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The readers of Bloody Elbow have spoken! As a collective, they think the main event for UFC 288 is too close to call. Our readers, specifically the paid subscribers of our Substack, are completely split on Aljamain Sterling and Henry Cejudo (with a small percentage also predicting a draw).
The UFC 288 co-main event is also a close call, too. But the readers are slightly favouring Belal Muhammad to get the win over Gilbert Burns.
Scroll down to see all our readers picks and also read from three of the readers themselves. This week we have Adam Law (second in our reader standings), GirlCasual (and third) and DJNi (who had one of the best records last week) adding their opinion behind their UFC 288 picks.
Reader picks are an exclusive perk for Substack subscribers. If you haven’t already, please subscribe to the Bloody Elbow Substack. Paid subscriptions on Substack are the best way to support Bloody Elbow and make sure we can keep doing what we’re doing. In addition to making reader picks (which could earn prizes), paid subscribers also receive premium content directly in their email inboxes. That premium content includes editorials by Karim Zidan and Jonathan Snowden and investigative pieces from John S. Nash.
UFC 288 Readers Picks
Aljamain Sterling (47.4%) vs. Henry Cejudo (47.4%)
Reader pick: Draw
Adam Law: I really like this fight although it’s a strange one with Henry Cejudo being out for so long. Feels like the fight was booked at random almost. I’ll pick Sterling as he’s a fantastic grappler and can handle himself on the feet. The only concern I have is that Cejudo’s aggression could start to turn thing in his favour as the fight goes on. Wouldn’t mind either way as it might be Cejudo’s best win when you consider the full context of his other fights and to do it after retiring would be so impressive.
GirlCasual: Math. I’m bad at it. I know that statistics say that it has never been done at his age, so if I pick Henry Cejudo to reclaim the title, I’m proving that I can’t do numbers. Aljo has such a size advantage, he’s younger, and that three year layoff for Cejudo can’t be ignored, so all of that (plus math!) is why I’m saying Sterling is going to win. It’s gonna be a cringe-fest either way.
DJNi: Disclaimer, I only recently got back into watching more fights again in the last month or so. I was a fan before the first ultimate fighter season and for many years. Then I had kids and had no time. I always continued to consume MMA media but watched very few fights. So I haven’t seen many of the younger fighters at all.
That said I’m going with Aljamain Sterling. He’s the younger fighter, he’s bigger, and he’s been active. Also Herny Cejudo was never my friend.
Belal Muhammad (52.6%) vs. Gilbert Burns (47.4%)
Reader pick: Belal Muhammad
Adam Law: I’ll pick Burns. This is a tough one too as Burns didn’t look great last time and it’s such a quick turnaround that there reason to think he might look flat. The smart pick is Burns as he’s the much better athlete but Belal is very talented and could absolutely pull off the upset, especially over 5 rounds.
GirlCasual: I’m taking Belal in this one. He’s two years younger, is the fresher fighter in this matchup, and I find him pretty boring to watch, insuring that Leon vs Belal will be a fight I’ll have to endure in the future. I’ll be happier than words can express if Gilbert proves me wrong.
DJNi: I going with Gilbert Burns. I haven’t seen much of Belal but I know he’s good from what I’ve heard. I am a big jiu-jitsu fan and burns has some slick skills there. Whether or not he uses them who knows. With the situation Belal is in, with the whole title shot thing, I just imagine life being cruel and him taking the L here. As the saying goes life’s a bitch and then ya die.
Jessica Andrade (63.2%) vs. Yan Xiaonan (36.8%)
Reader pick: Jessica Andrade
Adam Law: I’m a big Andrade fan so rooting for her here. If she fights in her classic style of blitzing striking and big takedowns it should cause Yan big problems. The concern here is that Yan is clearly the more technical striker and could out-box Andrade, however her grappling is a big hole in her game will cause her big problems. If Marina Rodriguez could out-athlete her to an iffy decision I think Andrade can have success too.
GirlCasual: Andrade is gonna work her if she takes it to the ground. Yan’s a live dog, but I’m taking Bate Estaca. (It means Piledriver, how can you NOT take her?!)
DJNi: I think Andrade gets the win. I have never seen Yan fight that I can remember. I have seen Andrade. She is a powerful fighter. From the things I’ve been hearing and the opening odds it sounds like a lot of people agree with my gut feeling.
Mosvar Evloev vs. Diego Lopes
Reader pick: None (Reader pick survey was sent out when Bryce Mitchell was in this match-up.
GirlCasual: Evloev, I’m gonna guess by decision. Movsar ain’t the guy to make your debut against. I give Lopes credit for taking this fight.
