MMA

UFC 288 Results, Live Coverage, and Discussion: Aljamain Sterling Edges Henry Cejudo via Split-Decision!

Colby FariaMay 6, 2023, 9:00 pm

Welcome to Fightful.com‘s results, live coverage, and discussion for UFC 288: Sterling vs. Cejudo!

We will bring you live play-by-play for UFC 288’s main card and full results for the rest of tonight’s card. Scroll down to the Disqus boards below and chat with fellow MMA fans during the event.

Results

Main Card (PPV, 10:00 p.m. EDT/7:00 p.m. PDT)

Aljamain Sterling (C) def. Henry Cejudo via split-decision (48-47, 47-48, 48-47) — UFC Bantamweight Championship
(#4) Belal Muhammad def. (#5) Gilbert Burns via unanimous decision (50-45, 49-46, 49-46)
(#6) Yan Xiaonan def. (#4) Jessica Andrade via TKO (punches) (2:20, R1)
(#10) Movsar Evloev def. Diego Lopes via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Charles Jourdain def. Kron Gracie via (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Prelims (ESPN, 8:00 p.m. EDT/5:00 p.m. PDT)

Matt Frevola def. (#14) Drew Dober via KO (punch) (4:08, R1)
Kennedy Nzechukwu def. Devin Clark via submission (guillotine choke) (2:28, R2)
Khaos Williams def. Rolando Bedoya via split-decision (29-28, 27-30, 29-28)
(#7) Virna Jandiroba def. (#5) Marina Rodriguez via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

Early Prelims (ESPN, 6:00 p.m. EDT/3:00 p.m. PDT)

Parker Porter def. Braxton Smith via TKO (punches) (2:10, R1)
Ikram Aliskerov def. Phil Hawes via KO (punch) (2:10, R1)
Claudio Ribeiro def. Joseph Holmes via TKO (ground and pound) (3:21, R2)

Play-by-Play

Alajamin Sterling (C) vs. Henry Cejudo — UFC Bantamweight Championship

Round One – Sterling comes out and whiffs on a head kick to start. Cejudo lands a low kick, Sterling lands one of his own, and Cejudo just avoids a flying knee from the champion. Cejudo lands another low kick, Sterling lands a knee to the body but Cejudo catches it and drags Sterling to the mat. The challenger steps over into side control, Sterling scrambles, Cejudo has the neck but Sterling isn’t in much danger in this position. Sterling scrambles back to his feet and a wild exchange goes down but nothing of consequence lands for either competitor. Cejudo clinches and has the champion pressed against the fence. Sterling drops down looking for a takedown of his own but Cejudo sprawls and gets back to his feet but Sterling stays clinched with the challenger. Sterling trips Cejudo to a knee and looks for the back but Cejudo stays pressed against the cage to not give Sterling any room. Cejudo gets back up to both feet but Sterling trips him right back down to a knee, now both knees. Sterling drags Cejudo down and now has the challenger in a seated position and lands some nice knees to the body at the buzzer and this one is headed to round number two.

Fightful scores this round 10-9 to Sterling.

Round Two – Sterling just misses a switch kick to the head to open round number two. Cejudo lands a low kick and clinches but Sterling shoves the challenger back. Cejudo changes levels but Sterling slides out and lands a 1-2 flush on the challenger. Sterling lands a low kick and dives in for a takedown but Cejudo slides back and evades the champion’s attempt. Cejudo lands a right hook to the body and just misses a wild overhand left. Sterling lands a jab to the body, Cejudo lands a 1-2, and Sterling has a spinning back fist attempt blocked by the challenger. Cejudo lands a right hook then catches a body kick from Sterling and lands a hook to the body. Sterling lands a low kick, Cejudo does the same, Sterling lands a jab to the body, Cejudo low kicks again, Sterling dives in for a takedown but Cejudo slides out of the way and ends up on top but the horn sounds and this one is headed to the third round.

Fightful scores this round 10-9 to Cejudo. 19-19 overall after two rounds.

Round Three – Cejudo opens the action with a low kick. Sterling lands a front kick to the body, Cejudo lands a low kick and drills Sterling with a right hook! Sterling is hurt, Cejudo rushes over and looks for a choke but the champion looks recovered, Cejudo gets up, and this one is back to the feet. Sterling latches onto the challenger, Cejudo walks himself back to the fence, and Sterling looks for the takedown. Sterling trips Cejudo to the mat but Cejudo is right back up but the champion remains in control of the clinch. Cejudo powers himself off the fence, Sterling goes for another takedown but Cejudo sprawls and ends up on top with Sterling on his stomach. Sterling is up to his feet, Cejudo shoves him back down but the champion is back to his feet. Cejudo clinches and kicks Sterling’s out from under him and secures the takedown in the round’s final seconds, the buzzer sounds, and this one is headed to championship rounds.

