UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling has called shenanigans on Eric Albarracin’s claim that UFC 288 sold 700K pay-per-views.
Sterling (23-3 MMA, 15-3 UFC) retained his title against Henry Cejudo (16-3 MMA, 10-3 UFC) by split decision in this past Saturday’s main event at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.
According to Cejudo’s coach, Albarracin, the event did big numbers.
“Now you’re (Sterling) trying to benefit off the cringe. Are you serious? You know many pay-per-views he got? Seven hundred thousasnd,” Albarracin said on “The MMA Hour.” “He needs to be thanking us. He never even got over 200,000 on a pay-per-view. This one was 700,000. On ESPN+, which is more than double of anything he ever got.”
UFC 288 marked former dual champ Cejudo’s return from a three-year retirement. According to Sterling, their numbers were nowhere near what Albarracin claimed.
.@CPTdasAmericas I was told yesterday we’d be lucky to break 250k PPV buys and you’re going on air to lie that you know for certain that we made 700,000 buys?! Are you on the bottle this afternoon bro?? Stop the CAP 🧢 #MMAHour
— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) May 10, 2023
Albarracin thinks Cejudo won Rounds 2,3 and 5. The judges’ scorecards were varied, but “The Funkmaster” thinks he should have been awarded the first four rounds.
With the win, Sterling now holds the record for most title defenses in UFC bantamweight history at three. His next fight is expected to be against Sean O’Malley, who faced off with Sterling in the octagon after his win.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 288.
