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UFC 288
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UFC 288
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UFC 288: Sterling vs. Cejudo
The poster for UFC 288: Sterling vs. Cejudo
PromotionUltimate Fighting Championship
DateMay 6, 2023 (2023-05-06)
VenuePrudential Center
CityNewark, New Jersey, United States
Attendance17,559[1]
Total gate$5,182,210.36[1]
Event chronology
UFC on ESPN: Song vs. Simón UFC 288: Sterling vs. Cejudo UFC on ABC: Rozenstruik vs. Almeida

UFC 288: Sterling vs. Cejudo was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on May 6, 2023, at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.[2]

Background

[edit]

The event marked the promotion's ninth visit to Newark and first since UFC on ESPN: Covington vs. Lawler in August 2019.[2]

A UFC Bantamweight Championship bout between current champion Aljamain Sterling and former UFC Flyweight and Bantamweight Champion Henry Cejudo headlined the event.[3]

Zhalgas Zhumagulov and Nate Maness were expected to meet in a flyweight bout at the event.[4] However, Maness pulled out in early April due to injury and was replaced by Rafael Estevam, who was originally scheduled to fight two weeks earlier at UFC Fight Night: Pavlovich vs. Blaydes before an injury also took his opponent.[5] In turn, the bout was scratched the day before the event due to Estevam having weight management issues.[6]

A featherweight bout between Bryce Mitchell and Jonathan Pearce was scheduled for the event.[7] However, Pearce was forced to withdraw from the event due to injury.[8] He was replaced by Movsar Evloev.[9] Mitchell and Evloev were previously scheduled to headline UFC Fight Night: Rodriguez vs. Lemos in November 2022, but Evloev withdrew due to injury.[10] In turn, Mitchell withdrew on the week of the event for an undisclosed shoulder injury and was replaced by promotional newcomer Diego Lopes.[11]

A lightweight bout between former UFC Lightweight Champion Charles Oliveira and Beneil Dariush was expected to take place as the co-main event.[12] However, Oliveira withdrew due to an undisclosed injury.[13] The fight was later rescheduled and moved to UFC 289.[14]

Former UFC Welterweight Championship challenger Gilbert Burns and Belal Muhammad competed in a five-round welterweight bout in the co-main event.[15]

A bantamweight bout between Daniel Santos and Johnny Muñoz Jr. was expected to take place at the event,[16] but it was scratched after Santos withdrew due to an undisclosed injury.[17]

At the weigh-ins, Joseph Holmes weighed in at 189 pounds, three pounds over the middleweight non-title fight limit. His bout proceeded at catchweight and he was fined 20% of his purse which went to his opponent Claudio Ribeiro.[18]

Results

[edit]
Main Card
Weight class Method Round Time Notes
Bantamweight Aljamain Sterling (c) def. Henry Cejudo Decision (split) (47–48, 48–47, 48–47) 5 5:00 [a]
Welterweight Belal Muhammad def. Gilbert Burns Decision (unanimous) (50–45, 49–46, 49–46) 5 5:00
Women's Strawweight Yan Xiaonan def. Jéssica Andrade KO (punches) 1 2:20
Featherweight Movsar Evloev def. Diego Lopes Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 30–27) 3 5:00
Featherweight Charles Jourdain def. Kron Gracie Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27) 3 5:00
Preliminary card (ESPN / ESPN+)
Lightweight Matt Frevola def. Drew Dober TKO (punches) 1 4:08
Light Heavyweight Kennedy Nzechukwu def. Devin Clark Technical Submission (guillotine choke) 2 2:28
Welterweight Khaos Williams def. Rolando Bedoya Decision (split) (27–30, 29–28, 29–28) 3 5:00
Women's Strawweight Virna Jandiroba def. Marina Rodriguez Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 30–27) 3 5:00
Early preliminary card (ESPN+ / UFC Fight Pass)
Heavyweight Parker Porter def. Braxton Smith TKO (punches) 1 2:10
Middleweight Ikram Aliskerov def. Phil Hawes KO (punches) 1 2:10
Catchweight (189 lb) Claudio Ribeiro def. Joseph Holmes TKO (punches) 2 3:21
  1. ^ For the UFC Bantamweight Championship.

