UFC 288 LIVE: Cejudo vs Sterling updates and results

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

UFC 288 LIVE - Sterling vs Cejudo

Sunday 7 May 2023 07:02 , Alex Pattle

Read our main-event report here:

Aljamain Sterling retains title against returning Henry Cejudo at UFC 288

UFC 288 LIVE - Sterling vs Cejudo

Sunday 7 May 2023 06:47 , Alex Pattle

UFC 288 LIVE - Sterling vs Cejudo

Sunday 7 May 2023 06:46 , Alex Pattle

UFC 288 LIVE - Sterling vs Cejudo

Sunday 7 May 2023 06:45 , Alex Pattle

UFC 288 LIVE - Sterling vs Cejudo

Sunday 7 May 2023 06:32 , Alex Pattle

Here’s the moment the decision was announced:

UFC 288 LIVE - Sterling vs Cejudo

Sunday 7 May 2023 06:31 , Alex Pattle

UFC 288 LIVE - Sterling vs Cejudo

Sunday 7 May 2023 06:30 , Alex Pattle

UFC 288 LIVE - Sterling vs Cejudo

Sunday 7 May 2023 06:30 , Alex Pattle

O’Malley and Dvalishvili butted heads because the latter took “Suga Sean”’s jacket!

UFC 288 LIVE - Sterling vs Cejudo

Sunday 7 May 2023 06:25 , Alex Pattle

Cejudo admits that he doesn’t know where this loss leaves him, or whether he’ll fight in the UFC again.

UFC 288 LIVE - Sterling vs Cejudo

Sunday 7 May 2023 06:20 , Alex Pattle

O’Malley and Merab Dvalishvili, who is Sterling’s training partner and the UFC’s No 1-ranked bantamweight, exchange heated words. They’re separated by security.

UFC 288 LIVE - Sterling vs Cejudo

Sunday 7 May 2023 06:17 , Alex Pattle

Sean O’Malley enters the Octagon to face off with Sterling.

“Suga Sean” is next for the champion...

UFC 288 LIVE - Sterling vs Cejudo

Sunday 7 May 2023 06:16 , Alex Pattle

Aljamain Sterling def. Henry Cejudo via split decision (47-48, 48-47, 48-47).

That was a competitive fight with so many actions and such an ebb and flow.

As Indy Sport sees it, 48-47 to Sterling is the correct scorecard.

UFC 288 LIVE - Sterling vs Cejudo

Sunday 7 May 2023 06:12 , Alex Pattle

Round 5

Cejudo catches a kick and turns it into a single-leg takedown, shoving Sterling to the fence and onto the mat.

Cejudo has a rear body lock after Sterling stands, and the fight ends against the fence.

UFC 288 LIVE - Sterling vs Cejudo

Sunday 7 May 2023 06:11 , Alex Pattle

Round 5

Final round! Cejudo presses forward, eventually landing a hard right hand.

Now the challenger kicks low, and again. He and Sterling grapple against the fence, before Cejudo steps away.

UFC 288 LIVE - Sterling vs Cejudo

Sunday 7 May 2023 06:06 , Alex Pattle

Round 4

Cejudo defends yet another takedown and holds Sterling in a front headlock.

Lovely reversal by Sterling, though, to get a double-leg takedown against the fence.

UFC 288 LIVE - Sterling vs Cejudo

Sunday 7 May 2023 06:04 , Alex Pattle

Round 4

Into the championship rounds we go.

Very efficient striking from Sterling early in Round 4, getting in and out of range quickly.

Cejudo catches Sterling with a solid knee to the head as the champion ducks.

UFC 288 LIVE - Sterling vs Cejudo

Sunday 7 May 2023 06:00 , Alex Pattle

Round 4

Cejudo grabs a body lock then trips Sterling to end the round.

UFC 288 LIVE - Sterling vs Cejudo

Sunday 7 May 2023 05:59 , Alex Pattle

Round 3

Sterling holds Cejudo against the fence, briefly getting him to the mat.

