UFC 288 LIVE: Cejudo vs Sterling updates and results

Re-live updates as Cejudo returned to challenge Sterling after three years away

Former UFC champion shows off broken tooth after bare-knuckle match

Aljamain Sterling retained the UFC bantamweight title against Henry Cejudo at UFC 288, as the latter failed to regain the belt after three years away.

Cejudo retired from MMA in 2020, moments after retaining the title, which he previously held alongside the flyweight belt. Sterling, 33, went on to win the gold in 2021 and retained it twice thereafter, and the Jamaican-American put it on the line again in the main event of UFC 288.

American Cejudo, an Olympic gold medalist in wrestling, emerged from retirement in an attempt to reclaim the bantamweight strap, and a future shot at the featherweight title was also on the 36-year-old’s radar.

However, Cejudo fell at the first hurdle, losing a split decision to Sterling after five competitive rounds in New Jersey.

Re-live updates below. Click here to subscribe to The Independent’s Sport YouTube channel for all the latest sports videos.

UFC 288 LIVE

• Aljamain Sterling retained bantamweight belt with split decision over Henry Cejudo
• Cejudo emerged from retirement to compete at UFC 288, with future now unclear
• Sean O’Malley is next for Sterling and squared off with champion on Saturday
• Belal Muhammad outpointed injured Gilbert Burns in co-main event
• Muhammad will likely challenge for welterweight title next time out

[7 May 2023 01:00 · Alex Pattle]

UFC 288 LIVE

The regular prelims will get under way any moment now!

Live fight updates incoming!

[7 May 2023 00:40 · Alex Pattle]

UFC 288 LIVE

Bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling is in our pound-for-pound top 10 – but where does he rank?

Find out here...

[7 May 2023 00:20 · Alex Pattle]

UFC 288 LIVE

If you’re new to mixed martial arts, then you might not have heard of Henry Cejudo until this week, given his three-year absence from the sport...

Here’s a piece to get you caught up on how the former dual-weight champion, and Aljamain Sterling, arrived at this moment:

[7 May 2023 00:00 · Alex Pattle]

UFC 288 LIVE

Here’s tonight’s card in full (subject to late changes):

Main card

Aljamain Sterling (C) vs Henry Cejudo (bantamweight title)

Gilbert Burns vs Belal Muhammad (welterweight)

Jessica Andrade vs Yan Xiaonan (women’s strawweight)

Movsar Evloev vs Diego Lopes (featherweight)

Kron Gracie vs Charles Jourdain (featherweight)

Prelims

Drew Dober vs Matt Frevola (lightweight)

Kennedy Nzechukwu vs Devin Clark (light-heavyweight)

Khaos Williams vs Rolando Bedoya (welterweight)

Marina Rodriguez vs Virna Jandiroba (women’s strawweight)

Early prelims

Braxton Smith vs Parker Porter (heavyweight)

Phil Hawes vs Ikram Aliskerov (middleweight)

Joseph Holmes vs Claudio Ribeiro (middleweight)

[6 May 2023 23:40 · Alex Pattle]

UFC 288 LIVE

UFC 288 will air live on BT Sport in the UK, with the broadcaster’s app and website also streaming the fights.

In the US, ESPN+ will stream the action live, as will the UFC’s Fight Pass.

[6 May 2023 23:20 · Alex Pattle]

UFC 288 LIVE

Here are your important timings for tonight:

The early prelims got under way at 11pm BST (3pm PT, 5pm CT, 6pm ET), and the regular prelims will follow at 1am BST (5pm PT, 7pm CT, 8pm ET this evening).

The main card is then scheduled for 3am BST (7pm PT, 9pm CT, 10pm ET this evening).

Our live fight updates will begin with the regular prelims at 1am BST!

[6 May 2023 23:00 · Alex Pattle]

UFC 288 LIVE

Aljamain Sterling defends the UFC bantamweight title against Henry Cejudo tonight, as the latter returns after three years away in a bid to regain the belt.

Cejudo retired from MMA in 2020, moments after retaining the title, which he previously held alongside the flyweight belt. Sterling, 33, went on to win the gold in 2021 and has retained it twice since, and the Jamaican-American puts it on the line again in the main event of UFC 288 tonight.

American Cejudo, an Olympic gold medalist in wrestling, is emerging from retirement in an attempt to reclaim the bantamweight strap, and a future shot at the featherweight title is also on the 36-year-old’s radar.

If Cejudo were able to overcome Sterling in New Jersey tonight and then take the featherweight belt, he would become the only three-division champion in UFC history. That is a tall task, however, with Sterling in his prime and fresh off a TKO win against former champion TJ Dillashaw.

Aljamain Sterling (left) and Henry Cejudo (Getty Images)