DJNi: Who? Don’t think I’ve seen either of these guys either. I’ll go with Evloev basically for getting a full camp before the fight and the coin I flipped landed his way.
Kron Gracie (10.5%) vs. Charles Jourdain (89.5%)
Reader pick: Charles Jourdain.
Adam Law: I can’t see Gracie getting the takedowns necessary to submit Jourdain who should be able to out strike him.
GirlCasual: Ice Cream Kron! Jourdain’s takedown defense is…not great. Submission city for Mr. Gracie.
DJNi: Going with Jourdain. What the hell has Kron been doing? Mostly I’m picking Jourdain based on the negatives I seen from Kron because I don’t know who Jourdain is. Kron is getting old and he’s been inactive for a long long time.
Drew Dober (78.9%) vs. Matt Frevola (21.1%)
Reader pick: Drew Dober
Adam Law: This should be amazing. I trust Dober’s chin to hold up longer so I’ll pick him but in terms of pure skill they’re about even.
GirlCasual: We do. The fans. We win this, hands down, no matter which dude gets his hand raised. Frevola’s from Long Island, so I have to take him. Hopefully he tries to wrestle. Otherwise I think he might be sent to the moon by the chin known as Drew Dober.
DJNi: I think Dober will get the job done. This one is simple, I think Dober has better wins and Frevola’s Sherdog photo is him shirtless in a leather jacket and a cowboy hat.
Kennedy Nzechukwu (63.2%) vs. Devin Clark (31.6%)
Reader pick: Kennedy Nzechukwu.
GirlCasual: Nzechukwu is going to finish Clark. Or maybe Clark will wrestle-hump him and ham for the cameras? Eh, I’m still taking Kennedy.
DJNi: You can just assume that I have no idea who either fighter is for every fight from this fight on down.
I’m going with Nzechukwu. From what I’m hearing he has better game planning and skills. The opening odds seem to agree with this.
Khaos Williams (94.7%) vs. Rolando Bedoya (5.3%)
Reader pick: Khaos Williams
Adam Law: Williams by KO.
GirlCasual: Khaos is going to have Bedoya waking up in the middle of July.
DJNi: I will pick Khaos here. Having listened to Zane and Connor break this one down I’ll again go with the odds makers. Sounds like Bedoya is all offence no defense which I do enjoy. Block with your face so you have two free arms to smash. Long ago my friends and I would play boxing games with a rule that no one could block and call it lightning rounds. I can’t pick the guy playing that game without the other player on board.
Marina Rodriguez (78.9%) vs. Virna Jandiroba (21.1%)
Reader pick: Marina Rodriguez
Adam Law: I’ve been really impressed by the improvements Jandiroba has been making and I think she’s in the best possible place in her career to win this one. Rodriguez seems like she’s a really bad wrestler and grappler but yet she’s never actually been submitted and doesn’t get taken down as much as you’d think. If she loses the first round badly and wins the 2nd and 3rd I wouldn’t be shocked. I’ll pick Jandiroba to get a couple fight winning takedowns though and not let Rodriguez back up.
GirlCasual: This hurts to pick, because I love both of these ladies. If Jandiroba can exploit Rodriguez’s takedown defense, she has a chance, but I think that Marina gets it done. Better fight IQ, faster on the feet, Rodriguez by decision.
DJNi: I think Rodriguez will win. Jandiroba ususally wins by submission and I don’t think she will be able to sub Rodriguez.
Braxton Smith (57.9%) vs. Parker Porter (42.1%)
Reader pick: Braxton Smith
GirlCasual: Braxton Smith, and quickly.
DJNi: I’ll take Smith, sounds like he hits hard and Parker is old balls but it’s heavyweight so flip a coin. Gotta take at least one underdog down here, why not this one.
Phil Hawes (52.6%) vs. Ikram Aliskerov (47.4%)
Reader pick: Phil Hawes
GirlCasual: My golden rule: never bet against a guy whose last name ends in ‘v.’ Aliskerov, simply for that reason alone, but it also boots my confidence that his only loss was to Chimaev.
DJNi: Picking Aliskerov based on betting odds and Dagestan.
Joseph Holmes (31.6%) vs. Claudio Ribeiro (68.4%)
Reader pick: Claudio Ribeiro
GirlCasual: Holmes is younger and slightly bigger, so I’ll take him in this match. He’ll beat Ribeiro on the mat, I’m gonna say Holmes by g-n-p.
DJNi: I think Ribeiro wins. Sounds like he’s faster and odds makers favored him.
Who wins a Performance of the Night Award?
Reader pick: Gilbert Burns (36.8%)
GirlCasual: Marina Rodriguez, because if she wins it might be in a way that truly announces her arrival. Evloev, Aliskerov, or Kron Gracie also have a shot to snag one of these if they sub their opponent dramatically.