After Cejudo stands, he eats a brutal knee to the face from Sterling.

They separate, and Cejudo defends another double-leg takedown attempt by Sterling. Cejudo’s takedown defence is a joy to watch.

UFC 288 LIVE - Sterling vs Cejudo

Sunday 7 May 2023 05:56 , Alex Pattle

Round 3

“I need these next three rounds,” Cejudo’s coach tells him.

Hard low kick by Cejudo to start this round. Now the Olympic champion kicks to the body.

Again Cejudo has Sterling in north-south after stuffing an instinctive takedown attempt by Sterling.

The pair stand, and Sterling lands a right hook behind the ear of his challenger.

Cejudo defends a takedown and lands a knee to the body.

UFC 288 LIVE - Sterling vs Cejudo

Sunday 7 May 2023 05:54 , Alex Pattle

Round 2

Cejudo is starting to land right hands with promising frequency.

The second round ends with a scramble, with Cejudo landing on top.

UFC 288 LIVE - Sterling vs Cejudo

Sunday 7 May 2023 05:52 , Alex Pattle

Round 2

Cejudo almost tags Sterling with a fierce overhand.

Great head movement from Cejudo throughout the fight so far. Sterling jabs to the body.

The champion is just out of range of a head kick from Cejudo.

UFC 288 LIVE - Sterling vs Cejudo

Sunday 7 May 2023 05:50 , Alex Pattle

Round 2

Sterling utilises the forward pressure that he’s known for. Lots of leg kicks by the champion.

Cejudo throws some of his own. Sterling’s height advantage is such that his body kicks almost catch Cejudo in the head.

Now Cejudo grazes Sterling with a head kick, though! Nice knee to the body by Sterling.

UFC 288 LIVE - Sterling vs Cejudo

Sunday 7 May 2023 05:48 , Alex Pattle

Round 1

That’s just the second time ever that Cejudo has been taken down in the UFC.

Sterling takes the back, but Cejudo defends well late in the round.

A great start by Cejudo; a strong finish for Sterling. Very competitive round.

UFC 288 LIVE - Sterling vs Cejudo

Sunday 7 May 2023 05:47 , Alex Pattle

Round 1

Cejudo holds Sterling by the neck in north-south position, putting pressure on that surgically-repaired area.

Sterling is eventually able to stand, and the bantamweights trade punches.

Again Cejudo grapples Sterling and holds him in north-south. Sterling stands once more and looks for a single-leg takedown against the fence.

“Henry” is the chant from the crowd in Sterling’s home state...

Sterling drags Cejudo down against the cage wall now!

UFC 288 LIVE - Sterling vs Cejudo

Sunday 7 May 2023 05:44 , Alex Pattle

Round 1

Sterling with a series of leg kicks early on. He jumps in with a knee to close range, but Cejudo circles away.

Cejudo seems content to just get some reads in, rather than throw anything at the moment.

Cejudo dodges a knee and grabs ahold of Sterling, using the body lock to drag the champion to the canvas with ease.

UFC 288 LIVE - Sterling vs Cejudo

Sunday 7 May 2023 05:42 , Alex Pattle

Here we go!

UFC 288 LIVE - Sterling vs Cejudo

Sunday 7 May 2023 05:38 , Alex Pattle

Cejudo is now in a similar situation to that of Cruz three years ago, but if anyone can counteract the effects of age and absence, “Triple C” can. Against a prime Sterling, he will have to.

UFC 288 LIVE - Sterling vs Cejudo

Sunday 7 May 2023 05:37 , Alex Pattle

Cejudo, now 36, prefers a slower approach. “Triple C” – as he calls himself, due to his two UFC championships and one Olympic title – operates out of a Karate stance, switching between orthodox and southpaw at will, biding his time to perceive and pry into openings. The width of a Karate stance has its disadvantages, mainly the heavy front-foot weighting that Moraes exploited early on against Cejudo, but the American’s height – or lack thereof, at 5ft3in – compensates to a degree. So do his ring IQ (perhaps unrivalled) and resilience, both of which he demonstrated to turn the tide against Moraes.

