The much-anticipated Henry Cejudo returns to the Octagon this weekend, challenging Aljamain Sterling for the heavyweight belt in the main event of UFC 288.
American Cejudo won the belt along with the flyweight title, before vacating it one by one and retiring from the fight in 2020. But now, the Olympic gold medalist fighter is back, handing Sterling his first defeat in six years.
Sterling has won eight straight fights, with successful title defenses against Peter Yan and TJ Dillashaw in his last two fights, and will look to make Cejudo’s comeback a pity.
Will the Sejudo lineage or the shape of the pound sterling triumph?
Here’s everything you need to know.
when is it?
UFC 288 takes place at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey on Saturday, May 6.
The first premieres will start at 11:00 PM GMT (3:00 PM PT, 5:00 PM ET, 6:00 PM ET), and the premieres will start at 1:00 AM GMT on Sunday, May 7 (5:00 p.m. PT, 7:00 p.m. PT, 8:00 p.m. ET on Saturday). The main card is scheduled for Sunday at 3 a.m. BST (7 p.m. PT, 9 p.m. ET, 10 p.m. ET Saturday).
How can I watch?
The card will be broadcast live on BT Sport in the UK, with the broadcaster’s app and website also broadcasting the fights.
In the US, ESPN+ will broadcast the event live, as will the fight card from the UFC.
opportunities
Sterling – 19/20
Eyebrow – 5/6
full card (subject to change)
key card
Gilbert Burns is back with a win over Jorge Masvidal
(Getty Images)
Aljamin Sterling (CM) vs Henry Cejudo (BBC)
Gilbert Burns – Bilal Muhammad (Lightweight)
Jessica Andrade vs. Yan Xiaonan (Women’s Strawweight)
Movsar Ivlov vs Bryce Mitchell (Featherweight)
Crone Gracie vs Charles Jordan (Featherweight)
preliminary
Drew Dawber vs. Matt Frevola (Lightweight)
Kennedy Nzechukwu vs. Devin Clark (Heavyweight)
Jose Williams – Rolando Bedoya (Lightweight)
Marina Rodriguez – Verna Jandiruba (Women’s Strawweight)
preliminary
Braxton Smith vs. Parker Porter (heavyweight)
Phil Hawes vs Ikram Aliskirov (welterweight)
Rafael Estefam – Zalgas Zumagulov (flyweight)
Joseph Holmes – Claudio Ribeiro (welterweight)
Daniel Santos vs. Johnny Munoz (bantamweight)
click here Subscribe to The Independent’s Sport YouTube channel for the latest sports videos.
The much-anticipated Henry Cejudo returns to the Octagon this weekend, challenging Aljamain Sterling for the heavyweight belt in the main event of UFC 288.
American Cejudo won the belt along with the flyweight title, before vacating it one by one and retiring from the fight in 2020. But now, the Olympic gold medalist fighter is back, handing Sterling his first defeat in six years.
Sterling has won eight straight fights, with successful title defenses against Peter Yan and TJ Dillashaw in his last two fights, and will look to make Cejudo’s comeback a pity.
Will the Sejudo lineage or the shape of the pound sterling triumph?
Here’s everything you need to know.
when is it?
UFC 288 takes place at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey on Saturday, May 6.
The first premieres will start at 11:00 PM GMT (3:00 PM PT, 5:00 PM ET, 6:00 PM ET), and the premieres will start at 1:00 AM GMT on Sunday, May 7 (5:00 p.m. PT, 7:00 p.m. PT, 8:00 p.m. ET on Saturday). The main card is scheduled for Sunday at 3 a.m. BST (7 p.m. PT, 9 p.m. ET, 10 p.m. ET Saturday).
How can I watch?
The card will be broadcast live on BT Sport in the UK, with the broadcaster’s app and website also broadcasting the fights.
In the US, ESPN+ will broadcast the event live, as will the fight card from the UFC.
opportunities
Sterling – 19/20
Eyebrow – 5/6
full card (subject to change)
key card
Gilbert Burns is back with a win over Jorge Masvidal
(Getty Images)
Aljamin Sterling (CM) vs Henry Cejudo (BBC)
Gilbert Burns – Bilal Muhammad (Lightweight)
Jessica Andrade vs. Yan Xiaonan (Women’s Strawweight)
Movsar Ivlov vs Bryce Mitchell (Featherweight)
Crone Gracie vs Charles Jordan (Featherweight)
preliminary
Drew Dawber vs. Matt Frevola (Lightweight)
Kennedy Nzechukwu vs. Devin Clark (Heavyweight)
Jose Williams – Rolando Bedoya (Lightweight)
Marina Rodriguez – Verna Jandiruba (Women’s Strawweight)
preliminary
Braxton Smith vs. Parker Porter (heavyweight)
Phil Hawes vs Ikram Aliskirov (welterweight)
Rafael Estefam – Zalgas Zumagulov (flyweight)
Joseph Holmes – Claudio Ribeiro (welterweight)
Daniel Santos vs. Johnny Munoz (bantamweight)
click here Subscribe to The Independent’s Sport YouTube channel for the latest sports videos.
Agatha Christie is a journalist and feature writer specialising in culture, entertainment, books, and current affairs. She is committed to producing accurate, informative content that helps readers stay informed about the latest developments in the UK and beyond.
