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.^[1] 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.^[2] In the co-main event, welterweight contenders Belal Muhammad and Gilbert Burns competed for a potential title eliminator spot.^[3] The pay-per-view main card was headlined by Sterling's retention of the bantamweight title via a controversial split decision (47-48, 48-47, 48-47) over Cejudo after five rounds of grappling-heavy action, marking Cejudo's first loss since 2016.^[4] Muhammad dominated Burns with a unanimous decision victory (50-45, 49-46, 49-46), solidifying his position as a top welterweight contender.^[4] Other notable main card results included Merab Dvalishvili's unanimous decision win over former champion Petr Yan (29-28 x3) and Yan Xiaonan's first-round TKO triumph over Jessica Andrade via punches at 2:20.^[4] The event featured several upsets and finishes on the undercard, including Beneil Dariush's first-round TKO of former lightweight champion Charles Oliveira at 4:10, Kai Kara-France's second-round TKO (injury) of Amir Albazi, Khaos Williams' 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 Drew Dober, Charles Jourdain's unanimous decision over Kron Gracie (30-27 x3), Ikram Aliskerov's debut first-round knockout of Phil Hawes, Claudio Ribeiro's second-round TKO of Joseph Holmes at 3:21, and Mana Martinez's unanimous decision over Richie Jaramillo (29-28 x3).^[4] Overall, UFC 288 drew attention for Cejudo's comeback, the main event's divisive judging, and several finishes that propelled fighters like Dariush and Muhammad toward contention.^[5]

Event Details

Date and Venue

UFC 288 took place on May 6, 2023, at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, United States.^[1] The arena, which has a capacity of approximately 19,500 for mixed martial arts events, hosted the promotion's ninth event in the city.^[6] 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.^[7] The event schedule followed the standard UFC pay-per-view format, beginning with early preliminary bouts at 6:00 p.m. ET on UFC Fight Pass, followed by preliminary card action at 8:00 p.m. ET on ESPN and ESPN+, and the main card starting at 10:00 p.m. ET on ESPN+ PPV.^[1] As part of the UFC's 2023 pay-per-view lineup, it featured a bantamweight championship main event.^[8]

Attendance and Financials

UFC 288 attracted an official attendance of 17,559 spectators to the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, marking a sold-out event that approached the venue's configured capacity for mixed martial arts bouts.^[9][10] 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.^[11] The event generated a total gate revenue of $5,182,210.36 from ticket sales, establishing it as the highest-grossing sports event in Prudential Center history at the time.^[9][10][12] 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.^[11] Detailed ticket sales breakdowns were not publicly disclosed by the promotion, though the per-ticket average, derived from the total gate divided by attendance, was approximately $295.^[10] 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.^[13] 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.^[14]

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.^[15] 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.^[16] 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 bantamweight title he vacated in 2020 and potentially pursue unprecedented achievements in mixed martial arts.^[17][18] 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.^[19] The UFC launched a multi-platform marketing 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, Gilbert Burns, and Belal Muhammad during training and media obligations.^[20] A pre-fight press conference on May 4, 2023, at the Prudential Center featured verbal exchanges between the main event fighters and generated media buzz, streamed live on UFC platforms.^[21] 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.^[22] As part of the UFC's 2023 pay-per-view schedule, UFC 288 was positioned as a marquee numbered event following UFC 287 in April and preceding UFC 289 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.^[23][1]

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.^[24] 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.^[25] 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 Bryce Mitchell experienced multiple shifts. Initially scheduled against Jonathan Pearce, the fight was altered when Pearce withdrew due to injury in mid-April 2023.^[26] Undefeated prospect Movsar Evloev stepped in as a short-notice replacement to face Mitchell on the main card.^[27] 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.^[28] Meanwhile, the other featherweight main card bout between Kron Gracie and Charles Jourdain proceeded as originally planned, serving as a stable opener for the pay-per-view 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 bantamweight 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 middleweight and heavyweight 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.^[29] These changes collectively diminished the card's depth, particularly in the lighter weight classes, by removing a marquee lightweight contest and a prelim bantamweight 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 title implications over filler bouts.