Those kinds of assets do not wane with time or absence from the ring; Cejudo will count on that in New Jersey on Saturday, for there will be questions around the more susceptible elements of a fighter’s skill set, such as speed, strength, and punch resistance. Cruz, game as he was, exhibited in his defeat by Cejudo how those assets can deplete.

UFC 288 LIVE - Sterling vs Cejudo

Sunday 7 May 2023 05:37 , Alex Pattle

Sterling is now unbeaten since December 2017 and has won eight straight fights. While “Funk Master” is most respected for his grappling and submissions, he also benefits from a creative striking approach, which he chains to his wrestling via suffocating forward pressure. His wrestling, one would suspect, will be neutralised by that of Cejudo, however, especially with the Olympian having only been taken down once in 12 UFC fights.

UFC 288 LIVE - Sterling vs Cejudo

Sunday 7 May 2023 05:36 , Alex Pattle

It was Petr Yan who won the vacant belt after Cejudo’s retirement, beating featherweight legend Jose Aldo, before losing the title to Sterling via an illegal knee. While Yan was at fault for the deflating finish to a fight that he was winning, fans directed their scorn at Sterling, rather than the Russian. Many expected and wished for a Yan victory in his rematch with the Jamaican-American 13 months later, but Sterling – fresh off major neck surgery – implemented his grappling prowess to outpoint the striking specialist.

Again, inexplicably, fans sided against Sterling when Dillashaw looked to regain the gold from Sterling in October, despite the American’s recent two-year ban for using EPO – an injectable, performance-enhancing drug, for which he tested positive after losing to Cejudo. After being dominated by Sterling for the best part of two rounds, Dillashaw suffered a TKO loss and revealed that he had suffered a dislocated shoulder in the fight – and that he had battled that injury repeatedly throughout camp.

UFC 288 LIVE - Sterling vs Cejudo

Sunday 7 May 2023 05:35 , Alex Pattle

Cejudo (16-2) has never claimed to be the greatest flyweight of all time, nor the greatest bantamweight ever, but by beating Johnson and Cruz, he earned wins over the fighters to whom most fans assign those tags. He had also forged his own: the greatest ‘combat athlete’ of all time.

That status looks set to remain intact for the foreseeable future, and with it secured, Cejudo turned his focus to building a family. In his absence, the flyweight title picture has been dominated by an enthralling rivalry between Brandon Moreno and Deiveson Figueiredo, who have passed the title back and forth numerous times, but Sterling has ushered in greater stability atop the bantamweight ladder.

UFC 288 LIVE - Sterling vs Cejudo

Sunday 7 May 2023 05:35 , Alex Pattle

Cejudo crept slowly into the conversation around the UFC’s most-accomplished athletes, edging past flyweight ‘GOAT’ Demetrious Johnson on points before retaining the title against then-bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw with a quickfire TKO, and going on to claim the belt that Dillashaw vacated with an impressive, comeback stoppage of Marlon Moraes. Almost suddenly, the American had become one of just four dual-weight champions in UFC history, adding those gold belts to the Olympic gold medal that the wrestler won in 2008.

Cejudo soon relinquished the flyweight title, then in his first defence of the bantamweight strap, he was a step ahead of Cruz in most exchanges before stopping his fellow American late in Round 2. Moments later, Cejudo vacated that title, too, and announced his retirement from MMA.

UFC 288 LIVE - Sterling vs Cejudo

Sunday 7 May 2023 05:34 , Alex Pattle

UFC 288 LIVE - Sterling vs Cejudo

Sunday 7 May 2023 05:32 , Alex Pattle

When Henry Cejudo steps into the Octagon, it will be almost three years to the day since he last did so.

On 9 May 2020, Cejudo was the reigning UFC bantamweight champion, defending his title against Dominick Cruz – one of the best of all time, but running the risk of ring rust after three years away.

Tonight, Cejudo will play Cruz’s role: that of an all-time great returning from an extended absence, bidding to reclaim the gold he once held. In the UFC 288 main event, it will be Aljamain Sterling playing Cejudo’s role: the in-form champion, looking to turn a great into a ghost for good.

