Outside Source
UFC 288 has booked a new co-headliner as welterweight standouts Belal Muhammad and Gilbert Burns face off over five rounds.
UFC President Dana White made the booking official during a special announcement carried on the promotion’s YouTube channel. UFC 288 takes place May 6 at Prudential Center in New Jersey and is headlined by a bantamweight title fight between champ Aljamain Sterling and ex-champ Henry Cejudo. The main card airs 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, fresh off a win over Jorge Masvidal in the co-main event of UFC 287, volunteered to step up on short notice and called out several opponents, including Muhammad and former interim champ Dustin Poirier.
Burns, the No. 5 ranked welterweight in the MMA Fighting Global Rankings, 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 ex-champ Charles Oliveira and Beneil Dariush, who were rebooked for UFC 289 when Oliveira suffered an injury.
Here is the full card for UFC 288:
This article first appeared at MMA Fighting – All Posts
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