Results

Main Card

The main card of UFC 288 featured five bouts, beginning with a featherweight matchup between Charles Jourdain and Kron Gracie. 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 leg kicks from the top. The third round featured Jourdain targeting the body with knees and punches, securing a unanimous decision victory with scores of 30-27 across all three judges.^[30] 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 takedown 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 takedown try. Lopes started strong in the first round with leg kicks and a right hand that wobbled Evloev, but Evloev responded with a takedown and ground-and-pound. The second round shifted to Evloev's favor as he secured another takedown and controlled position. In the third, Evloev pressured forward, evading a late kimura attempt from Lopes to earn a unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27).^[31][30] In the women's strawweight bout, Yan Xiaonan upset former champion Jéssica Andrade with a first-round knockout. 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 referee stoppage at 2:20 of Round 1.^[4] The co-main event pitted welterweights Belal Muhammad against Gilbert Burns 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 grappling 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 unanimous decision win (50-45, 49-46, 49-46).^[32][30][33] The main event for the UFC bantamweight title saw champion Aljamain Sterling defend against former two-division champion Henry Cejudo 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 split decision (48-47, 48-47, 47-48), a verdict that sparked controversy as many observers, including Cejudo, argued the fight was closer or favored the challenger due to the narrow margins and debated control scoring.^{[34][35][36][37]}

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.^[4] These bouts highlighted established UFC veterans against emerging talents, including a debutant in Rolando Bedoya, and produced one notable upset when unranked Matt Frevola halted the 15th-ranked Drew Dober. In the lightweight bout between Beneil Dariush and former champion Charles Oliveira, Dariush 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 Dariush in the division.^[4] The flyweight clash saw Kai Kara-France defeat Amir Albazi via TKO due to a leg injury at 2:25 of the second round, after a competitive first round where Albazi pressed forward but Kara-France countered effectively.^[4] 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 knockout victory in the UFC. This win propelled Frevola into title contention discussions and led to his post-fight callout of Paddy Pimblett.^[38] The light heavyweight clash saw Nzechukwu rebound from a prior loss with a dramatic finish, as he absorbed heavy shots from Clark before locking in a standing guillotine choke that rendered his opponent unconscious against the fence. Nzechukwu's resilience in a chaotic exchange underscored his knockout power and grappling improvements, earning him a crucial win to stay in the division's upper echelon.^[39] The welterweight bout pitted Williams against Bedoya, the latter making his Octagon 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 victory. Jandiroba's grappling clinic improved her UFC record to 4-2 and positioned her as a rising threat in the strawweight division.^[40] Overall, the card's finishes and intensity contributed to the event's momentum, blending high-stakes action with developmental showcases.^[35]

Early Preliminary Card

The early preliminary card for UFC 288, streamed exclusively on UFC Fight Pass, showcased three bouts featuring a mix of UFC veterans and promising newcomers, highlighting developmental talent in the heavyweight and middleweight divisions.^[4] In the heavyweight opener, Parker Porter 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.^[4] Porter's performance demonstrated his experience against less seasoned opponents, improving his UFC record to 3-3.^[4] The middleweight bout that followed saw Ikram Aliskerov make a stunning UFC debut by knocking out Phil Hawes with a clean right hand at 2:10 of the first round, ending the fight abruptly after a competitive exchange on the feet.^[4] Aliskerov's precision striking from his kickboxing background neutralized Hawes' power, marking a strong entry for the Russian fighter into the promotion.^[4] 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 grappling to transition into ground strikes that forced the stoppage.^[4] Ribeiro, a Brazilian jiu-jitsu specialist, overcame an early deficit to showcase his finishing ability, while Holmes' debut was cut short despite his resilience.^[4] These results set the stage for the ESPN prelims, where more established contenders took the spotlight.^[4]

Bonus Awards

Fight of the Night

The featherweight bout between Movsar Evloev and Diego Lopes was awarded Fight of the Night at UFC 288.^[41] Evloev defeated Lopes via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27), maintaining his undefeated record at 17-0.^[42] 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.^[41] 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.^[42] 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.^[42] The third round saw Lopes mount a desperate comeback with a late kimura and kneebar attempt that had Evloev in peril, but the Russian survived the threats through superior wrestling and clinch work to seal the victory.^[42] 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.^[41] UFC president Dana White highlighted Lopes' heart and resilience on short notice as a key factor in the bout's appeal to fans.^[41] Both fighters received $50,000 bonuses for the award.^[41]

