Set for later this week at the Prudential Center, UFC 288 features two fantastic main events, one for the UFC Men’s Bantamweight Championship. To kick off your UFC 288 betting rundown, in the main bout of the night, Aljamain Sterling defends his Bantamweight Championship against former UFC Flyweight and Bantamweight Champion Henry Cejudo. In addition to that epic clash, former UFC Welterweight Championship challenger Gilbert Burns squares off with Belal Muhammad in a five-round welterweight contest. Burns is coming off a win over Jorge Masvidal just last month at UFC 287 and is looking for some final momentum as he makes his championship push.
In this article, SBS will be going over what to look for from each fighter along with some other tips for your UFC 288 betting excursion.
| UFC 288 Main Event Bouts | The Pick |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aljamain Sterling (c) vs. Henry Cejudo | Cejudo | -106 | -106 | -106 |
| Belal Muhammad vs. Gilbert Burns | Burns | -130 | -130 | -130 |
Fighter Spotlight: Aljamain Sterling
With an overall record of 22-3 heading into this fight, Sterling is one the flashiest and most effective fighters in the bantamweight division. In addition to his stout overall mark, the 33-year-old is coming off back-to-back title defenses over the likes of Petr Yan (DQ and split decision) and T.J. Dillashaw (TKO via punches). Known for winning fights on the judge’s scorecards (10 overall decision victories in his career), the “Funk Master” certainly is one to watch and has not lost since December 2017. Another subplot in this fight will be if Sterling can notch another submission victory, he has eight so far in his career and is a crafty fighter in that space.
Fighter Spotlight: Henry Cejudo
A fighter that was one of the sport’s best, Cejudo stunned the UFC world by retiring back in May of 2020 but is back in the ring after three years away. Prior to that announcement though, few had been able to figure out the champion to that point, with Cejudo accruing a record of 16-2. An accomplished athlete, the 36-year-old won the 2008 Olympic gold medal in freestyle wrestling and was one of America’s best in wrestling as a high school athlete. Regarding his MMA career, the 36-year-old has not lost since 2016 and was set up for a dominant reign had he not retired.
Prediction: This is perhaps one of the closest calls of any UFC event this year, but Cejudo’s amateur wrestling background combined with a more impressive resume gives him the slight edge.
Fighter Spotlight: Gilbert Burns
Coming off a unanimous decision victory just last month over Masvidal, Burns has jumped right back into the action against Muhammad. While he came up short in big bouts against Khamzat Chimaev and Kamaru Usman, Burns is an incredibly tough fighter with marquee wins over Tyron Woodley, Demian Maia, and recently, Masvidal. A former World Jiu-Jitsu Champion, the 36-year-old has earned his spot as one of the sport’s top welterweights.
Fighter Spotlight: Belal Muhammad
Opposing Burns is Muhammad who is recognized as the No. 4 overall fighter in the UFC welterweight rankings. An athlete with a penchant for outlasting opponents and scoring decisively, the 34-year-old has 16 decision wins to his credit. He is coming off an awesome TKO win over Sean Brady at UFC 280 that earned him Performance of the Night honors and is his second time winning the award.
Prediction: This is another interesting contest where one fighter is coming off a quick turnaround vs. one with a normal rest period. That said, take Burns to win here given his more dominant showings.
After you are dialed in regarding your UFC 288 picks, SBS has you covered with a variety of great information to keep the good times rolling and give you the best UFC 288 bets. With so many events going on each month, our UFC betting sites guide is a must-read resource that has a ton of great information even beyond your UFC 288 bets. Moreover, for those looking to get the most out of their wagers, the SBS best bonus betting sites rundown is a fantastic page to bookmark. Here you can find the latest welcome bonus offers available to charge up your bets. On a final note, for those that are perhaps uncertain which payment options are the best for them, our payment methods breakdown is a great page to peruse. This is where you can make UFC 288 betting a breeze with options for deposits and withdrawals.
About the Author
As a devout aficionado of sports, Chris Boline has carved a career within the athletic realm. A skilled scribe, he boasts a decade-long portfolio that encompasses coverage of the NBA G League, the Los Angeles Chargers, football and basketball across the country. Beyond his professional pursuits, Chris is deeply invested in his community and dedicates his leisure hours to serving on boards, collaborating with community organizations, and cherishing the company of loved ones. CURRENTLY Business Development and freelance sports writing RESIDES IN Reno, NV EDUCATION University of Nevada BS and MBA EXPERTISE -Sports writing proficiency in: NFL, NBA, UFC, boxing, golf, and some motor sports -Topical news -Promotional and marketing ideas/updates -Business development Summary Chris Boline serves in a business development sales capacity as his day job. He has previously held sales/marketing positions with The Applied Companies (TAC), KTVN 2 News and the NBA G League’s Reno Bighorns, affiliate of the Sacramento Kings. He is a Reno native and is a member of various community boards including the Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, NCET and the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA). Chris graduated from the University of Nevada in 2015 with a bachelors in management and economics and also earned his MBA from Nevada in 2023. More about Chris: Past president of the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA) 2022-23 Two-time honoree for University of Nevada Alumni Chapter of the Year (Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, 2017 & COBAA, 2021) 2021 NCET award for Professional Services Organization of the Year with TAC Northern Nevada Human Resources Association 2020 Best Places to Work-Northern Nevada, Second Place with TAC 2016-17 Reno Bighorns MVP from the Sacramento Kings The Nevada Sagebrush editor-in-chief 2013-15 Associated Collegiate Press 2015 Four-year Non-daily Newspaper Pacemaker honoree University of Nevada, Reno College of Business Dean's List honoree (5x) from 2011-2015 Nevada Press Association award for Best Sports Column – Community in 2015 Education
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