Fightful scores this round 10-9 to Cejudo. 29-28 to Cejudo after three rounds.

Round Four – Sterling lands a low kick to open the frame. Cejudo lands a right hook, then a low kick. Sterling clinches, Cejudo shoves him back, and lands a low kick. Cejudo rushes forward and lands a 1-2, Sterling clinches but Cejudo stops the takedown and has control of the clinch. Sterling spins himself off the fence, Cejudo lands a low kick, Sterling dives in for a takedown, and Cejudo shoves him back. Sterling pops the jab, then lands a straight left to the body, and Cejudo clinches. Sterling reverses momentum and has the challenger pinned against the fence but Cejudo shoves him back and circles back to the center of the octagon. Cejudo lands an uppercut, Sterling attempts a body kick but Cejudo catches it and has the champion clinched. Cejudo drags Sterling down to a knee and eventually to a seated position. Sterling scrambles and now has Cejudo against the fence and now the challenger is in a seated position. Sterling has the back but Cejudo scrambles to his feet and eats a right hook from Sterling at the horn and this one is headed to the fifth and final round.

Fightful scores this round 10-9 to Sterling. 38-38 overall after four rounds.

Round Five – Cejudo rushes forward to start the final frame. Sterling partially lands a high kick but lands a side kick to the body that sends the challenger back for a moment. Sterling lands a low kick, then just misses a looping left hook. Cejudo wallops Sterling with a left hook, then lands a low kick in-behind. Cejduo grabs a leg and uses it to land a left hook, then another, and drops the leg before launching an overhand right but it just misses. Sterling lands a low kick, Cejudo does the same, and the challenger lands one more low kick for good measure. Sterling dives in for a takedown, Cejudo sprawls, and gets right back up. Sterling clinches, Cejudo spins himself off the fence and lands a right hook and Sterling trips to the mat! Cejudo rushes over and looks for the back but the champion is defending well and Cejudo is running out of time. Sterling lands a spinning back elbow, Cejudo lands a right hook to the body, and the buzzer sounds to send this one to the judge’s scorecards.

Fightful scores this round 10-9 to Cejudo. 48-47 overall to Cejudo.

Result: Aljamain Sterling (C) def. Henry Cejudo via split-decision (48-47, 47-48, 48-47) — UFC Bantamweight Championship

(#4) Belal Muhammad vs. (#5) Gilbert Burns

Round One – Muhammad has a high kick blocked to open the action. Burns lands a low kick, then pops the jab. Muhammad jabs, then lands a 1-2 to the body before landing a left hook back up top. Muhammad lands another jab, Burns whiffs on a head kick, and Muhammad lands a side kick to the body. Muhammad lands another body kick, then a third, and Burns lands a low kick. Muhammad misses a front kick up top, Burns lands a side kick to the body, and Muhammad drills Burns with a left hook and Burns may have been knocked down but it appears to have been more of a slip. Muhammad lands a 1-2 at the horn, which ends an entertaining opening frame.

Fightful scores this round 10-9 to Muhammad.

Round Two – Muhammad opens round number two with a jab. Burns lands a front kick to the body and wallops Muhammad with a right hook back up top. Muhammad lands a straight left to the body then whiffs on a head kick. Burns lands a straight left then dives in for a takedown and gets it. Muhammad scrambles right back up to his feet and lands a side kick to the body, then another. Muhammad lands a 1-2 back up top, Burns jabs, and the buzzer sounds to send this one to round number three.

FIghtful scores this round 10-9 to Burns. 19-19 overall after two rounds.

Round Three – Muhammad partially lands a high kick to open the action in round number three. Burns lands a 1-2, Muhammad whiffs on a high kick, but finds a home for a straight left. Muhammad pops the jab, then a 1-2, and lands a side kick to the body. Burns jabs, Muhammad misses a high kick but plants a right hook to the body on Burns. Muhammad continues to look for the head kick but he still can’t find the range and the horn sounds to send this one to main event rounds…in this co-main event.

Fightful scores this round 10-9 to Muhammad. 29-28 to Muhammad after three rounds.

Round Four – Burns opens the frame with a low kick. Burns goes for a takedown but Muhammad shoves him back. Muhammad catches a body kick attempt and spins Burns around before landing a leg kick. Burns looks like something is wrong with his left arm as he alluded to during the last break before this round. Muhammad lands a 1-2 and the buzzer sounds that’ll send this one to the fifth and final round.

Fightful scores this round 10-9 to Muhammad. 39-37 to Muhammad overall.