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.^[43] 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.^[44][45] 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, Matt Frevola earned his bonus through a resilient comeback against lightweight contender Drew Dober, absorbing initial pressure before countering with a devastating right hand that floored his opponent.^[38][4] 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.^[46] These awards highlighted the fighters' ability to deliver quick, decisive finishes against high-level opposition, with each recipient earning $50,000 from the promotion.^[43][47]

Aftermath

Immediate Reactions

The main event of UFC 288 ended in controversy as Aljamain Sterling retained his UFC Bantamweight Championship via split decision over Henry Cejudo, with judges scoring the bout 47-48 for Cejudo and 48-47 twice for Sterling.^[33] 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 retirement, particularly citing his effective striking and grappling control in key rounds.^[48] 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.^[49] During the post-fight press conference, Sterling immediately called out Sean O'Malley for his next title defense, targeting a September matchup to address ongoing tensions between the two bantamweights.^[49] 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.^[50] Fan reactions at the Prudential Center 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 welterweight clash between Belal Muhammad and Gilbert Burns.^[51] 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.^[44] 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.^[52]

Subsequent Developments

Aljamain Sterling retained the UFC bantamweight championship with his split decision victory over Henry Cejudo 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 UFC 292 on August 19, 2023.^[53] This defeat ended Sterling's UFC-record eight-fight winning streak in the bantamweight division, which had begun after his 2017 loss to Marlon Moraes.^[54] Following the title loss, Sterling transitioned to the featherweight division, where he achieved mixed results through 2025: a unanimous decision win over Calvin Kattar at UFC 300 on April 13, 2024; a unanimous decision loss to Movsar Evloev at UFC 310 on December 7, 2024; and a unanimous decision victory over Brian Ortega at UFC Fight Night on August 23, 2025.^[55] As of November 2025, Sterling ranks fifth in the UFC featherweight division.^[56] 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.^[57] 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.^[50] His losses came against Merab Dvalishvili (UFC 298, February 17, 2024) and Song Yadong (UFC Fight Night, February 22, 2025).^[58] 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.^[59] Belal Muhammad's dominant unanimous decision win over Gilbert Burns at UFC 288 catalyzed a rapid ascent in the welterweight rankings, leading to a title opportunity against champion Leon Edwards.^[60] Muhammad captured the UFC welterweight championship via unanimous decision 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 title defense against Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 315 on May 10, 2025, Muhammad suffered a unanimous decision loss, relinquishing the belt after just under ten months as champion.^[61] As of November 2025, Muhammad is scheduled to face Ian Machado Garry at UFC Fight Night on November 22, 2025.^[62] The co-main event victory propelled Yan Xiaonan 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 Zhang Weili at UFC 300 on April 13, 2024, though she lost by unanimous decision.^[44] Xiaonan rebounded with a unanimous decision win over Tabatha Ricci at UFC Fight Night on November 23, 2024, before dropping a unanimous decision to Virna Jandiroba at UFC 314 on April 12, 2025.^[63] 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.^[64] He followed with ranked victories, including a unanimous decision over Arnold Allen at UFC 297 on January 20, 2024, and another over former bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling at UFC 310 on December 7, 2024.^[65] 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.^[66] Despite his debut loss to Evloev on five days' notice at UFC 288, Diego Lopes quickly established himself as a rising featherweight prospect, embarking on a five-fight winning streak that included knockouts of Pat Sabatini (UFC 295, November 11, 2023) and Sodiq Yusuff (UFC 300, April 13, 2024). Lopes later secured a submission win over Brian Ortega at UFC 306 on September 14, 2024, before suffering a decision loss to Alexander Volkanovski (UFC 314, April 12, 2025), followed by a second-round knockout victory over Jean Silva at UFC Fight Night on September 13, 2025.^[67] His aggressive style and finishing ability have kept him in contention for ranked opportunities. UFC 288 played a pivotal role in reshaping the bantamweight and welterweight divisions. In bantamweight, 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 Merab Dvalishvili, while Cejudo's loss highlighted the challenges of comebacks in the weight class.^[68] For welterweight, 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.^[69]