[19]

Bonus awards

[edit]

The following fighters received $50,000 bonuses.[20]

  • Fight of the Night: Movsar Evloev vs. Diego Lopes
  • Performance of the Night: Yan Xiaonan and Matt Frevola

Aftermath

[edit]

On June 27, it was announced by United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) that Braxton Smith was suspended for two years after a urine sample he submitted tested positive for exogenous administration of testosterone and its precursors in two out-of-competition tests on April 19 and May 4, and one in-competition test May 6.[21]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

UFC 288

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
UFC 288 was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) that took place on May 6, 2023, at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. The event marked the UFC's return to Newark since UFC 244 in 2019 and featured a main card headlined by a bantamweight championship bout between defending champion Aljamain Sterling and former two-division champion Henry Cejudo, who was returning from a nearly four-year retirement. In the co-main event, welterweight contenders Belal Muhammad and Gilbert Burns competed for a potential title eliminator spot. The pay-per-view main card was headlined by Sterling's retention of the title via a controversial (47-48, 48-47, 48-47) over Cejudo after five rounds of grappling-heavy action, marking Cejudo's first loss since 2016. dominated Burns with a victory (50-45, 49-46, 49-46), solidifying his position as a top contender. Other notable main card results included Merab Dvalishvili's win over former champion (29-28 x3) and Yan Xiaonan's first-round TKO triumph over Jessica Andrade via punches at 2:20. The event featured several upsets and finishes on the undercard, including Beneil 's first-round TKO of former lightweight champion at 4:10, Kai Kara-France's second-round TKO (injury) of , ' split decision over Rolando Bedoya (27-30, 29-28, 29-28), Kennedy Nzechukwu's second-round submission of Devin Clark, Matt Frevola's first-round d'arce choke of , Charles Jourdain's unanimous decision over (30-27 x3), Ikram Aliskerov's debut first-round knockout of , Claudio Ribeiro's second-round TKO of Joseph Holmes at 3:21, and Mana Martinez's unanimous decision over Richie Jaramillo (29-28 x3). Overall, UFC 288 drew attention for Cejudo's comeback, the main event's divisive judging, and several finishes that propelled fighters like and toward contention.

Event Details

Date and Venue

UFC 288 took place on May 6, 2023, at the in , . The arena, which has a capacity of approximately 19,500 for events, hosted the promotion's ninth event in the city. This marked the UFC's return to Newark after a nearly four-year absence, with the previous event being UFC on ESPN: Covington vs. Lawler on August 3, 2019. The event schedule followed the standard UFC pay-per-view format, beginning with early preliminary bouts at 6:00 p.m. ET on , followed by preliminary card action at 8:00 p.m. ET on and , and the main card starting at 10:00 p.m. ET on . As part of the UFC's 2023 pay-per-view lineup, it featured a championship main event.

Attendance and Financials

UFC 288 attracted an official attendance of 17,559 spectators to the in , marking a sold-out event that approached the venue's configured capacity for bouts. This figure represented a significant increase from prior UFC events at the same arena, such as the 2019 UFC on ESPN: Covington vs. Lawler card, which drew 10,427 fans. The event generated a total gate revenue of $5,182,210.36 from ticket sales, establishing it as the highest-grossing sports event in history at the time. This amount reflected a 653.6% rise compared to the $687,778 gate of the 2019 Newark event, underscoring the growing commercial appeal of UFC pay-per-views in the region. Detailed ticket sales breakdowns were not publicly disclosed by the promotion, though the per-ticket average, derived from the total gate divided by , was approximately $295. Earlier UFC cards in Newark had lower financial returns; for instance, UFC 159 in 2013 produced a gate of $2.7 million, while UFC on Fox 15 in 2015 reached $1.2 million, highlighting the escalation in revenue over the years leading to UFC 288. The 2023 event's success contributed to an overall economic impact of $25.1 million for Newark, driven largely by out-of-state visitors and local spending.

