade leg kicks. Bedoya lands a leg kick. Williams with a couple of big punches and lands another big right hand. They clinch and Bedoya with a knee. Williams lands a knee as they break. They trade leg kicks. Bedoya lands a right hand. They trade short leg kicks. Williams lands some big punches. They clinch at the end. 10-9 Williams.

They trade leg kicks. They trade them again. They continue to trade leg kicks early in the second before they start landing punches. Williams with a right hand. Bedoya lands a jab. Williams lands some kicks and Bedoya lands some punches. Bedoya with a heavy leg kick and they clinch. They separate and Williams lands a combo. Bedoya lands a couple of leg kicks. Williams scores with a left hook. They trade in close range. Williams lands a right hand and then a body kick. They trade low kicks. Bedoya scores with a right hand as Williams was coming forward. Williams lands a big right hand. Close round. 10-9 Williams, 20-18 Williams.

They trade leg kicks then Williams scores with a combo before they clinch. They separate and Bedoya lands a left hand. Williams lands in response. They trade and Williams with a leg kick. Bedoya lands a step-in elbow. They trade inside the pocket. Williams with a knee to the body and Bedoya lands a combo. Bedoya lands a combo and they trade inside the pocket. They clinch as Bedoya pushes it against the fence but they separate. Williams lands a big right hand. They trade leg kicks. Williams lands a combo after Bedoya lands a leg kick. Williams lands a jab. Bedoya with a big right hand. 10-9 Bedoya, 29-28 Williams.

Official Result- Khaos Williams def. Rolando Bedoya by split decision (27-30, 29-28, 29-28)

> Light Heavyweights- Kennedy Nzechukwu (11-3, 5-3 UFC) vs. Devin Clark (14-7, 8-7 UFC)

Clark lands a couple of leg kicks. Clark shoots for the takedown and has the body lock against the fence. They remain tied up and Clark has advantage and lands some short shots before Nzechukwu switches positions. Nzechukwu lands some elbows before they separate. Clark rocks Nzechukwu with a right hand. Clark tries to take advantage and is landing against the fence as Nzechukwu covers up. Clark mixing standing punches and elbows. Nzechukwu ties him up and lands a knee. Nzechukwu lands some hard shots. Nzechukwu lands a right hand. Nzechukwu with some big elbows against the fence and Clark is now in trouble. Nzechukwu with a couple more elbows. Nzechukwu with a knee and a few more elbows. 10-9 Nzechukwu.

Nzechukwu lands some hard shots before they clinch. Nzechukwu lands some big shots and they break and both land big shots. Nzechukwu grabs the neck and looks for a standing guillotine choke. He has it in and Clark taps and Nzechukwu drops him and Clark is out cold! What a finish from Nzechukwu!

Official Result- Kennedy Nzechukwu def. Devin Clark by submission (standing guillotine choke) at 2:28 of Round 2

> Lightweights- #14 Drew Dober (26-11 1 NC, 12-7 1 NC UFC) vs. Matt Frevola (10-3-1, 4-3-1 UFC)

Frevola lands a body kick. Frevola with a right hand then another body kick. Frevola lands a clean right hand. Dober lands a left hand. They trade and Frevola lands a body kick. Frevola with a knee to the body and Dober lands a left hand. Dober lands to the body. Frevola lands a left hand. Dober lands a combo. Dober with a left hand to the body. They both land some big punches. Frevola lands a head kick. Dober lands a few left hands and Frevola counters with a Superman punch. They trade in close. Frevola drops Dober with a right hand and gets on top and is landing a flurry and gets the finish! What a finish from Frevola!

Official Result- Matt Frevola def. Drew Dober by TKO (punches) at 4:08 of Round 1

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> Featherweights- Kron Gracie (5-1, 1-1 UFC) vs. Charles Jourdain (13-6-1, 4-5-1 UFC)

Jourdain lands a big combination. They clinch for a moment and Jourdain lands. They break and Jourdain lands a combo as Gracie lands some leg kicks. Gracie lands and they go to the mat. Jourdain working from the top as Gracie is looking to throw his legs up for a triangle choke. Jourdain escapes to his feet and Gracie is crawling on the mat trying to get Jourdain back down, but Gracie stands. They clinch against the fence and both land to the body before they separate. Jourdain lands some punches. 10-9 Jourdain.

They trade before clinching against the fence. Gracie pulls guard and they go to the mat. Both are landing on the mat. Jourdain working from the top and staying more active but both are landing, though not a lot is happening and the crowd is booing. Jourdain escapes to his feet and Gracie stands. Jourdain lands a knee to the body. Jourdain lands and Gracie pulls guard once again. Gracie lands from the bottom. 10-9 Jourdain, 20-18 Jourdain.