UFC 288 LIVE - Sterling vs Cejudo

Sunday 7 May 2023 05:29 , Alex Pattle

Next up, it’s the main event: Aljamain Sterling defends the bantamweight title against a returning Henry Cejudo.

Want to know how each man got to this event? Read our fight preview here:

The greatest fighter you’ve never heard of is back at UFC 288

UFC 288 LIVE - Gilbert Burns vs Belal Muhammad

Sunday 7 May 2023 05:24 , Alex Pattle

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

UFC 288 LIVE - Gilbert Burns vs Belal Muhammad

Sunday 7 May 2023 05:22 , Alex Pattle

A frustrating 25 minutes for Burns, but a fine showing from Muhammad.

Boos on the buzzer. The scorecards await.

UFC 288 LIVE - Gilbert Burns vs Belal Muhammad

Sunday 7 May 2023 05:19 , Alex Pattle

Round 5

Muhammad has thrown approximately 100 more strikes than Burns.

UFC 288 LIVE - Gilbert Burns vs Belal Muhammad

Sunday 7 May 2023 05:15 , Alex Pattle

Round 4

A sharp right cross gets through for Burns! And another!

Muhammad seems unfazed, however, and Burns is clearly in pain from this injury.

UFC 288 LIVE - Gilbert Burns vs Belal Muhammad

Sunday 7 May 2023 05:13 , Alex Pattle

Round 4

It seems that Burns’s left shoulder may be injured. “I can’t throw my left hand for nothing,” he says to his corner.

Another body kick by Muhammad. And more. Lovely switch kick to the head by Burns, though it’s partially blocked.

UFC 288 LIVE - Gilbert Burns vs Belal Muhammad

Sunday 7 May 2023 05:09 , Alex Pattle

Round 3

Burns with his own body kick and then a right hook. It sounds, from his corner, like he’s battling an injury. He’s not producing enough output.

UFC 288 LIVE - Gilbert Burns vs Belal Muhammad

Sunday 7 May 2023 05:07 , Alex Pattle

Round 3

The pace has slowed right down, but this is a five-round fight, so there’s plenty of time for it to pick back up.

Muhammad continues to fight on the front foot. He smacks a kick into the rib of Burns.

UFC 288 LIVE - Gilbert Burns vs Belal Muhammad

Sunday 7 May 2023 05:03 , Alex Pattle

Round 2

Muhammad with a patient approach in the second round.

He does catch Burns on the end of a right cross, though.

Burns’s right arm is being held quite low, with the Brazilian keen to block any more body-kick attempts. That will reduce his defence up top, however.

Burns stuns Muhammad slightly with a right hand.

UFC 288 LIVE - Gilbert Burns vs Belal Muhammad

Sunday 7 May 2023 04:59 , Alex Pattle

Round 1

A body kick just about gets through for Muhammad, who then denies Burns a takedown in impressive fashion.

Another body kick lands for Muhammad. Now a left cross drops Burns to a knee! The Brazilian is quick to jump back up.

Muhammad catches a body kick and pumps out a piston left cross.

Now the American half-drops Burns with a head kick that catches the Brazilian on the back of the head!

UFC 288 LIVE - Gilbert Burns vs Belal Muhammad

Sunday 7 May 2023 04:54 , Alex Pattle

Round 1

Muhammad has been training with UFC icon Khabib Nurmagomedov for some time now, honing his wrestling with the Russian.

Muhammad comes out in a southpaw stance and eats a right cross early. Now the American switches stances back and forth.

Burns blocks a high kick. Muhammad’s stance-switching is constant; I’m not sure I’ve ever seen it done this aggressively.

UFC 288 LIVE - Gilbert Burns vs Belal Muhammad

Sunday 7 May 2023 04:50 , Alex Pattle

Meanwhile, Muhammad has won eight fights in a row with the exception of a No Contest against Leon Edwards in 2021, a year before Edwards won the welterweight title.