Background

Announcement and Promotion

UFC 288 was officially announced on March 7, 2023, through a press release from the Ultimate Fighting Championship, confirming the event's date as May 6, 2023, at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, along with initial fight bookings such as Charles Oliveira versus Beneil Dariush. The main event, featuring bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling defending his title against former two-division champion Henry Cejudo, was confirmed three days later on March 10, 2023, highlighting Cejudo's return from a three-year retirement. Promotional efforts centered on Cejudo's highly anticipated comeback, positioning the bout as a historic clash where the 36-year-old Olympian aimed to reclaim the title he vacated in 2020 and potentially pursue unprecedented achievements in . Sterling's narrative as the division's dominant force seeking his third title defense added to the intrigue, with marketing emphasizing the stylistic matchup and Cejudo's "gold-driven and history-driven" motivations. The UFC launched a multi-platform campaign, including the UFC Embedded vlog series with six episodes released weekly leading up to the event, offering behind-the-scenes access to fighters like Sterling, Cejudo, , and during training and media obligations. A pre-fight on May 4, 2023, at the featured verbal exchanges between the main event fighters and generated media buzz, streamed live on UFC platforms. Social media promotion was aggressive, with the UFC's official X account announcing the main event on March 11, 2023, and subsequent posts amplifying hype around the bantamweight title fight through fighter interviews and promotional graphics. As part of the UFC's 2023 pay-per-view schedule, UFC 288 was positioned as a marquee numbered event following in April and preceding in June, available exclusively on ESPN+ PPV for $79.99, underscoring its status as a high-profile offering with the Sterling-Cejudo headliner driving subscriber interest.

Fight Card Changes

The UFC 288 fight card underwent several significant alterations prior to the event, primarily due to injuries, which reshaped both the main card and preliminary lineup. The most notable early change occurred in April 2023, when a highly anticipated lightweight bout between former UFC Lightweight Champion Charles Oliveira and Beneil Dariush was cancelled after Oliveira withdrew due to an undisclosed injury. This matchup, originally positioned as a potential co-main event and No. 1 contender eliminator, was rescheduled as the co-main event for UFC 289 on June 10, 2023, in Vancouver. The removal left a void in the lightweight division representation on the card, prompting the UFC to elevate other bouts without adding a direct replacement for this high-profile slot. In the featherweight division, the bout involving experienced multiple shifts. Initially scheduled against Jonathan Pearce, the fight was altered when Pearce withdrew due to injury in mid-April 2023. Undefeated prospect stepped in as a short-notice replacement to face Mitchell on the main card. However, just days before the event on May 2, 2023, Mitchell was forced out by his own undisclosed injury, leading to Contender Series graduate Diego Lopes making his UFC debut against Evloev. Meanwhile, the other featherweight main card bout between and proceeded as originally planned, serving as a stable opener for the portion and providing continuity in the division's representation. These successive replacements maintained the main card's featherweight focus but introduced a debutant, adding unpredictability to what was intended as a ranked matchup. Additional disruptions affected the preliminary card, including the cancellation of a bout between Daniel Santos and Johnny Munoz Jr. on May 4, 2023, after Santos was sidelined by an injury with no replacement found. This late scratch reduced the overall card from 13 to 12 fights, thinning the early prelims and shifting emphasis toward the remaining and openers. No other weight misses or medical issues were reported for the final weigh-ins on May 5, 2023, ensuring the title headliner and core matchups remained intact. These changes collectively diminished the card's depth, particularly in the lighter weight classes, by removing a marquee contest and a prelim fight while relying on last-minute substitutions to preserve the main card's structure. The adjustments highlighted ongoing challenges with fighter availability but allowed the event to proceed with a balanced 12-bout lineup, prioritizing ranked contenders and implications over filler bouts.

