UFC 288 Results And Recap: Sterling wins close decision over Cejudo; Xiaonan TKOs Andrade

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Newark, May 7: Aljamain Sterling edged Henry Cejudo for a close decision and retained the UFC Bantamweight Championship in the headliner of UFC 288: Sterling vs. Cejudo which took place at the sold out Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey on Saturday (May 6).

UFC 288, which marked the highest grossing sporting event in Prudential Center history, witnessed five fights end in stoppages and six, including the main and co-main events, go the distance.

The main card featherweight bout between Movsar Evloev and Diego Lopes was awarded the Fight of the Night, while Yan Xiaonan and Matt Frevola pocketed an extra USD50K as Performance of the Night bonuses for their first round finishes.

In the main event, undisputed UFC bantamweight champion Sterling put his belt on the line against former two-division UFC champion Cejudo, and after five outstanding, very close rounds, Sterling walked away with the belt still in his grasp.

Following the win, Sterling said, "Hats off to Henry Cejudo, I knew it was a close fight coming in. I wasn't sure which way the decision was going to go, I had it 3-2. I wish I could have done better, but Henry's a legend.

"It wasn't an easy task to run through him like I did everyone else. Stay persistent, keep gunning for that takedown, and I think that's where I won the fight. Sugar Sean (O'Malley), where you at?!"

The welterweight co-main event was a massive collision between top contenders #4 Belal Muhammad and #5 Gilbert "Durinho" Burns. Over five rounds, damage from Muhammad's powerful kicks added up and prohibited Burns from getting inside and implementing his grappling.

With the dominant decision win, Muhammad becomes next in line for the championship, and he said, "You give me eight weeks, I can beat Jon Jones. You give me three weeks, I can beat any welterweight in the world. Leon and Colby, I'm coming for both of you guys!"

Also on the main card, China's No. 6 ranked strawweight Yan Xiaonan made her bid for a title challenge against UFC strawweight champion Zhang Weili with a perfect first round knockout of former champion No. 4 ranked Jessica Andrade.

After the quickfire victory, Yan said, "I am so happy! This is the happiest moment since I got into the UFC. Thank you everybody! I've been training in the US for one year. Thank you everybody from Team Alpha Male and everybody who has helped me."

Xionan also requested UFC President Dana White for the title fight in China, "I think if both of us can represent the female fighters from China at the highest level of this sport, we will make them proud of us. Dana, let's make it happen!"

At the post fight press conference, when White was asked about Zhang Weili versus Yan Xiaonan in China, he said, "I'm definitely looking at China right now."

UFC 288 Results

Main Card

1. Bantamweight World Championship Bout: Aljamain Sterling defeated Henry Cejudo by split decision (47-48, 48-47, 48-47)

2. Welterweight Bout: Belal Muhammad defeated Gilbert Burns by unanimous decision (50-45, 49-46, 49-46)

3. Women's Strawweight Bout: Yan Xiaonan defeated Jessica Andrade by TKO (strikes) at 2:20 of Round 1

4. Featherweight Bout: Movsar Evloev defeated Diego Lopes by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)

5. Featherweight Bout: Charles Jourdain defeated Kron Gracie by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Preliminary Card

1. Lightweight Bout: Matt Frevola defeated Drew Dober by TKO (strikes) at 4:08 of Round 1

2. Welterweight Bout: Khaos Williams defeated Rolando Bedoya by split decision (27-30, 29-28, 29-28)

3. Women's Strawweight Bout: Virna Jandiroba defeated Marina Rodriguez by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)

Early Preliminary Card

1. Heavyweight Bout: Parker Porter defeated Braxton Smith by TKO (strikes) at 2:10 of Round 1

2. Middleweight Bout: Ikram Aliskerov defeated Phil Hawes by KO (right hand) at 2:10 of Round 1

3. Middleweight Bout: Claudio Ribeiro defeated Joseph Holmes by TKO (strikes) at 3:21 of Round 2