DJNi: I’ll say Aljamain and Burns because I expect both of their fights will be good and I’m hoping for a solid finish from both of them.
Which fight wins Fight of the Night?
Readers pick: Drew Dober vs. Matt Frevola (47.4%)
Adam Law: Dober vs Frevola is a near perfect action fight.
GirlCasual: C’mon. Dober vs Frevola. Is there any fight on this card that you’re truly more excited about?
DJNi: I’ll go with Dober Vs Frevola. Dober has 6 bonuses and likes throw hands.
Which fight are you most excited for?
Readers pick: Aljamain Sterling vs. Henry Cejudo
Adam Law: Aljo vs Cejudo is the most meaningful fight and with Cejudo coming back after retiring it’s got a lot of intrigue.
GirlCasual: Dober vs Frevola for the guaranteed fireworks. (And because Long Island.) If Aljo wins, I will be excited for Henry Cejudo to retire again, but I don’t think that’s what you’re asking here.
DJNi: Aljamain Sterling Vs Henry Cejudo. It has the most on the line. There is some intrigue with seeing Cejudo come back and I can’t hear him talk while he’s in the cage. I think Sterling is very good and its and interesting new test for him.
Leader board
Heading into UFC 288 we are very close atop our leaderboard, with Adam Law trailing Christophe with just one correct pick. There pack of people who make regular picks are pretty bunched up, so we could see a lot of movement here after UFC 288 is all said and done.
| Position | Community Member | Correct | Incorrect | Total Picks | % | Picks Back | Week 7 Record | Bonus Points |
| 1 | Christophe | 49 | 35 | 84 | 0.583 | – | 6-4 | 3 |
| 2 | Adam Law | 48 | 36 | 84 | 0.571 | 1 | 6-4 | 2 |
| 3 | GirlCasual | 44 | 40 | 84 | 0.524 | 5 | 4-6 | 4 |
| 4 | Jeremy | 43 | 41 | 84 | 0.512 | 6 | 2-8 | 3 |
| 5 | Just Simon | 42 | 42 | 84 | 0.500 | 7 | 4-6 | 3 |
| 6 | lscottjose | 41 | 33 | 74 | 0.554 | 8 | 6-4 | 2 |
| 7 | Luke G | 38 | 36 | 74 | 0.514 | 11 | 0-0 | 4 |
| 8 | Sensei Scott | 38 | 46 | 84 | 0.452 | 11 | 2-8 | 2 |
| 9 | NickyBonz | 37 | 33 | 70 | 0.529 | 12 | 6-4 | 3 |
| 10 | BearHands | 33 | 28 | 61 | 0.541 | 16 | 0-0 | 2 |
| 11 | Mark Strong | 32 | 42 | 74 | 0.432 | 17 | 0-0 | 4 |
| 12 | Fishtown Simon | 30 | 20 | 50 | 0.600 | 19 | 0-0 | 3 |
| 13 | Benjamin Thornton | 29 | 35 | 64 | 0.453 | 20 | 0-0 | 1 |
| 14 | Khabib “The Seagull” Nurmagomedov | 24 | 13 | 37 | 0.649 | 25 | 0-0 | 3 |
| 15 | Keyon Talieh | 23 | 27 | 50 | 0.460 | 26 | 0-0 | 2 |
| 16 | Kathy Hernandez | 23 | 14 | 37 | 0.622 | 26 | 0-0 | 1 |
| 17 | mklip2001 | 21 | 18 | 39 | 0.538 | 28 | 5-5 | 3 |
| 18 | Beato Puente | 20 | 18 | 38 | 0.526 | 29 | 0-0 | 2 |
| 19 | The_Real_DeanD | 17 | 23 | 40 | 0.425 | 32 | 0-0 | 1 |
| 20 | macnife | 16 | 12 | 28 | 0.571 | 33 | 0-0 | 1 |