Round Five – Something appears off with Burns but all credit to Muhammad for what’s currently the best performance of his career thus far. Burns quickly goes for a takedown but Muhammad sprawls and shoves Burns back. Burns whiffs on a wild head kick attempt but lands a low kick in-behind. Burns lands a side kick to the body and a 1-2 back up top. Muhammad lands a 1-2 and rips a left hook to the body as Burns bounces himself off the fence. Burns whiffs an an overhand right, Muhammad lands a 1-2, Burns lands a 1-2, Muhammad lands a side kick to the body and the horn sounds and this one is headed to the judge’s scorecards.

Fightful scores this round 10-9 to Muhammad. 49-46 overall to Muhammad.

Result: (#4) Belal Muhammad def. (#5) Gilbert Burns via unanimous decision (50-45, 49-46, 49-46)

(#4) Jessica Andrade vs. (#6) Yan Xiaonan

Round One – Yan opens with a leg kick. Andrade jabs and rushes forward but Yan cracks her with a right hand, Andrade is down! Yan rushes over and lands a few follow up shots, and the referee waves this one off! Yan Xiaonan secures the biggest win of her career!

Result: (#6) Yan Xiaonan def. (#4) Jessica Andrade via TKO (punches) (2:20, R1)

(#10) Movsar Evloev vs. Diego Lopes

Round One – Absolute chaos right off the bat in this one! Lopes cracks Evloev with a right hook but Evloev trips Lopes to the mat and secures a takedown. Lopes is active from his back and looks for a triangle choke but Evloev defends well and starts landing hammer fists from the top. Lopes switches to an armbar, Evloev starts rolling, Lopes is really tightening the hold, but Evloev scrambles and ends up back on top! Evloev lands some more shots from the top, Lopes goes for a hail mary submission to end the round but the buzzer sounds to end an entertaining opening frame.

Fightful scores this round 10-9 to Evloev.

Round Two – Evloev opens the action with a 1-2, then a right hook. Lopes latches onto Evloev and pulls guard. Not much going on on the mat as Lopes is pulling Evloev in tight to not allow Evloev for any ground and pound. Evloev stands up but leaps right back down on top of Lopes and starts landing some shots from the top. Evloev stands and starts hammering Lopes but the horn sounds to send this one to the third and final round.

Fightful scores this round 10-9 to Evloev. 20-18 to Evloev after two rounds.

Round Three – Evloev immediately clinches and has Lopes pressed up against the fence. Evloev lands a knee to the back of the thighs and drags Lopes to the mat. A much slower round for Evloev as he doesn’t land much from the top but he seems content in riding out the rest of this one with top control and the buzzer sounds to send this one to the judge’s scorecards.

Fightful scores this round 10-9 to Evloev. 30-27 to Evloev overall.

Result: (#10) Movsar Evloev def. Diego Lopes via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Kron Gracie vs. Charles Jourdain

Round One – Gracie clinches right off the bat. Jourdain powers himself off the fence and shoves Gracie back. Jourdain cracks Gracie with an uppercut, Gracies comes back with a leg kick, but eats a 1-2 from Jourdain. Gracie lands another low kick, clinches, and pulls guard. Jourdain defends well on the mat and eventually explodes to his feet and steps back to force Gracie to stand back up. Gracie walks through an uppercut and clinches but Jourdain is quick to shove Gracie back at the buzzer to end the opening frame.

Fightful scores this round 10-9 to Jourdain.

Round Two – Gracie initiates the clinch right away and leaps up onto Jourdain, looking to pull guard once again. Gracie eventually is able to force Jourdain down to the mat and into his guard. Jourdain creates a bit of separation and lands an elbow but Gracie latches back onto him. A lot of defending her from Jourdain, but he’s able to break loose and get this one back standing. Jourdain lights Gracie up with a bevy of shots, then another 1-2, and an uppercut. Gracie latches on but gets drilled with a right hook. Gracie shoves Jourdain back, clinches, and pulls guard once more. Jourdain lands an elbow from the top, Gracie scrambles and looks for a submission, but nothing is there, and the horn sounds that’ll send this one to the third and final round.

Fightful scores this round 10-9 to Jourdain. 20-18 to Jourdain after two rounds.

Round Three – Jourdain lands a 1-2 to start the final frame. Gracie clinches but Jourdain is quick to turn him aside, and lands a step-in knee to the body. Jourdain lands a left hook but Gracie pulls guard for a fourth time and this time, has some more time to work than the previous two rounds. Gracie just can’t seem to find an opening as Jourdain continues to defend well on the mat for a third consecutive round against the extremely dangerous mat prowess of Gracie. Jourdain scrambles, gets back to his feet, and starts lighting Gracie up with kicks to the leg and Gracie eventually stands up but the buzzer sounds and this one is headed to the judge’s scorecards.

Fightful scores this round 10-9 to Jourdain. 30-27 overall to Jourdain.

Result: Charles Jourdain def. Kron Gracie via (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

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