Watch a UFC 288 live stream
You can watch the UFC 288 mixed martial arts on ESPN Plus for $79.99 with a PPV pass. In the UK, Sterling vs Cejudo is not a PPV and will be part of the regular BT Sport subscription. It's the usual Kayo Sports PPV in Australia. Full details on how to watch a UFC 288 live stream online and on TV where you are just below.
UFC 288 live stream: preview and prediction
In 2020, Henry Cejudo bowed out of the UFC as the bantamweight champion. Now, on Cinco de Mayo weekend, the Mexican-American returns to the Octagon to reclaim the belt that now hangs off Aljamain Sterling's shoulder.
It's an irresistible narrative: the old alpha coming out of the wilderness to dethrone the new king, and though Sterling would probably rather be fighting anybody else at UFC 288, the truth is that he needs Cejudo.
Despite ruling the division for nearly two years, the Funk Master is yet to score the statement victory that truly stamps his name on it. He beat Petr Yan by disqualification and split decision, before that farcical beatdown of a badly hampered T.J. Dillashaw in October.
It's perhaps little wonder that Cejudo fancies his chances, even after three years podcasting and coaching.
By some quirk of fate, Sterling is the same age now that Triple C was when he first stepped away, and with the New Yorker teasing a potential move to the featherweight division, this fight could serve to finally legitimize him as a great bantamweight champion.
The main card starts at 10pm ET / 3am BST. The Sterling vs Cejudo cagewalks are expected at around 1am ET / 6am BST. Follow our guide below as we explain how to watch a UFC 288 live stream, so you can catch Sterling vs Cejudo and the rest in the Octagon, from anywhere.
UFC 288 live stream: watch Sterling vs Cejudo in the US without cable
UFC 288 live stream with the Disney Plus bundle
UFC 288 live stream without a PPV in Europe
How to watch Sterling vs Cejudo: live stream UFC 288 in the UK
Sterling vs Cejudo: live stream UFC 288 in Canada
UFC 288 live stream: how to watch Sterling vs Cejudo online in Australia
Sterling vs Cejudo live stream: how to watch UFC 288 in New Zealand
Who is Aljamain Sterling?
Aged 33 and No.6 in the UFC's men's pound-for-pound rankings, Aljamain Sterling is the reigning UFC Bantamweight champion.
He made his UFC debut in 2014, catching the eye with a victory over Cody Gibson, and he's won 14 of 17 fights altogether.
His most impressive showing came against Cory Sandhagen, and in his next fight he would take the division belt off Petr Yan, who had won the vacant title after Henry Cejudo's sudden retirement months earlier.
Who is Henry Cejudo?
An Olympic gold medalist and former two-weight UFC champion, Henry Cejudo packed it all in while he was on top, and now he's back to see if he's still got that magic touch.
After winning the UFC Flyweight title and successfully defending it, he stepped up to bantamweight and won the vacant belt in his first fight in the division. He then successfully defended it against Dominick Cruz, becoming just the second fighter to defend titles in two different weight classes.
However, he then threw the bantamweight division into chaos with his abrupt retirement, and there hasn't been a truly dominant champion at 135lb since.
Sterling vs Cejudo: who is favorite to win?
If there are question marks over Sterling's place at the top of the bantamweight division, in particular that latest defence of the title, it must be remembered that Cejudo only defended the belt once.
There's no doubt that he's one of the greatest mixed martial artists of all time, but at the age of 36, and having spent such a long time out of the Octagon, you might think that Sterling would be the favorite.
However, the UFC's official betting partner DraftKings has the veteran as the -115 favorite, with Sterling at -105.
Sterling vs Cejudo: recent results
Sterling last fought in October 2022, scoring an extremely one-sided victory over T.J. Dillashaw, who entered the fight with a shoulder injury, and dislocated it in the first round.
It's been almost three years since Cejudo last entered the Octagon, the second-round victory over Dominick Cruz via technical knockout in May 2020 being his most recent fight.
UFC 288 full card and highlights
Beyond the much anticipated headline match, UFC 288's co-main event sees Belal Muhammad, riding a four-fight winning streak and a nine-fight unbeaten streak, face up to the grappler Gilbert Burns, who has started this year like he means business, putting together back-to-back victories in no time at all.
Main card
Aljamain Sterling (c) vs Henry Cejudo – Bantamweight title fight
Belal Muhammad vs Gilbert Burns – Welterweight
Jéssica Andrade vs Yan Xiaonan – Women's Strawweight
Kron Gracie vs Charles Jourdain – Featherweight
Prelim card
Drew Dober vs Matt Frevola – Lightweight
Kennedy Nzechukwu vs Devin Clark – Light Heavyweight
Khaos Williams vs Rolando Bedoya – Welterweight
Marina Rodriguez vs Virna Jandiroba – Women's Strawweight
Early prelims
Braxton Smith vs Parker Porter – Heavyweight
Phil Hawes vs Ikram Aliskerov – Middleweight
Rafael Estevam vs Zhalgas Zhumagulov – Flyweight
Joseph Holmes vs Claudio Ribeiro – Middleweight
Daniel Santos vs Johnny Muñoz Jr. – Bantamweight
