Tonight in Newark the headline bout featured Aljamain Sterling from the United States facing Henry Cejudo, also from the United States, at UFC 288. The result went to Sterling, who secured a win by split decision.
The matchup stretched across five rounds, delivering a close verdict that tipped in Sterling’s favor. The result marked Sterling’s third successful title defense, extending his reign in the bantamweight division. Earlier in October, Sterling had defended the belt against fellow American TJ Dillashaw, with the fight ending in a technical knockout for his challenger. Earlier still, Sterling had defended the title against Russian challenger Petr Yan at UFC 273 in April of the previous year. That bout carried a sense of retribution after a prior encounter where Yan was penalized for kneeing a downed opponent, preventing a knockout in Sterling’s favor. In a previous clash, Sterling had claimed the welterweight title in a decisive victory over the Russian contender.
As a result of the win, Sterling now holds a record of 26 fights, with 23 wins and three losses on his ledger.
For Cejudo, the night marked his 19th professional bout in mixed martial arts, during which he accumulated 16 victories. The match at UFC 288 was a key chapter in a career that has showcased both rapid ascent and multiple championship credentials.
There were earlier reports suggesting Movsar Evloev from Russia defeated Brazilian Diego Lopez at UFC 288, a result that would add to the night’s high drama and scramble of outcomes across the card.