Looking to become a three-division champion following a brief retirement, Henry Cejudo wants to end Aljamain Sterling’s run as the current bantamweight king of the UFC. Can “Triple C” get the job done at UFC 288 on May 6?
UFC 288 will be inside the Prudential Center in New Jersey, airing on ESPN+ PPV in the U.S.
Sterling joined the UFC in 2014 and 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.
After losing to Demetrious Johnson for the UFC flyweight title in 2016, Cejudo won the rematch in 2018. In 2019, the 2008 Olympic gold medalist 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+
Keeping in shape during this time, Cejudo shouldn’t be an easy task for Sterling. However, the champion believes he has the ultimate game plan against Cejudo.
"I feel I stop him in the second round, that's the plan with how I'm training," Sterling told Inside Fighting via MMA News. "I think he's going to be tough to get out of there in the first round. I think it'll be a feeling-out process, maybe trying to gas him out a little bit, and put him on the back foot. If I can get him down that'll be ideal. Once I get the takedown secured, I just pound him, or he gives up his neck for the submission."
Here is all you need to know ahead of UFC 288, from time, channel, odds, card, and more.
When is UFC 288: Aljamain Sterling vs. Henry Cejudo?
- Date: Saturday, May 6 | Sunday, May 7
- FIGHT PASS Prelims: 6 p.m. ET | 11 p.m. BST | 8 a.m. AEST
- Prelims: 8 p.m. ET | 1 a.m. BST | 10 a.m. AEST
- Main card: 10 p.m. ET | 3 a.m. BST | 12 p.m. AEST
- Main event: 12:15 a.m. ET | 5:15 a.m. BST | 2:15 p.m. AEST (approx.)
UFC 288 takes place on May 6. The early prelims start at 6 p.m. ET | 11 p.m. BST | 8 a.m. AEST, followed by the prelims at 8 p.m. ET | 1 a.m. BST | 10 a.m. AEST. The UFC 288 main card will begin at 10 p.m. ET | 3 a.m. BST | 12 p.m. AEST.
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Sterling and Cejudo should make their way to the octagon around 12:15 a.m. ET | 5:15 a.m. BST | 2:15 p.m. AEST, depending on how long the undercard fights last.
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.
Where is UFC 288?
UFC 288 is in the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. Home to the New Jersey Devils, the arena can hold up to 19,500+ people.
How much do tickets for UFC 288: Aljamain Sterling vs. Henry Cejudo cost?
Tickets start at $278, per Ticket Smarter.
Prices then range from $300, $400, $500, $600, $700, $800, $900, $1,000, $2,000, $3,000, $4,000, $5,000, and $6,208.
Aljamain Sterling vs. Henry Cejudo betting odds for UFC 288
Per Bet MGM, Henry Cejudo is the -115 favorite, while Aljamain Sterling is the -105 underdog.
MORE: How to bet on combat sports
Aljamain Sterling record, bio
- Nationality: American
- Born: July 31, 1989
- Height: 5-7
- Reach: 71 inches
- Total fights: 25
- Record: 22-3 (three KOs, eight wins via submission)
Henry Cejudo record, bio
- Nationality: American
- Born: February 9, 1987
- Height: 5-4
- Reach: 64 inches
- Total fights: 18
- Record: 16-2 with eight wins via knockout
UFC 288 fight card
Main card
- Aljamain Sterling (c) vs. Henry Cejudo for the UFC bantamweight title
- Belal Muhammad vs. Gilbert Burns; Welterweights
- Jessica Andrade vs. Yan Xiaonan; Strawweights
- Diego Lopes vs. Movsar Evloev; Featherweights
- Kron Gracie vs. Charles Jourdain; Featherweights
Prelims
- Drew Dober vs. Matt Frevola; Lightweights
- Kennedy Nzechukwu vs. Devin Clark; Light Heavyweights
- Khaos Williams vs. Rolando Bedoya; Welterweights
- Marina Rodriguez vs. Virna Jandiroba; Strawweights
FIGHT PASS Prelims
- Braxton Smith vs. Parker Porter; Heavyweights
- Phil Hawes vs. Ikram Aliskerov; Middleweights
- Joseph Holmes vs. Claudio Ribiero; Middleweights
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