Results

Main Card

The main card of UFC 288 featured five bouts, beginning with a matchup between and . Jourdain dominated the striking exchanges throughout the three-round fight, landing 48 of 82 significant strikes compared to Gracie's 22 of 58, while Gracie attempted no takedowns and focused on pulling guard without success. In the first round, Jourdain used jabs and uppercuts to keep distance, stuffing Gracie's clinch attempts. The second round saw Jourdain continue his offensive output with combinations, as Gracie again pulled guard early but absorbed kicks from the top. The third round featured Jourdain targeting the body with knees and punches, securing a victory with scores of 30-27 across all three judges. Next, featherweight contenders Movsar Evloev and Diego Lopes clashed in a high-paced bout where Evloev's wrestling edged out Lopes' early aggression. Evloev completed 4 of 7 attempts for 6:42 of control time, landing 39 of 88 significant strikes, while Lopes connected on 29 of 68 strikes but failed on his single try. Lopes started strong in the first round with leg kicks and a right hand that wobbled Evloev, but Evloev responded with a and ground-and-pound. The second round shifted to Evloev's favor as he secured another and controlled position. In the third, Evloev pressured forward, evading a late attempt from Lopes to earn a (29-28, 29-28, 30-27). In the women's strawweight bout, upset former champion with a first-round . Xiaonan landed 18 of 26 significant strikes in just 2:20, outpacing Andrade's 10 of 18, with no takedowns attempted by either fighter. The fight began with mutual leg kicks, but Xiaonan quickly found her range with precise punches, culminating in a devastating right hand that dropped Andrade for the stoppage at 2:20 of Round 1. The co-main event pitted welterweights against in a five-round war marked by Muhammad's relentless pressure. Muhammad outstruck Burns 132 of 283 to 81 of 147 in significant strikes, with neither landing a takedown—Burns went 0 for 4 attempts, limited by a mid-fight left arm injury that hampered his offense. In Round 1, Muhammad stunned Burns with a jab, drawing blood from his nose. Burns briefly rocked Muhammad in Round 2 with a right hand, but Muhammad regained control in Round 3 using jabs and body kicks as Burns' output dropped. Rounds 4 and 5 saw Muhammad maintain forward pressure with kicks to the body and legs, while Burns relied on single right hands and leg kicks, leading to Muhammad's win (50-45, 49-46, 49-46). The main event for the UFC bantamweight title saw champion defend against former two-division champion in a razor-close five-round battle. Sterling edged the striking 135 of 218 to Cejudo's 99 of 190 and completed 4 of 8 takedowns for 4:35 control time, while Cejudo succeeded on 3 of 5 takedowns for 3:12 control. Round 1 opened with Sterling's aggression via a head kick and takedown defense, ending with back control and knees (10-9 Sterling). In Round 2, Sterling landed jabs and a left hook, stuffing Cejudo's shots to maintain distance (10-9 Sterling). Cejudo stole momentum in Round 3 with a flying knee and late top control after defending takedowns (10-9 Cejudo). Sterling rebounded in Round 4, battering Cejudo's legs and landing combinations before a late takedown by Cejudo (10-9 Sterling). The final round featured Cejudo's pressure and a single-leg takedown, but Sterling scrambled effectively (10-9 Cejudo). Sterling retained the title via (48-47, 48-47, 47-48), a verdict that sparked as many observers, including Cejudo, argued the fight was closer or favored the challenger due to the narrow margins and debated control scoring.