Muhammad will now look to overcome Burns and use his history with the reigning champion to set up a shot at the gold.

UFC 288 LIVE - Gilbert Burns vs Belal Muhammad

Sunday 7 May 2023 04:48 , Alex Pattle

Former title challenger Burns is a jiu-jitsu specialist with dynamite in his hands.

The Brazilian is seeking a third unanswered win in 2023, which would be a remarkable record at this point in the year – or in any 12-month stretch, to be fair.

He last fought just one month ago, dominating Jorge Masvidal in Miami and sending the hometown fighter into retirement.

UFC 288 LIVE - Gilbert Burns vs Belal Muhammad

Sunday 7 May 2023 04:45 , Alex Pattle

Time for the co-main event, a rare five-round one!

Gilbert Burns and Belal Muhammad clash, with a welterweight title shot having been promised to the winner.

UFC 288 LIVE - Jessica Andrade vs Yan Xiaonan

Sunday 7 May 2023 04:41 , Alex Pattle

Is an all-Chinese title fight between Yan Xioanan and champion Zhang Weili next?

Stage that bout in China, and what an atmosphere you would have.

UFC 288 LIVE - Jessica Andrade vs Yan Xiaonan

Sunday 7 May 2023 04:35 , Alex Pattle

Yan Xiaonan def. Jessica Andrade via first-round TKO (2:20).

UFC 288 LIVE - Jessica Andrade vs Yan Xiaonan

Sunday 7 May 2023 04:34 , Alex Pattle

Round 1

Both fighters stand orthodox. Andrade is really loading up on her shots, winging hooks.

She’s being made to pay for it, though, with Yan picking more precise punches.

And down goes Andrade after a right hook!!

The referee does not hesitate to wave it off!! A career-defining win for Yan!

UFC 288 LIVE - Jessica Andrade vs Yan Xiaonan

Sunday 7 May 2023 04:29 , Alex Pattle

Yan is out first for this women’s strawweight bout, before former champion Andrade makes the walk.

UFC 288 LIVE - Jessica Andrade vs Yan Xiaonan

Sunday 7 May 2023 04:27 , Alex Pattle

Jessica Andrade vs Yan Xiaonan is up next!

UFC 288 LIVE - Movsar Evloev vs Diego Lopes

Sunday 7 May 2023 04:13 , Alex Pattle

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

UFC 288 LIVE - Movsar Evloev vs Diego Lopes

Sunday 7 May 2023 04:11 , Alex Pattle

Round 3

Evloev is grappling Lopes against the fence and seemingly in control, until Lopes locks in a Kimura after some subtle misdirects!

He gets Evloev to the mat with it, and it seems to be locked in deep, but Evloev somehow rolls through to relieve the pressure!

Lopes tries for a leg lock in the final seconds, and he has it... but Evloev survives to the buzzer!

UFC 288 LIVE - Movsar Evloev vs Diego Lopes

Sunday 7 May 2023 04:09 , Alex Pattle

Round 3

Hard one-two by Lopes, who then backs up Evloev with a flurry.

Now Evloev comes forward, however, and starts to find his rhythm.

He takes down Lopes and launches some precise ground and pound.

UFC 288 LIVE - Movsar Evloev vs Diego Lopes

Sunday 7 May 2023 04:04 , Alex Pattle

Round 2

Evloev presses forward. He misses with a spinning back kick.

Now he tags Lopes with a clean right cross, before securing a takedown and firing off shots in Lopes’s guard.

UFC 288 LIVE - Movsar Evloev vs Diego Lopes

Sunday 7 May 2023 03:57 , Alex Pattle

Round 1

Both men trade shots on the mat, before Lopes is able to lock in an armbar!

Evloev is able to survive, though, and he’s back into Lopes’s guard!

What a fight so far.

UFC 288 LIVE - Movsar Evloev vs Diego Lopes

Sunday 7 May 2023 03:55 , Alex Pattle

Round 1

A wild exchange to start this one! Lopes stuns Evloev, who responds by taking down the UFC debutant.