Jourdain landing more to start the third as he’s easily finding homes for his combos. Jourdain lands some big punches. Gracie tries to pull guard but Jourdain defends and pushes him off. Jourdain lands a knee. Jourdain scores with an uppercut. Jourdain lands a right hand to the body. Gracie lands and pulls guard once again. Jourdain landing from the top and Gracie is throwing punches but there really isn’t much happening. Jourdain gets to his feet. Gracie stays on the mat and Jourdain lands some leg kicks. Gracie is butt scooting and throwing kicks before being ordered up. Jourdain with a combo to the body. They clinch and Jourdain with a knee to the body. Jourdain lands some kicks late. 10-9 Jourdain, 30-27 Jourdain.

Official Result- Charles Jourdain def. Kron Gracie by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

> Featherweights- #10 Movsar Evloev (16-0, 6-0 UFC) vs. Diego Lopes (21-5, 0-0 UFC)

Evloev lands with some leg kicks. Lopes lands a big right hand and a leg kick. Evloev lands a right hand. They trade in close range and Lopes tags Evloev and Evloev retreats. Evloev lands a right hand and gets Lopes down. Lopes looks for a leg lock. Evloev escapes and gets into Lopes’ guard and is landing some right hands. Lopes is trying to throw his legs up and find a triangle choke. Evloev with some hammerfists from the top. Lopes looks for the armbar and has it locked in. Evloev somehow escapes as Lopes lets it go and Evloev is back on top. Evloev landing lots of punches from the top. Lopes looks for the leg but Evloev is punching him. Lopes looks for a triangle late. 10-9 Evloev.

Evloev lands a right hand. Lopes lands a nice left hook. Evloev lands another hard right hand. Lopes lands a combo. Evloev lands a hard right hand. Evloev with a pair of right hands. Evloev lands a combo but Lopes did land in the exchange. Evloev lands a combo and Lopes lands a left hand. Evloev scores the takedown. Evloev working in the guard and lands some right hands to the body. Evloev working to the head and body with right hands. Evloev with heavy pressure from the top as he lands. 10-9 Evloev, 20-18 Evloev.

Evloev lands a right hand. He lands another and follows with a combo. Lopes lands to the body. Evloev with a high kick. Evloev lands a combo but eats a counter right hand from Lopes. They clinch against the fence. Evloev lands a big elbow against the fence. Evloev gets an easy takedown and lands some right hands from the top. Lopes gets to his feet. Evloev grabs the back and drags it down but they get back up. Evloev has the back and is landing leg kicks from the back. Lopes looks for the kimura as they drop to the mat. He gets on top with it and Evloev might be in trouble. Evloev escapes and they stand. Evloev has back control. They go back down and Lopes was looking for the arm but Evloev got out and Lopes is looking for the leg. He is looking for a kneebar. Evloev gets out but Lopes gets it locked back in, though time runs out. 10-9 Evloev, 30-27 Evloev.

Official Result- Movsar Evloev def. Diego Lopes by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)

> Women’s Strawweights- #4 Jessica Andrade (24-10, 15-8 UFC) vs. #6 Yan Xiaonan (16-3 1 NC, 7-2 UFC)

Xiaonan with some leg kicks. Xiaonan then lands punches to the head and body. Andrade lands some leg kicks. Xiaonan with the jab to the body then a leg kick. They trade inside the pocket and both land good shots. Xiaonan lading some hard shots. Andrade with a flurry then Xiaonan drops her with a right hand and some other punches ends it. What a finish from Xiaonan!

Official Result- Yan Xiaonan def. Jessica Andrade by TKO (punches) at 2:20 of Round 1

> Welterweights- #4 Belal Muhammad (22-3 1 NC, 13-3 1 NC UFC) vs. #5 Gilbert Burns (22-5, 15-5 UFC)

Burns lands a leg kick. Muhammad lands a high kick. Muhammad with a left hand. Burns scores with a jab but Muhammad counters with a straight left hand. Burns lands a body kick but Muhammad lands a right hand at the same time. Burns then lands two right hands. Muhammad lands a body kick and then another. Burns gets a takedown but they get right up. Muhammad lands two body kicks. Burns lands a body kick then Muhammad lands a left hand that stumbles Burns. He recovers and lands a right hand. Muhammad with a body kick that makes Burns stumble. 10-9 Muhammad.

Muhammad with a body kick and they trade punches. Burns connects with a right hand. Muhammad scores with another body kick. Burns scores with another right hand. Muhammad lands a jab. They trade and Burns lands a right hand. They trade in close range. Muhammad lands a right hand. Burns lands a leg kick. Muhammad lands a right hand. 10-9 Muhammad, 20-18 Muhammad.