Preliminary Card

The ESPN-televised preliminary card at UFC 288 showcased six competitive matchups across multiple weight classes, setting the stage for the main events with a mix of knockouts, submissions, and decisions. These bouts highlighted established UFC veterans against emerging talents, including a debutant in Rolando Bedoya, and produced one notable upset when unranked halted the 15th-ranked .
Weight ClassWinnerLoserMethodRoundTime
LightweightTKO (strikes)14:10
FlyweightTKO (leg injury)22:25
LightweightTKO (punches)14:08
Light HeavyweightDevin ClarkSubmission ()22:28
WelterweightRolando BedoyaSplit Decision (29-28, 29-28, 27-30)35:00
Women's Strawweight (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)35:00
In the lightweight bout between Beneil Dariush and former champion , secured a stunning upset with a flurry of strikes that dropped Oliveira, leading to a TKO stoppage at 4:10 of the first round. This victory marked a significant moment for in the division. The flyweight clash saw defeat via TKO due to a injury at 2:25 of the second round, after a competitive first round where Albazi pressed forward but Kara-France countered effectively. In the lightweight opener on the broadcast, Frevola delivered a stunning performance by dropping Dober with a powerful right hand midway through the first round, then swarming with ground-and-pound strikes to force the stoppage, marking his third consecutive victory in the UFC. This win propelled Frevola into title contention discussions and led to his post-fight callout of . The light heavyweight clash saw Nzechukwu rebound from a prior loss with a dramatic finish, as he absorbed heavy shots from before locking in a standing that rendered his opponent unconscious against the fence. Nzechukwu's resilience in a chaotic exchange underscored his knockout power and improvements, earning him a crucial win to stay in the division's upper echelon. The bout pitted Williams against Bedoya, the latter making his debut after a strong regional run; Williams controlled the pace with precise counterstriking and takedown defense, though Bedoya's aggressive pressure made it a razor-close affair decided by a split verdict. Closing the prelims, Jandiroba dominated Rodriguez on the ground, securing multiple takedowns and attempting armbars and other submissions while stifling the Brazilian's standup game to claim a clear decision . Jandiroba's clinic improved her UFC record to 4-2 and positioned her as a rising threat in the strawweight division. Overall, the card's finishes and intensity contributed to the event's momentum, blending high-stakes action with developmental showcases.

Early Preliminary Card

The early preliminary card for UFC 288, streamed exclusively on , showcased three bouts featuring a mix of UFC veterans and promising newcomers, highlighting developmental talent in the and divisions. In the opener, secured a swift victory over UFC debutant Braxton Smith via TKO (strikes) at 2:10 of the first round, capitalizing on his ground-and-pound dominance after a takedown to overwhelm the Alaskan wrestler. Porter's performance demonstrated his experience against less seasoned opponents, improving his UFC record to 3-3. The bout that followed saw make a stunning UFC debut by knocking out with a clean right hand at 2:10 of the first round, ending the fight abruptly after a competitive exchange on the feet. Aliskerov's precision striking from his background neutralized Hawes' power, marking a strong entry for the Russian fighter into the promotion. Closing out the early prelims, Claudio Ribeiro defeated fellow UFC newcomer Joseph Holmes by TKO (strikes) at 3:21 of the second round, utilizing superior to transition into ground strikes that forced the stoppage. Ribeiro, a specialist, overcame an early deficit to showcase his finishing ability, while Holmes' debut was cut short despite his resilience. These results set the stage for the ESPN prelims, where more established contenders took the spotlight.
Weight ClassWinnerOpponentMethodRoundTime
HeavyweightBraxton SmithTKO (strikes)12:10
MiddleweightKO (right hand)12:10
MiddleweightClaudio RibeiroJoseph HolmesTKO (strikes)23:21

Bonus Awards

Fight of the Night

The featherweight bout between and Diego Lopes was awarded Fight of the Night at UFC 288. Evloev defeated Lopes via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27), maintaining his undefeated record at 17-0. The fight began with Lopes, who stepped in on short notice after Bryce Mitchell's withdrawal, landing stiff punches early in the first round that briefly rattled Evloev. Evloev quickly responded by securing a takedown and dominating from top position with ground control, though Lopes nearly submitted him with a deep armbar attempt before Evloev escaped and regained control. In the second round, Evloev ramped up his striking volume before another takedown, where he unleashed vicious ground-and-pound strikes that slowed Lopes, despite the Brazilian's counters with powerful punches on the feet. The third round saw Lopes mount a desperate comeback with a late and kneebar attempt that had Evloev in peril, but the Russian survived the threats through superior wrestling and clinch work to seal the victory. This matchup earned the honor due to its high entertainment value, characterized by relentless back-and-forth action, Lopes' aggressive striking and multiple near-submission finishes, and Evloev's persistent wrestling dominance that kept the pace intense throughout three rounds. UFC president highlighted Lopes' heart and resilience on short notice as a key factor in the bout's appeal to fans. Both fighters received $50,000 bonuses for the award.

