UFC 288 LIVE: Cejudo vs Sterling updates and results
Re-live updates as Cejudo returned to challenge Sterling after three years away
Aljamain Sterling retained the UFC bantamweight title against Henry Cejudo at UFC 288, as the latter failed to regain the belt after three years away.
Cejudo retired from MMA in 2020, moments after retaining the title, which he previously held alongside the flyweight belt. Sterling, 33, went on to win the gold in 2021 and retained it twice thereafter, and the Jamaican-American put it on the line again in the main event of UFC 288.
American Cejudo, an Olympic gold medalist in wrestling, emerged from retirement in an attempt to reclaim the bantamweight strap, and a future shot at the featherweight title was also on the 36-year-old’s radar.
However, Cejudo fell at the first hurdle, losing a split decision to Sterling after five competitive rounds in New Jersey.
Re-live updates below. Click here to subscribe to The Independent’s Sport YouTube channel for all the latest sports videos.
UFC 288 LIVE - Gilbert Burns vs Belal Muhammad
Round 3
Burns with his own body kick and then a right hook. It sounds, from his corner, like he’s battling an injury. He’s not producing enough output.
UFC 288 LIVE - Gilbert Burns vs Belal Muhammad
Round 3
The pace has slowed right down, but this is a five-round fight, so there’s plenty of time for it to pick back up.
Muhammad continues to fight on the front foot. He smacks a kick into the rib of Burns.
UFC 288 LIVE - Gilbert Burns vs Belal Muhammad
Round 2
Muhammad with a patient approach in the second round.
He does catch Burns on the end of a right cross, though.
Burns’s right arm is being held quite low, with the Brazilian keen to block any more body-kick attempts. That will reduce his defence up top, however.
Burns stuns Muhammad slightly with a right hand.
UFC 288 LIVE - Gilbert Burns vs Belal Muhammad
Round 1
A body kick just about gets through for Muhammad, who then denies Burns a takedown in impressive fashion.
Another body kick lands for Muhammad. Now a left cross drops Burns to a knee! The Brazilian is quick to jump back up.
Muhammad catches a body kick and pumps out a piston left cross.
Now the American half-drops Burns with a head kick that catches the Brazilian on the back of the head!
UFC 288 LIVE - Gilbert Burns vs Belal Muhammad
Round 1
Muhammad has been training with UFC icon Khabib Nurmagomedov for some time now, honing his wrestling with the Russian.
Muhammad comes out in a southpaw stance and eats a right cross early. Now the American switches stances back and forth.
Burns blocks a high kick. Muhammad’s stance-switching is constant; I’m not sure I’ve ever seen it done this aggressively.
UFC 288 LIVE - Gilbert Burns vs Belal Muhammad
Meanwhile, Muhammad has won eight fights in a row with the exception of a No Contest against Leon Edwards in 2021, a year before Edwards won the welterweight title.
Muhammad will now look to overcome Burns and use his history with the reigning champion to set up a shot at the gold.
UFC 288 LIVE - Gilbert Burns vs Belal Muhammad
Former title challenger Burns is a jiu-jitsu specialist with dynamite in his hands.
The Brazilian is seeking a third unanswered win in 2023, which would be a remarkable record at this point in the year – or in any 12-month stretch, to be fair.
He last fought just one month ago, dominating Jorge Masvidal in Miami and sending the hometown fighter into retirement.
UFC 288 LIVE - Gilbert Burns vs Belal Muhammad
Time for the co-main event, a rare five-round one!
Gilbert Burns and Belal Muhammad clash, with a welterweight title shot having been promised to the winner.
UFC 288 LIVE - Jessica Andrade vs Yan Xiaonan
Is an all-Chinese title fight between Yan Xioanan and champion Zhang Weili next?
Stage that bout in China, and what an atmosphere you would have.
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