Burns lands a body kick. Muhammad lands the jab as he’s pressing forward. The pace has slowed. Burns lands a leg kick. Muhammad with a high kick. He lands another. Burns scores with the right hand. Muhammad with a hard body kick. Burns lands a knee to the body. Muhammad lands a combo ending with a body kick. Burns lands a body kick. Muhammad with a body kick. Muhammad lands a head kick then follows with a jab. Muhammad with another body kick. 10-9 Muhammad, 30-27 Muhammad.

Muhammad with a hard body kick. Muhammad lands the double jab. Burns lands a couple of right hands. Muhammad scores a body kick. They trade kicks. Burns lands a jumping kick but Muhammad blocked most of it. Muhammad lands a combo. Burns lands a body kick and hurts Muhammad with a right hand. Burns lands a body kick. Burns with a leg kick. Muhammad lands a body kick and Burns shows he’s hurt. Muhammad then lands with some punches and another high kick. Muhammad lands some kicks as he’s pressuring. Burns lands a right hand. Muhammad lands a right hand. 10-9 Muhammad, 40-36 Muhammad.

Burns lands a body kick and looks for a takedown but Muhammad gets away. Muhammad lands a combo. Muhammad with another hard body kick. Muhammad with a combo after Burns lands a leg kick. Burns lands a body kick. Muhammad lands a counter right hand and is pressuring. Burns with a leg kick and Muhammad lands a combo. They trade leg kicks. Muhammad lands the jab and an uppercut. Muhammad with a body kick. Burns lands a right hand. They trade kicks. 10-9 Muhammad, 50-45 Muhammad.

Official Result- Belal Muhammad def. Gilbert Burns by unanimous decision (50-45, 49-46, 49-46)

> UFC Bantamweight Championship- C Aljamain Sterling (22-3, 14-3 UFC) vs. Henry Cejudo (16-2, 10-2 UFC)

They trade leg kicks and Sterling lands a body kick. Sterling lands a leg kick. Cejudo with a leg kick. They tie up and Cejudo scores a takedown. Sterling trying to scramble out but Cejudo has the neck. They get up and trade. Sterling lands a body kick. They tie up against the fence. Sterling tries a takedown but Cejudo defends. They get to their feet. Sterling gets Cejudo down and lands some knees as Cejudo is grabbing the fence. They get to their feet but Sterling gets it back down and has the back. Sterling tries to get the hooks in and lands some punches and some knees. 10-9 Sterling.

Sterling with some body kicks. He lands a leg kick. Cejudo with a right hand and a leg kick. Sterling lands a left hand to the body. Cejudo just barely lands a head kick. They trade body kicks. Sterling lands a knee. Sterling with a series of kicks. Sterling lands the left hand. Cejudo scores with a leg kick. He lands another then Sterling lands a combo. Sterling lands a low kick. They trade punches. Cejudo lands a high kick. Sterling lands a hard body kick. They trade low kicks and Cejudo lands a right hand. They scramble late. 10-9 Sterling, 20-18 Sterling.

They trade and Cejudo grabs the neck as Sterling was shooting for the takedown. They get to their feet and Sterling lands. Sterling with some leg kicks. Cejudo lands a knee to the body and Sterling lands a leg kick. They clinch against the fence. Sterling gets Cejudo down to a knee. They stand and Sterling with a hard knee to the body. They separate. Sterling shoots for the takedown but Cejudo sprawls and lands some right hands. They get to their feet. They trade body kicks. Sterling lands a combo. Cejudo gets a late trip takedown. 10-9 Sterling, 30-27 Sterling.

Sterling lands some body kicks. They’re trading kicks as Cejudo is landing to the legs and Sterling to the body. Cejudo lands a right hand. They clinch against the fence and Cejudo has the edge. They separate. Sterling lands the calf kick. Sterling tries for the takedown and they trade knees in the clinch. Cejudo lands a body kick. Sterling tries a body kick but Cejudo grabs the leg and they clinch against the fence. Sterling tries to get it down but Cejudo defends and has the neck. They’re on the feet and Sterling gets it down. They get to their feet and Sterling lands a combo. 10-9 Sterling, 40-36 Sterling.

Cejudo lands a body kick. Sterling with some leg kicks. Cejudo lands a body kick and is pressuring. Sterling with a spin kick to the body. They trade leg kicks. Cejudo grabs the single leg. Cejudo lands a leg kick. Cejudo lands a right hand. Sterling lands a left hand. Cejudo lands a couple of knees to the body. They clinch and Sterling lands a knee before they separate. Cejudo lands a right hand. Cejudo gets a takedown and has the back as they get to the feet. They battle in the clinch at the end. 10-9 Cejudo, 49-46 Sterling.

Official Result- Aljamain Sterling def. Henry Cejudo by split decision (47-48, 48-47, 48-47) to retain the UFC Bantamweight Championship