Performance of the Night

At UFC 288, the Performance of the Night bonuses were awarded to Yan Xiaonan and Matt Frevola for their knockout victories that demonstrated exceptional individual dominance. Yan Xiaonan's performance came in a main card bout against former strawweight champion Jéssica Andrade, where she showcased surprising striking power by landing a clean right hand that dropped the Brazilian contender early in the first round. Following the knockdown, Xiaonan sealed the victory with unanswered ground strikes, prompting a referee stoppage at 2:20 of Round 1. On the preliminary card, earned his bonus through a resilient comeback against contender , absorbing initial pressure before countering with a devastating right hand that floored his opponent. Frevola then transitioned to ground-and-pound to finish the fight via TKO at 4:08 of Round 1, marking a highlight-reel moment in his career. These awards highlighted the fighters' ability to deliver quick, decisive finishes against high-level opposition, with each recipient earning $50,000 from the promotion.

Aftermath

Immediate Reactions

The main event of UFC 288 ended in controversy as retained his UFC Championship via over , with judges scoring the bout 47-48 for Cejudo and 48-47 twice for Sterling. The close verdict sparked widespread debate among MMA analysts and fighters, many of whom believed Cejudo had done enough to secure the upset victory in his return from a three-year , particularly citing his effective striking and control in key rounds. Sterling's defensive wrestling and volume of strikes were highlighted by supporters as the deciding factors, though the fight's tactical pace drew criticism for lacking decisive moments. During the post-fight , Sterling immediately called out Sean O'Malley for his next title defense, targeting a matchup to address ongoing tensions between the two bantamweights. Cejudo, gracious in defeat, hinted at a potential second retirement, expressing confusion over the outcome and pondering his future after failing to reclaim the title in what he described as a high-stakes comeback attempt. Fan reactions at the were mixed, with boos echoing through the arena during slower-paced bouts on the card, including the main event's grappling exchanges and the co-main clash between and . Media coverage praised standout upsets, particularly Yan Xiaonan's stunning first-round knockout of former strawweight champion Jessica Andrade, which was hailed as a career-defining performance that elevated her title contention status. On June 27, 2023, USADA announced a two-year suspension for heavyweight Braxton Smith, retroactive to May 6, 2023, following positive tests for exogenous testosterone from samples collected prior to his early preliminary card bout at UFC 288.

