After a pair of cards in their Las Vegas home base, UFC returns to pay-per-view, and New Jersey, for a card headlined by a championship matchup in the bantamweight division for UFC 288 on May 6. After three years away, former two-division champion Henry Cejudo is back to regain the 135-pound title from current king Aljamain Sterling.
The co-main event is a wild short-notice scrap between a pair of top-five fighters in our UFC welterweight rankings and will see elite 170-pounders in Gilbert Burns and Belal Muhammad face off in a matchup with serious title fight ramifications.
Plus, several other Octagon favorites like Jessica Andrade, Bryce Mitchell and “Khaos” Williams will be back in action at the Prudential Center.
With that in mind, let’s make a few bold UFC predictions for the promotion’s next PPV event.
UFC predictions: 4 UFC 288 fighters getting Ws Saturday
Aljamain Sterling (22-3) vs. Henry Cejudo (16-2)
Sterling’s reign as champion has been one of the more peculiar in UFC history. He won the belt from Petr Yan by disqualification, barely defended it by split decision, then beat TJ Dillashaw when the former champion competed with a serious shoulder injury. Now, he will face a former titlist who hasn’t fought in three years. It seems like the New York native has been in a can’t-win situation ever since winning the belt.
Nevertheless, even with such a long layoff, this will be the toughest test of Sterling’s career. Cejudo is an Olympic gold-medal-winning wrestler and a talented striker. If not for the layoff, “Triple C” would likely be a big favorite. This one should be close for the first couple of rounds, but once “The Messenger” knocks off the ring rust, look for him to figure out “Funkmaster” and cruise to a decision win.
- UFC 288 odds: Sterling (-105) vs. Cejudo (-115)
- Prediction: Cejudo by unanimous decision
Belal Muhammad (22-3) vs. Gilbert Burns (22-5)
After Beniel Dariush vs. Charles Oliveria was removed from the card, fight fans got an outstanding replacement in Burns vs. Muhammad. “Remember the Name” is deserving of a title opportunity now but seems to be blocked by the company’s favoritism for Colby Covington. He is the fighter with a lot to lose in this bout and is taking a big risk.
Burns is a dangerous fighter who can win anywhere. However, it just seems like Muhammad is on an unstoppable rise to a title fight and has the wrestling and cardio that will allow him to grind out a close decision victory.
- Odds: Muhammad (+125) vs. Burns (-145)
- Prediction: Muhammad by unanimous decision
Kron Gracie (5-1) vs. Charles Jourdain (13-6-1)
One of the current members of the legendary Gracie family, Kron Gracie, returns after four years away at UFC 288. The 34-year-old is a gifted grappler, naturally, and is tougher than you would expect. But he has always lacked the necessary striking to reach the higher levels of the sport.
In Charles Jourdain he gets a winnable matchup, but “Air” is very experienced and has faced a wide variety of foes in his career. Meaning he has what it takes to avoid the dangers of Gracie and eventually send him home with a second straight loss in MMA.
- Odds: TBD
- Prediction: Jourdain by TKO, Round 2
Bryce Mitchell (15-1) vs. Movsar Evloev (16-0)
Movsar Evloev is one of the hidden gems in the featherweight division, and UFC 288 allows him the chance to prove he is the next serious contender at 145 pounds against one of the best in the weight class, Bryce Mitchell — who is a fantastic grappler and looking to bounce back from his first loss by ending Evloev’s unbeaten streak.
The longer the Russian can keep the fight standing, his chances of winning increase exponentially. Look for him to show how well-rounded he is by avoiding a ground war and peppering “Thug Nasty” with strikes to score the biggest win of his career by split decision.
- Odds: TBD
- Prediction: Evloev by split decision.
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