UFC 288 main card preview & top betting picks – Saturday 6/5/23

The main card for UFC 288 from the Prudential Center in Newark is headlined by a likely contender decider between Gilbert Burns and Belal Muhammad, with both fighters jostling for a shot at the welterweight belt.

The line-up also features a contest between the unbeaten, budding star Movsar Evloev and Bryce Mitchell, who will be looking to rebound following his first ever loss, which was attributed to an injury plagued lead-up.

UFC 288: Aljamain Sterling vs Henry Cejudo

Aljamain Sterling vs Henry Cejudo

Gilbert Burns v Belal Muhammad

#5 Gilbert Burns vs #4 Belal Muhammad

Gilbert Burns (22-5-0) is 9-2 from his last 11 trips to the octagon, the losses coming against then champion Kamaru Usman and unbeaten Swedish phenom Khamzat Chimaev. During this run Burns has beaten Jorge Masvidal, Neil Magny, and Stephen Thompson and now feels like a title shot is within touching distance. Burns is on a very short back up after competing at UFC 287 less than one month ago but came through the fight with Masvidal unscathed and should be ready to produce another big performance.

Belal Muhammad (22-3-0) is unbeaten in his last nine fights and is also worthy of first contender status. He is a quiet and respectful man who does not indulge in pre-fight trash talk or post-fight call outs, which has kept the number four ranked welterweight in the shadows somewhat. Muhammad’s list of recent opponents includes Sean Brady, Vincente Luque, and Stephen Thompson. He fought a no-contest result versus current welterweight champion Leon Edwards in 2021, the fight stopped following an accidental eye poke, so a rematch makes sense if he can win here.

Jessica Andrade v Yan Xiaonan

#4 Jessica Andrade vs #6 Yan Xiaonan

Jessica Andrade (24-10-0) is 4-4 from her last eight fights and cannot afford to be beaten again. She has jumped between the straw and flyweight divisions in recent years but appears a more reliable competitor at 115 pounds, where this contest will be held. The Brazilian is a heavy hitter but there is a chance her one dimensional attack has been gamed and solved by rival coaching camps. She will face a four-inch height disadvantage here but is accustomed to such disparity and her chances will again hinge on an ability to control the range.

Yan Xiaonan (16-3-0) kicked off her UFC career with a six-fight win streak but is 2-2 from his last four outings. She looked impressive beating Mackenzie Dern over five rounds at her most recent contest, and another win here will provide a boost to her number six ranking. Like many Chinese fighters, she is tough and gritty and possesses a well-rounded attacking arsenal. If she can avoid the heavy power shots of Andrade, Yan looks a decent chance at an upset.

Movsar Evloev v Diego Lopes

#10 Movsar Evloev vs Diego Lope

Movsar Evloev (16-0-0) is a rising Russian fighter who has never faced professional defeat. He joined the UFC in 2019 and immediately went to work racking up six wins with the premier MMA promotion. His advance through the ranks has not been rushed however, and this bout represents his first fight against a top 15 opponent. Evloev can tend toward a conservative strategy with only seven of his wins coming via stoppage. He will be looking to boost his profile with this slot on a PPV card as he pushes toward the top of the stacked featherweight division.

Diego Lopes (21-5-0) steps in on very short notice for this fight after the last-minute withdrawal of Bryce Mitchell, who might be the unluckiest name in MMA. Lopes makes his UFC debut after building a solid record at Fury FC and Lux Fight League. The Brazilian will enjoy a four-inch reach advantage, but this looks a big step up in class and Evloev is expected to be untroubled by stand-in. Lopes does have a decent ground game, with 11 wins via submission, so his best chance will be to score an early takedown and out-grapple the unbeaten Russian.

Charles Jourdain v Kron Gracie

Charles Jourdain vs Kron Gracie

Charles Jourdain (13-6-1) has dropped three of his last five fights and needs to tidy up some defensive frailties if he hopes to mount a serious run at 145 pounds. His last two losses came via decision and Jourdain tends to take half a round off and lose both momentum and the judges’ favour. He does have knock out power as evidenced in wins over Marcelo Rojo and Choi Do-ho, and a solid submission game with four stoppage wins coming via that method.

Kron Gracie (5-1-0) is a highly decorated grappler who carries the most famous surname in BJJ. His UFC record is limited but includes a submission win over Alex Carceres and a decision loss to Cub Swanson. Gracie will be looking to take this bout to the mat but may need to earn some respect in the stand-up game before he can go hunting for takedowns. Jourdain is expected to have a sizeable advantage in the striking exchanges, but Gracie has never been knocked out and possesses a strong cardio base.

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UFC 288 main card MMA multi

Place these bets in a parlay for +1992 return:

• Charles Jourdain to win
• Movsar Evloev to win
• Yan Xiaonan to win
• Belal Muhammad to win
• Aljamain Sterling to win

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