Subsequent Developments

retained the UFC championship with his split decision victory over at UFC 288 but held the title for only three months before losing it via second-round TKO (leg kicks) to Sean O'Malley in the main event of on August 19, 2023. This defeat ended Sterling's UFC-record eight-fight winning streak in the division, which had begun after his 2017 loss to . Following the title loss, Sterling transitioned to division, where he achieved mixed results through 2025: a unanimous decision win over at on April 13, 2024; a unanimous decision loss to at UFC 310 on December 7, 2024; and a unanimous decision victory over at UFC Fight Night on August 23, 2025. As of November 2025, Sterling ranks fifth in the UFC division. Henry Cejudo's unanimous decision loss to Sterling at UFC 288 marked the beginning of a challenging phase in his career, as he went 0-2 in subsequent UFC bouts following his 2023 return from a prior retirement. Although Cejudo contemplated a second retirement immediately after the defeat, citing the difficulty of reclaiming the title after a three-year layoff, he opted to continue competing. His losses came against Merab Dvalishvili (UFC 298, February 17, 2024) and Song Yadong (UFC Fight Night, February 22, 2025). As of November 2025, Cejudo, now 38, is scheduled to face Payton Talbott at UFC 323 on December 6, 2025, in what he has indicated could serve as his retirement fight. Belal Muhammad's dominant win over at UFC 288 catalyzed a rapid ascent in the rankings, leading to a opportunity against champion . Muhammad captured the UFC championship via over Edwards in their rematch at UFC 304 on July 27, 2024, marking his tenth consecutive victory and ending Edwards' reign. However, in his first defense against at UFC 315 on May 10, 2025, Muhammad suffered a loss, relinquishing the belt after just under ten months as champion. As of November 2025, Muhammad is scheduled to face at UFC Fight Night on November 22, 2025. The co-main event victory propelled into top contention in the women's strawweight division, where her first-round knockout of former champion Jessica Andrade earned her a title shot against at on April 13, 2024, though she lost by . Xiaonan rebounded with a win over at UFC Fight Night on November 23, 2024, before dropping a to at UFC 314 on April 12, 2025. As of October 2025, she holds the fourth-ranked position in the UFC women's strawweight division. Movsar Evloev extended his undefeated professional record to 17-0 with a unanimous decision over short-notice debutant Diego Lopes at UFC 288, solidifying his status as a featherweight contender. He followed with ranked victories, including a unanimous decision over at UFC 297 on January 20, 2024, and another over former bantamweight champion at UFC 310 on December 7, 2024. Evloev's consistent performances positioned him as a top-five featherweight by mid-2025 and he remains undefeated at 19-0 as of November 2025. Despite his debut loss to Evloev on five days' notice at UFC 288, Diego Lopes quickly established himself as a rising prospect, embarking on a five-fight that included s of (UFC 295, November 11, 2023) and (UFC 300, April 13, 2024). Lopes later secured a submission win over at UFC 306 on September 14, 2024, before suffering a decision loss to (UFC 314, April 12, 2025), followed by a second-round victory over Jean at UFC Fight Night on September 13, 2025. His aggressive style and finishing ability have kept him in contention for ranked opportunities. UFC 288 played a pivotal role in reshaping the and divisions. In , Sterling's title retention set the stage for his quick downfall to O'Malley, ushering in a new era led by O'Malley and later , while Cejudo's loss highlighted the challenges of comebacks in the weight class. For , Muhammad's win over Burns initiated his path to the championship, contributing to a period of turnover that saw Edwards dethroned and Della Maddalena emerge as the new titleholder by mid-2025.

