UFC 288 features a new co-headliner with welterweight standouts Belal Muhammad and Gilbert Burns facing off over five rounds, as announced by UFC President Dana White.
UFC 288 has booked a new co-headliner with welterweight standouts Belal Muhammad and Gilbert Burns set to face off over five rounds. UFC President Dana White made the booking official during a special announcement on the promotion’s YouTube channel. The event is scheduled for May 6 at the Prudential Center in New Jersey and will be headlined by a bantamweight title fight between champion Aljamain Sterling and former champion Henry Cejudo. The main card will air live on ESPN+ pay-per-view.
“What I love about this fight is both guys wanted it to be five rounds,” said White. “Two of the best guys in the division, and both guys think they deserve a title shot after this.” Burns is coming off a win over Jorge Masvidal in the co-main event of UFC 287, and volunteered to step up on short notice, calling out several opponents, including Muhammad and former interim champ Dustin Poirier.
Burns, the No. 5 ranked welterweight, and No. 6 Muhammad traded verbal barbs after Burns accused him of turning down a fight at UFC 283. Muhammad is unbeaten in his past nine Octagon appearances, most recently stopping prospect Sean Brady at UFC 280. The welterweight fight replaces a lightweight booking between former champion Charles Oliveira and Beneil Dariush, which was rebooked for UFC 289 after Oliveira suffered an injury.