Lopes, in turn, tries for a leg lock, but Evloev remains calm and turns into guard.

UFC 288 LIVE - Movsar Evloev vs Diego Lopes

Sunday 7 May 2023 03:54 , Alex Pattle

Let’s go.

UFC 288 LIVE - Movsar Evloev vs Diego Lopes

Sunday 7 May 2023 03:45 , Alex Pattle

Evloev enters this one unbeaten, while Lopes is making his UFC debut as a short-notice replacement for Mitchell.

UFC 288 LIVE - Movsar Evloev vs Diego Lopes

Sunday 7 May 2023 03:43 , Alex Pattle

Next up is a featherweight clash between Movsar Evloev and Diego Lopes, with the latter replacing Bryce Mitchell.

UFC 288 LIVE - Kron Gracie vs Charles Jourdain

Sunday 7 May 2023 03:41 , Alex Pattle

Charles Jourdain def. Kron Gracie via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27).

UFC 288 LIVE - Kron Gracie vs Charles Jourdain

Sunday 7 May 2023 03:40 , Alex Pattle

We await the judges’ scorecards, though they’ll surely score this fight in Jourdain’s favour.

UFC 288 LIVE - Kron Gracie vs Charles Jourdain

Sunday 7 May 2023 03:38 , Alex Pattle

Round 3

Lots of volume from Jourdain, who is putting together slick combinations.

Another beautiful knee to the body by Jourdain, before Gracie pulls guard again – to the sound of boos.

Gracie is throwing a lot of elbows from below. Eventually, however, Jourdain breaks free of the Brazilian’s grip and climbs to his feet.

UFC 288 LIVE - Kron Gracie vs Charles Jourdain

Sunday 7 May 2023 03:33 , Alex Pattle

Round 2

Again Jourdain is able to stand. He lands a knee to the body, and a nice elbow to the head at close range, before Gracie gets him down late in the round.

UFC 288 LIVE - Kron Gracie vs Charles Jourdain

Sunday 7 May 2023 03:30 , Alex Pattle

Round 2

Gracie pulls guard again, but Jourdain stays on his feet; Gracie is hanging off the Canadian!

Eventually Jourdain hits the mat, and he’s in Gracie’s full guard, firing off elbows – taking more risks this time.

Now Gracie lands elbows of his own, while intermittently trying to isolate Jourdain’s right arm.

UFC 288 LIVE - Kron Gracie vs Charles Jourdain

Sunday 7 May 2023 03:27 , Alex Pattle

Round 1

Jourdain, also a jiu-jitsu black belt, is able to stand and escape!

Gracie follows him up and ties up Jourdain against the fence.

Once again. Jourdain separates from his opponent and looks to land punches.

UFC 288 LIVE - Kron Gracie vs Charles Jourdain

Sunday 7 May 2023 03:25 , Alex Pattle

Round 1

Another uppercut is on point for Jourdain. He tags Gracie with a counter right hook as the Brazilian kicks low.

Gracie is able to close range and pull guard, dragging Jourdain to the mat!

Jourdain wisely keeps his arms and legs tucked in, trying to prevent Gracie from isolating any limbs.

Gracie is looking for a triangle choke, though...

UFC 288 LIVE - Kron Gracie vs Charles Jourdain

Sunday 7 May 2023 03:23 , Alex Pattle

Round 1

Gracie stands southpaw. A right cross and jab get through his guard.

More straight shots and an uppercut land for Jourdain, who is showing off his speed early on.

Gracie inches him back to the fence, however, and initiates the first grappling exchange of the fight.

Jourdain is able to fight free, before throwing Gracie off him when the Brazilian tries to grab him again.

UFC 288 LIVE - Kron Gracie vs Charles Jourdain

Sunday 7 May 2023 03:21 , Alex Pattle

Here we go.

UFC 288 LIVE - Kron Gracie vs Charles Jourdain

Sunday 7 May 2023 03:18 , Alex Pattle

Canadian Jourdain is a crisp striker, while Brazilian Gracie is – like most of his family members – an expert in jiu-jitsu.

