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USA Today Sports Media Group

Sport

MMA Junkie Staff

UFC 288: How to watch Sterling vs. Cejudo, start time, fight card, odds

UFC UFC 288 ESPN Aljamain Sterling Belal Muhammad Gilbert Burns Ikram Aliskerov Rafael Estevam Braxton Smith Rolando Bedoya

The UFC returns to pay-per-view Saturday with UFC 288 at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., with a title fight atop the card.

Here’s how to watch UFC 288 with the bantamweight title up for grabs.

Broadcast and streaming info

UFC 288 has a main card that begins at 10 p.m. ET and streams on ESPN+ pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+ beginning at 8 p.m. ET. Early prelims on ESPN+ are scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. ET.

Main event

Oct 22, 2022; Abu Dhabi, UAE; Aljamain Sterling (red gloves) celebrates after defeating T.J. Dillashaw (blue gloves) during UFC 280 at Etihad Arena. Mandatory Credit: Craig Kidwell-USA TODAY Sports

In the main event, bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling (22-3 MMA, 14-3 UFC) takes on former two-division champ Henry Cejudo (16-2 MMA, 10-2 UFC), who returns from retirement to a title shot. Sterling has eight straight wins, including title defenses over former champs Petr Yan and T.J. Dillashaw.

Co-main event

The co-feature in New Jersey is a hastily assembled but critical welterweight fight between title hopefuls Gilbert Burns (22-5 MMA, 15-5 UFC) and Belal Muhammad (22-3 MMA, 13-3 UFC). Both have said they’ve been assured a win will put them next in line for the belt held by Leon Edwards, who is expected to fight Colby Covington next. The Burns-Muhammad fight came together on a little more than two weeks’ notice.

UFC debut: Braxton Smith

There will be all kinds of eyes on Braxton Smith (5-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) in his promotional debut against Parker Porter (13-8 MMA, 3-3 UFC). The heavyweight division loves a knockout artist, and all five of Smith’s wins are by first-round KO.

UFC debut: Rolando Bedoya

Rolando Bedoya (14-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC), from Peru, will bring an 11-fight winning streak to his promotional debut at welterweight against Khaos Williams (13-3 MMA, 4-2 UFC).

UFC debut: Ikram Aliskerov

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – SEPTEMBER 13: (L-R) Ikram Aliskerov of Russia secures a shoulder lock submission against Mario Sousa of Brazil in a middleweight fight during Dana White’s Contender Series season six, week eight at UFC APEX on September 13, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)

A first-round kimura finish on Dana White’s Contender Series is what got Ikram Aliskerov (13-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) his shot in the UFC, which will come at middleweight against Phil Hawes (12-4 MMA, 4-2 UFC). Aliskerov comes into the bout on a five-fight winning streak.

UFC debut: Rafael Estevam

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – SEPTEMBER 27: Rafael Estevam of Brazil reacts after his victory over Joao Elias of Brazil in a flyweight fight during Dana White’s Contender Series season six, week ten at UFC APEX on September 27, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)

Brazil’s Rafael Estevam (11-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) makes his promotional debut at flyweight against Zhalgas Zhumagulov (14-8 MMA, 1-5 UFC). Estevam came to the UFC through a TKO win on Dana White’s Contender Series.