Three years removed from the sport, Henry Cejudo returns to the octagon to challenge for the title he never officially lost. Cejudo faces Aljamain Sterling for the UFC bantamweight title at UFC 288 on May 6.
UFC 288 will take place inside New Jersey's Prudential Center and will air on ESPN+ PPV.
Sterling, a New York native, is a former Ring of Combat and CFFC bantamweight champion. He joined the UFC in 2014, he is 14-3 with the promotion. Beating Petr Yan via DQ in 2021 to win the UFC bantamweight title, he beat Yan in a rematch to secure his status as champion. “Funk Master’s" last fight was a TKO win against an injured T.J. Dillashaw at UFC 280 in October.
A 2008 Olympic gold medalist in wrestling, Cejudo turned pro in 2013. After losing to Demetrious Johnson for the UFC flyweight title in 2016, Cejudo won the rematch in 2018. In 2019, he won the UFC bantamweight title, earning "champ-champ" status. After beating Dominick Cruz in May 2020, Cejudo retired from MMA to focus on his family.
MORE: Sign up to watch the UFC 288 PPV, exclusively on ESPN+
“Triple C” is ready to complete the ultimate comeback within a stacked bantamweight division. Sterling wants to continue to prove he is a worthy champion.
Here is all the basic information you need to know to prepare for UFC 288.
When is UFC 288: Aljamain Sterling vs. Henry Cejudo?
- Date: Saturday, May 6 | Sunday, May 7
- FIGHT PASS Prelims: 6 p.m. ET | 10 p.m. ET GMT | 9 a.m. AEDT
- Prelims: 8 p.m. ET | 12 a.m. GMT | 11 a.m. AEDT
- Main card: 10 p.m. ET | 2 a.m. GMT | 1 p.m. AEDT
- Main event: 12:15 a.m. ET | 4:15 a.m. GMT | 3:15 p.m. AEDT (approx.)
UFC 288 takes place on May 6. The early prelims start at 6 p.m. ET | 10 p.m. ET GMT | 9 a.m. AEDT, followed by the prelims at 8 p.m. ET | 12 a.m. GMT | 11 a.m. AEDT. The UFC 288 main card will begin at 10 p.m. ET | 2 a.m. GMT | 1 p.m. AEDT.
Sterling and Cejudo should make their way to the octagon around 12:15 a.m. ET | 4:15 a.m. GMT | 3:15 p.m. AEDT, depending on how long the undercard fights last.
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How to watch UFC 288: Aljamain Sterling vs. Henry Cejudo
| Country | Date | Channel + Live Stream (main card) |
| United States | Sat. May 6 | ESPN+, ESPN PPV |
| Canada | Sat. May 6 | BELL, Rogers, Shaw, SaskTel, Videotron, Telus, Eastlink, UFC PPV on UFC Fight Pass |
| United Kingdom | Sun. May 7 | BT Sport |
| Australia | Sun. May 7 | Main Event, Kayo Sports, Fetch TV, UFC PPV on UFC Fight Pass |
The main card for UFC 288 is available in the U.S. and Mexico on the ESPN+ subscription streaming service for a pay-per-view cost. Earlier fights are viewable live on ESPN+.
In Canada, the main card pay-per-view is available on BELL, Rogers, Shaw, SaskTel, Videotron, Telus, Eastlink, and UFC PPV on UFC Fight Pass
In the United Kingdom, the main card will be available on BT Sport, with the prelims available on UFC Fight Pass.
In Australia, the main card will be on Main Event, Kayo Sports, Fetch TV, and UFC PPV on UFC Fight Pass.
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Aljamain Sterling vs. Henry Cejudo PPV price: How much does UFC 288 cost?
- $79.99 (current ESPN+ subscribers)
- $124.98 (new subscribers)
In the U.S., the UFC 288 main card is available via pay-per-view on ESPN+, which also requires a subscription. The PPV price for UFC 288 is $79.99 for current subscribers. New subscribers can pay a bundle price of $124.98 for the UFC 288 pay-per-view and an ESPN+ annual subscription, which offers savings of more than 30 percent.
MORE: Sign up to watch the UFC 288 PPV, exclusively on ESPN+
| Product | Prices |
|---|---|
| ESPN+ Monthly Subscription | $9.99/month |
| ESPN+ Annual Subscription | $99.99/year |
| The Disney Bundle w/Hulu Ad-Supported | $12.99/month |
| The Disney Bundle w/Hulu No-Ads | $19.99/month |
| UFC PPV Standalone | $79.99 each |
| UFC PPV Package (UFC PPV & ESPN+ Annual) | $124.98, then $99.99/year |
| UFC PPV & The Disney Bundle | $79.99, then $12.99/month |
Click here to learn about the different pricing and bundling options with the ESPN+ platform.
UFC 288 fight card
Main card
- Aljamain Sterling (c) vs. Henry Cejudo for the UFC bantamweight title
- Charles Oliveira vs. Beneil Dariush; Lightweights
- Bryce Mitchell vs. Jonathan Pearce; Featherweights
- Jessica Andrade vs. Yan Xiaonan; Strawweights
- Kron Gracie vs. Charles Jourdain; Featherweights
Prelims
- Marina Rodriguez vs. Virna Jandiroba; Strawweights
- Kennedy Nzechukwu vs. Devin Clark; Light Heavyweights
- Andre Petroski vs. Armen Petrosyan; Middleweights
- Nate Maness vs. Zhalgas Zhumagulov; Flyweights
- Khaos Williams vs. Rolando Bedoya; Welterweights
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