UFC 288 LIVE - Kron Gracie vs Charles Jourdain

Sunday 7 May 2023 03:16 , Alex Pattle

For this writer’s money, Charles “Air” Jourdain has the best nickname in the UFC.

UFC 288 LIVE - Kron Gracie vs Charles Jourdain

Sunday 7 May 2023 03:15 , Alex Pattle

This fight marks Gracie’s first bout in three-and-a-half years.

UFC 288 LIVE - Kron Gracie vs Charles Jourdain

Sunday 7 May 2023 03:05 , Alex Pattle

Kron Gracie belongs to the most important family in MMA history. Read our exclusive interview with Royce Gracie, who fought at UFC 1 and became the promotion’s first ever champion:

UFC’s first ever champion Royce Gracie on the night MMA was born

UFC 288 LIVE - Kron Gracie vs Charles Jourdain

Sunday 7 May 2023 02:50 , Alex Pattle

That’s it for the prelims. The main card starts shortly, and it begins with a lightweight bout between Kron Gracie and Charles Jourdain.

UFC 288 LIVE - Drew Dober vs Matt Frevola

Sunday 7 May 2023 02:49 , Alex Pattle

Frevola: “Paddy Pimblett, you absolutely suck. Stop being a b***h.”

UFC 288 LIVE - Drew Dober vs Matt Frevola

Sunday 7 May 2023 02:47 , Alex Pattle

Matt Frevola def. Drew Dober via first-round TKO (4:08).

UFC 288 LIVE - Drew Dober vs Matt Frevola

Sunday 7 May 2023 02:45 , Alex Pattle

Round 1

Frevola drops Dober with a clean right hook and pours on punches! The referee steps in, it’s over!!

UFC 288 LIVE - Drew Dober vs Matt Frevola

Sunday 7 May 2023 02:44 , Alex Pattle

Round 1

A fast pace to start this lightweight contest. Dober is on the front foot, but he’s already bleeding somewhat from his nose.

Frevola kicks the southpaw low. Brutal left hand to the body by Dober, though, then he catches Frevola up top.

UFC 288 LIVE - Drew Dober vs Matt Frevola

Sunday 7 May 2023 02:41 , Alex Pattle

Here we go, could this one be a sneaky Fight of the Night?

UFC 288 LIVE - Drew Dober vs Matt Frevola

Sunday 7 May 2023 02:33 , Alex Pattle

Dober enters this one on the back of three straight knockout wins. Meanwhile, fellow American Frevola has won his last two fights via KO/TKO.

UFC 288 LIVE - Drew Dober vs Matt Frevola

Sunday 7 May 2023 02:28 , Alex Pattle

Drew Dober vs Matt Frevola is up next at lightweight.

UFC 288 LIVE - Kennedy Nzechukwu vs Devin Clark

Sunday 7 May 2023 02:27 , Alex Pattle

Nzechukwu dedicates the win to his mother, who passed away last year.

UFC 288 LIVE - Kennedy Nzechukwu vs Devin Clark

Sunday 7 May 2023 02:25 , Alex Pattle

Kennedy Nzechukwu def. Devin Clark via second-round submission (guillotine choke, 2:28).

UFC 288 LIVE - Kennedy Nzechukwu vs Devin Clark

Sunday 7 May 2023 02:22 , Alex Pattle

Round 2

Once again, Nzechukwu has Clark against the fence. He’s landing hard knees to the body.

Clark fights his way off the cage wall with a flurry of punches, but Nzechukwu clinches his opponent and lands another brutal knee.

Clark tries for a single-leg takedown, but Nzechukwu counters with a guillotine choke in close, and Clark taps!

It’s all over!

UFC 288 LIVE - Kennedy Nzechukwu vs Devin Clark

Sunday 7 May 2023 02:18 , Alex Pattle

Round 1

The light-heavyweights separate, and Clark sends Nzechukwu stumbling back with a right cross!

