Aljamain Sterling is ready for a homecoming fight close to his neighborhood on May 6. The Long Island-born Sterling defends the UFC bantamweight title against Henry Cejudo inside the Prudential Center in New Jersey at UFC 288. The bout will air on ESPN+ PPV in the U.S.
Sterling joined the UFC in 2014 and is 14-3 with the promotion. Beating Petr Yan via DQ in 2021 to win the UFC bantamweight title, he also defeated Yan in a rematch to secure his status as champion. “Funk Master’s” last fight was a TKO win against an injured T.J. Dillashaw at UFC 280 in October.
If he can beat Cejudo, Sterling believes that he might be the greatest bantamweight in MMA history.
MORE: Sign up to watch the UFC 288 PPV, exclusively on ESPN+
“I think if I stop Henry Cejudo or even just beat him, I think I’m in that conversation,” Sterling told Inside Fighting via Middle Easy.
Cejudo, an Olympic gold medalist, defeated Demetrious Johnson in 2018 for the UFC flyweight title and Marlon Moraes in 2019 for the UFC bantamweight title. He retired in May 2020 after beating Dominick Cruz. This will be his first bout in three years.
Here’s all you need to know about UFC 288, from time, channel, and card.
What time is UFC 288: Aljamain Sterling vs. Henry Cejudo today?
- Date: Saturday, May 6 | Sunday, May 7
- FIGHT PASS Prelims: 6 p.m. ET | 10 p.m. ET GMT | 9 a.m. AEDT
- Prelims: 8 p.m. ET | 12 a.m. GMT | 11 a.m. AEDT
- Main card: 10 p.m. ET | 2 a.m. GMT | 1 p.m. AEDT
- Main event: 12:15 a.m. ET | 4:15 a.m. GMT | 3:15 p.m. AEDT (approx.)
UFC 288 takes place on May 6. The early prelims start at 6 p.m. ET | 10 p.m. ET GMT | 9 a.m. AEDT, followed by the prelims at 8 p.m. ET | 12 a.m. GMT | 11 a.m. AEDT. The UFC 288 main card will begin at 10 p.m. ET | 2 a.m. GMT | 1 p.m. AEDT.
MORE: WWE's merger with Endeavor Group, explained
Sterling and Cejudo should make their way to the octagon around 12:15 a.m. ET | 4:15 a.m. GMT | 3:15 p.m. AEDT, depending on how long the undercard fights last.
How to watch UFC 288: Aljamain Sterling vs. Henry Cejudo
| Country | Date | Channel + Live Stream (main card) |
| United States | Sat. May 6 | ESPN+, ESPN PPV |
| Canada | Sat. May 6 | BELL, Rogers, Shaw, SaskTel, Videotron, Telus, Eastlink, UFC PPV on UFC Fight Pass |
| United Kingdom | Sun. May 7 | BT Sport |
| Australia | Sun. May 7 | Main Event, Kayo Sports, Fetch TV, UFC PPV on UFC Fight Pass |
The main card for UFC 288 is available in the U.S. and Mexico on the ESPN+ subscription streaming service for a pay-per-view cost. Earlier fights are viewable live on ESPN+.
In Canada, the main card pay-per-view is available on BELL, Rogers, Shaw, SaskTel, Videotron, Telus, Eastlink, and UFC PPV on UFC Fight Pass
In the United Kingdom, the main card will be available on BT Sport, with the prelims available on UFC Fight Pass.
In Australia, the main card will be on Main Event, Kayo Sports, Fetch TV, and UFC PPV on UFC Fight Pass.
MORE: Dana White responds to video showing physical altercation with wife
Aljamain Sterling vs. Henry Cejudo PPV price: How much does UFC 288 cost?
- $79.99 (current ESPN+ subscribers)
- $124.98 (new subscribers)
In the U.S., the UFC 288 main card is available via pay-per-view on ESPN+, which also requires a subscription. The PPV price for UFC 288 is $79.99 for current subscribers. New subscribers can pay a bundle price of $124.98 for the UFC 288 pay-per-view and an ESPN+ annual subscription, which offers savings of more than 30 percent.
MORE: Sign up to watch the UFC 288 PPV, exclusively on ESPN+
| Product | Prices |
|---|---|
| ESPN+ Monthly Subscription | $9.99/month |
| ESPN+ Annual Subscription | $99.99/year |
| The Disney Bundle w/Hulu Ad-Supported | $12.99/month |
| The Disney Bundle w/Hulu No-Ads | $19.99/month |
| UFC PPV Standalone | $79.99 each |
| UFC PPV Package (UFC PPV & ESPN+ Annual) | $124.98, then $99.99/year |
| UFC PPV & The Disney Bundle | $79.99, then $12.99/month |
Click here to learn about the different pricing and bundling options with the ESPN+ platform.
UFC 288 fight card
Main card
- Aljamain Sterling (c) vs. Henry Cejudo for the UFC bantamweight title
- Belal Muhammad vs. Gilbert Burns; Welterweights
- Jessica Andrade vs. Yan Xiaonan; Strawweights
- Diego Lopes vs. Movsar Evloev; Featherweights
- Kron Gracie vs. Charles Jourdain; Featherweights
Prelims
- Drew Dober vs. Matt Frevola; Lightweights
- Kennedy Nzechukwu vs. Devin Clark; Light Heavyweights
- Khaos Williams vs. Rolando Bedoya; Welterweights
- Marina Rodriguez vs. Virna Jandiroba; Strawweights
FIGHT PASS Prelims
- Braxton Smith vs. Parker Porter; Heavyweights
- Phil Hawes vs. Ikram Aliskerov; Middleweights
- Joseph Holmes vs. Claudio Ribiero; Middleweights
The Sporting News may earn an affiliate commission through our links when you sign up for a streaming service. The Sporting News' affiliates have no influence over the editorial content included in this article.