Aljamain Sterling puts his bantamweight belt on the line on Saturday when he takes on one of UFC’s toughest fighters, Henry Cejudo. Before Cejudo and Sterling throw down in the Octagon, Belal Muhammed battles Gilbert Burns in what should be a fantastic co-main event. See below for MMA odds, analysis, and free picks for the main card bouts at UFC 288.

UFC 288 Event Info

A big year at bantamweight only gets BIGGER this Saturday!@FunkMasterMMA vs @HenryCejudo for the strap at #UFC288!!

[ Live on ESPN+ PPV: https://t.co/ZDDxUDJwAA ] pic.twitter.com/ygjPypTl5U

— UFC (@ufc) May 5, 2023

• When: Saturday, May 6, 2023
• Where: Prudential Center, Newark, NJ
• TV: PPV
• Live Stream: UFC Fight Pass

UFC 288 Main Card Odds

UFC 288 Main Card Preview

Kron Gracie vs. Charles Jourdain

In his last, Kron Gracie lost the first bout of his career. Gracie had gone 5-0 before facing Cub Swanson in 2019. Swanson beat Gracie via unanimous decision.

Charles Jourdain lost both his 2022 bouts. Jourdain fell to Shane Burgos via majority decision last July. Then last September, Nathaniel Wood beat Jourdain via unanimous decision.

Jourdain isn’t in great form. If Kron Gracie doesn’t suffer any ill effects from the layoff, he should do well enough to get the victory. Because Kron comes from the most famous MMA family of all time, he’s worth backing.

UFC 288 Pick: Kron Gracie

Movsar Evolev vs. Diego Lopes

Diego Lopes has a decent 21-5 record. Lopes is great when the fight goes to the ground. He’s 11-0 via submission wins. Diego is 8-2 via knockout or technical knockout. So he’s also an effective stand-up fighter.

Movsar Evolev is 16-0. Evolev is 3-0 via TKO or KO and 4-0 via submissions. Evolev fought once in 2022, beating Dan Ige via unanimous decision. The favorite is shorter. So the dog has a physical advantage, but Movsar is flexible. He can beat you in so many ways. The fave gets the nod.

UFC 288 Pick: Movsar Evolev

Jessica Andrade vs. Yan Xiaonan

Jessica Andrade is a great fighter. However, the 31-year-old lost her last bout via submission. The loss happened against Erin Blanchfield, an 11-0 fighter on an 8-match winning streak.

Yan Xiaonan has a chance. The 16-3 mixed martial artist is 4 inches taller than Jessica Andrade and has an inch reach advantage. Not only that, but Xiaonan heads into this after a majority decision victory over McKenzie Dern last October.

Andrade can bounce back with a win. But the odds make her an underlay. Yan Xiaonan is the pick.

UFC 288 Pick: Yan Xiaonan

Gilbert Burns vs. Belal Muhammad

The odds suggest a competitive bout. Muhammad has a terrific 22-3 record. Belal is on a 4-fight winning streak. He knocked out then 15-0 Sean Bradley in the second round at UFC 280 in his last.

Gilbert Burns will step into the Octagon with a 22-5 record. Burns has beaten a couple of solid fighters in his last two, Neil Magny via submission and Jorge Masvidal via decision.

But although Gilbert should be the chalk in this, Muhammad is doing everything right. The slight dog is the play.

UFC 288 Pick: Belal Muhammad

Aljamain Sterling vs. Henry Cejudo // UFC Bantamweight Title

Money keeps coming in on Cejudo. It makes sense. The man is 16-2 and hasn’t lost since 2016. Not only that, but Cejudo beat Dominick Cruz in his last bout.

If the name sounds familiar, but you can’t make out a face, there’s a reason. When Cejudo beat Cruz, the year was 2020. Henry has been on the bench since then.

Aljamain Sterling is 22-3 and hasn’t lost since 2017. Sterling is on an 8-match winning streak. Aljamain fought twice in 2022. Sterling keeps his belt.

UFC 288 Pick: Aljamain Sterling

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