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  26. https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/story/sports/ufc/2023/04/13/ufc-288-jonathan-pearce-injury-out-vs-bryce-mitchell/80871040007/
  27. https://www.sherdog.com/news/news/Movsar-Evloev-Replaces-Jonathan-Pearce-Meets-Bryce-Mitchell-at-UFC-288-189730
  28. https://www.mmafighting.com/2023/5/2/23708426/bryce-mitchell-out-of-ufc-288-diego-lopes-steps-in-to-fight-movsar-evloev
  29. https://www.sherdog.com/news/news/UFC-288-Weighin-Results-Title-Fight-Set-1-Fight-Canceled-189909
  30. https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/lists/ufc-288-newark-aljamain-sterling-henry-cejudo-bantamweight-title-play-by-play-live-results
  31. http://ufcstats.com/fight-details/069ab7e7b8b5d262
  32. http://ufcstats.com/fight-details/ed707998b13d0101
  33. https://www.ufc.com/news/official-judges-scorecards-ufc-288-sterling-vs-cejudo
  34. http://ufcstats.com/fight-details/e3aad51099a23ba4
  35. https://www.sherdog.com/news/news/UFC-288-Sterling-vs-Cejudo-PlaybyPlay-Results-Round-Scoring-189918
  36. https://www.mmafighting.com/2023/5/7/23714222/aljamain-sterling-vs-henry-cejudo-official-ufc-288-scorecard
  37. https://www.sportskeeda.com/mma/news-ufc-fans-left-enraged-derek-cleary-s-judging-robs-henry-cejudo-bantamweight-title
  38. https://www.mmafighting.com/2023/5/6/23714102/ufc-288-video-matt-frevola-upsets-drew-dober-tells-paddy-pimblett-stop-being-a-b-and-lets-fight
  39. https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/story/sports/ufc/2023/05/06/ufc-288-video-kennedy-nzechukwu-savagely-sleeps-devin-clark-standing-guillotine-choke/80826616007/
  40. https://cagesidepress.com/2023/05/06/ufc-288-marina-rodriguez-vs-virna-jandiroba/
  41. https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/story/sports/ufc/2023/05/07/ufc-288-newark-bonuses-diego-lopes-matt-frevola-yan-xiaonan-movsar-evloev/80826338007/
  42. https://www.mmafighting.com/2023/5/6/23714147/ufc-288-results-movsar-evloev-staves-off-valiant-effort-from-diego-lopes-to-remain-undefeated
  43. https://www.mmafighting.com/2023/5/7/23714237/ufc-288-post-fight-bonuses-movsar-evloev-vs-diego-lopes-earns-fight-of-the-night
  44. https://www.mmafighting.com/2023/5/6/23714167/ufc-288-results-yan-xiaonan-wants-zhang-weili-next-flattening-jessica-andrade-first-round-knockout
  45. https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/story/sports/ufc/2023/05/06/ufc-288-results-yan-xiaonan-tko-jessica-andrade/80828031007/
  46. https://www.ufcstats.com/fight-details/3f8b4aeb3baf4724
  47. https://www.sherdog.com/news/news/UFC-288-Bonuses-Movsar-Evloev-Diego-Lopes-Receive-Fight-of-the-Night-Honors-189930
  48. https://www.mmamania.com/2023/5/7/23713690/ufc-288-scorecard-won-the-aljamain-sterling-henry-cejudo-title-fight-results-ppv-espn-highlighhts
  49. https://www.espn.com/mma/story/_/id/37536316/sterling-conquers-cejudo-exchanges-postfight-words-omalley
  50. https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/story/sports/ufc/2023/05/07/ufc-288-henry-cejudo-ponders-future-after-aljamain-sterling-loss/80826484007/
  51. https://www.espn.com/mma/story/_/id/37532609/ufc-288-takeaways-no-more-discounting-aljamain-sterling-belal-muhammad-cannot-overlooked-anymore
  52. https://www.usada.org/sanction/braxton-smith-accepts-doping-sanction/
  53. https://www.espn.com/mma/fighter/_/id/3031559/aljamain-sterling
  54. https://www.ufc.com/athlete/aljamain-sterling
  55. https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Aljamain-Sterling-66313
  56. https://www.ufc.com/rankings
  57. https://www.espn.com/mma/fighter/_/id/3023388/henry-cejudo
  58. http://ufcstats.com/fighter-details/056c493bbd76a918
  59. https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Henry-Cejudo-125297
  60. https://www.ufc.com/athlete/belal-muhammad
  61. https://www.espn.com/mma/story/_/id/45043512/ufc-315-live-results-analysis-belal-muhammad-vs-jack-della-maddalena
  62. http://ufcstats.com/fighter-details/b1b0729d27936f2f
  63. https://www.espn.com/mma/fighter/_/id/4275487/yan-xiaonan
  64. http://ufcstats.com/fighter-details/76e2870ffafbe38f
  65. https://www.espn.com/mma/fighter/_/id/4029275/movsar-evloev
  66. https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Movsar-Evloev-183539
  67. http://ufcstats.com/fighter-details/f166e93d04a8c274
  68. https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10075359-stock-up-stock-down-br-ufc-rankings-after-ufc-288
  69. https://www.espn.com/mma/story/_/id/37552586/edwards-covington-muhammad-top-dogs-welterweight-how-rest-2023-play-out
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