Clark pours on punches with his opponent backed against the fence, and Nzechukwu is just covering up...

But Clark tires himself out, and Nzechukwu is able to reverse the position and fire off elbows!!

What a wild round.

UFC 288 LIVE - Kennedy Nzechukwu vs Devin Clark

Sunday 7 May 2023 02:16 , Alex Pattle

Round 1

Nzechukwu with solid control time against the fence in this first round.

Clark kicks at his opponent’s legs, but Nzechukwu is undeterred.

UFC 288 LIVE - Kennedy Nzechukwu vs Devin Clark

Sunday 7 May 2023 02:09 , Alex Pattle

Nzechukwu is targeting a third straight stoppage win here.

UFC 288 LIVE - Kennedy Nzechukwu vs Devin Clark

Sunday 7 May 2023 02:06 , Alex Pattle

Next up is a light-heavyweight clash between Kennedy Nzechukwu and Devin Clark.

UFC 288 LIVE - Khaos Williams vs Rolando Bedoya

Sunday 7 May 2023 02:04 , Alex Pattle

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

Bedoya wins all three rounds on one judge’s scorecard, but he comes up short overall!

UFC 288 LIVE - Khaos Williams vs Rolando Bedoya

Sunday 7 May 2023 02:01 , Alex Pattle

Round 3

We’ll go to the judges’ scorecards.

UFC 288 LIVE - Khaos Williams vs Rolando Bedoya

Sunday 7 May 2023 01:59 , Alex Pattle

Round 3

This fight is tough to score; Bedoya might have edged the first two rounds, or it could be 19-19, or Williams may be ahead! Indy Sport is leaning towards the second scenario.

Hard low kick by Williams early in this final round. He then slings Bedoya against the fence, but the Peruvian gets free again.

One-two upstairs by Bedoya, then a knee to the body.

UFC 288 LIVE - Khaos Williams vs Rolando Bedoya

Sunday 7 May 2023 01:55 , Alex Pattle

Round 2

The striking exchanges are so back and forth. Bedoya just about lands a head kick.

Bedoya is making his UFC debut here and entered with an 11-fight win streak.

UFC 288 LIVE - Khaos Williams vs Rolando Bedoya

Sunday 7 May 2023 01:52 , Alex Pattle

Round 2

Bedoya, with ex-UFC star Diego Lima in his corner, coninues to switch stances.

He’s caught with a left hook after landing a leg kick. UFC light-heavyweight champion Jamahal Hill is in Williams’ corner.

UFC 288 LIVE - Khaos Williams vs Rolando Bedoya

Sunday 7 May 2023 01:49 , Alex Pattle

Round 1

Bedoya lands a spinning back kick to the body in a frenzied exchange!

A fun first round is in the books.

UFC 288 LIVE - Khaos Williams vs Rolando Bedoya

Sunday 7 May 2023 01:48 , Alex Pattle

Round 1

More clean strikes from Bedoya, but he eats a grazing right hand from Williams, too.

Bedoya is southpaw again, and once more he’s caught on the end of a right hand.

Williams briefly grapples Bedoya against the fence once more, before landing a knee to the body as the fighters separate.

UFC 288 LIVE - Khaos Williams vs Rolando Bedoya

Sunday 7 May 2023 01:46 , Alex Pattle

Round 1

Bedoya with a couple of early low kicks from southpaw, before he’s backed up by a flurry of punches to the head.

Now Williams kicks low. Bedoya with a counter left hook, and he then switches to orthodox.

Bedoya tags Williams with a couple of sharp jabs, and Williams opts to grab ahold of his opponent and force him to the fence.

Bedoya soon breaks free, however.

UFC 288 LIVE - Khaos Williams vs Rolando Bedoya

Sunday 7 May 2023 01:43 , Alex Pattle

Bedoya is fighting out of LIma, Peru. Meanwhile, Williams fights out of Michigan.

UFC 288 LIVE

Sunday 7 May 2023 01:38 , Alex Pattle

Next up, Khaos Williams and Rolando Bedoya go head to head at welterweight.

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