| 21 | cloacacarnage | 15 | 10 | 25 | 0.600 | 34 | 0-0 | 1 |
| 22 | DJNi | 14 | 20 | 34 | 0.412 | 35 | 7-3 | 3 |
| 23 | Dent | 14 | 11 | 25 | 0.560 | 35 | 0-0 | 1 |
| 24 | BigWarndog | 14 | 8 | 22 | 0.636 | 35 | 0-0 | |
| 25 | Kaan | 14 | 22 | 36 | 0.389 | 35 | 0-0 | |
| 26 | Stanixx007 | 13 | 15 | 28 | 0.464 | 36 | 0-0 | 1 |
| 27 | pmck003 | 13 | 31 | 32 | 0.406 | 36 | 0-0 | |
| 28 | Wyatt | 12 | 16 | 28 | 0.429 | 37 | 0-0 | 1 |
| – | Federico | 12 | 16 | 28 | 0.429 | 37 | 0-0 | 1 |
| 30 | Tito Orcheese | 10 | 5 | 15 | 0.667 | 39 | 0-0 | 1 |
| – | Arran D | 10 | 5 | 15 | 0.667 | 39 | 0-0 | 1 |
| 32 | Thomas Goncalves | 10 | 15 | 25 | 0.400 | 39 | 0-0 | 1 |
| 33 | Sure | 10 | 16 | 26 | 0.385 | 39 | 0-0 | 1 |
| 34 | chadokimu | 9 | 5 | 14 | 0.643 | 40 | 0-0 | 1 |
| 35 | Pembo | 9 | 6 | 15 | 0.600 | 40 | 0-0 | 1 |
| 36 | Stone Nicholson | 9 | 3 | 12 | 0.750 | 40 | 0-0 | |
| 37 | don’t care | 9 | 6 | 15 | 0.600 | 40 | 0-0 | |
| 38 | Nasal Waxing | 8 | 4 | 12 | 0.667 | 41 | 0-0 | 1 |
| 39 | The Oatmeal Handtruck | 8 | 7 | 15 | 0.533 | 41 | 0-0 | 1 |
| 40 | TotinosPizzaBoy | 8 | 5 | 13 | 0.615 | 41 | 0-0 | |
| – | Eric Marentette | 8 | 5 | 13 | 0.615 | 41 | 0-0 | |
| 42 | Tommy | 8 | 6 | 14 | 0.571 | 41 | 0-0 | |
| – | cubfanjg22 | 8 | 6 | 14 | 0.571 | 41 | 0-0 | |
| 44 | Yes | 7 | 3 | 10 | 0.700 | 42 | 0-0 | 1 |
| 45 | pinkfloyd | 7 | 8 | 15 | 0.467 | 42 | 0-0 | 1 |
| 46 | Ty | 7 | 3 | 10 | 0.700 | 42 | 7-3 | |
| – | WhiskeySmile | 7 | 3 | 10 | 0.700 | 42 | 0-0 | |
| – | Macknightio | 7 | 3 | 10 | 0.700 | 42 | 0-0 | |
| 49 | Jason Steiger | 7 | 5 | 12 | 0.583 | 42 | 0-0 | |
| 50 | Limitless_DinD | 7 | 6 | 13 | 0.538 | 42 | 0-0 | |
| – | Indorfin | 7 | 6 | 13 | 0.538 | 42 | 0-0 | |
| 52 | TheCheeseBurgerLocker | 6 | 4 | 10 | 0.600 | 43 | 0-0 | |
| 53 | Rich | 6 | 9 | 15 | 0.400 | 43 | 0-0 | 1 |
| 54 | Perfectly Cromulent | 6 | 4 | 10 | 0.600 | 43 | 6-4 | 1 |
| – | High_light | 6 | 4 | 10 | 0.600 | 43 | 0-0 | 1 |
| 56 | Darker Than Black | 6 | 6 | 12 | 0.500 | 43 | 0-0 | 1 |
| 57 | Ayaan Khan | 6 | 9 | 15 | 0.400 | 43 | 0-0 | 1 |
| – | Are Daneel | 6 | 9 | 15 | 0.400 | 43 | 0-0 | 1 |
| 59 | inspectordeckard | 6 | 7 | 13 | 0.462 | 43 | 0-0 | |
| 60 | SuperWizard | 5 | 8 | 13 | 0.385 | 44 | 0-0 | |
| 61 | NitroNikko | 5 | 5 | 10 | 0.500 | 44 | 0-0 | 1 |
| 62 | Smot Poker | 5 | 9 | 14 | 0.357 | 44 | 0-0 | 1 |
| 63 | Oatmeal Handtruck | 5 | 5 | 10 | 0.500 | 44 | 0-0 | |
| 64 | Matthew Doolan | 5 | 7 | 12 | 0.417 | 44 | 0-0 | |
| – | Hangovereasy | 5 | 7 | 12 | 0.417 | 44 | 0-0 | |
| 66 | Pastor Rose | 5 | 8 | 13 | 0.385 | 44 | 0-0 | |
| – | Mike | 5 | 8 | 13 | 0.385 | 44 | 0-0 | |
| – | Martolord | 5 | 8 | 13 | 0.385 | 44 | 0-0 | |
| – | Aidan | 5 | 8 | 13 | 0.385 | 44 | 0-0 | |
| 70 | Call Me Robert | 4 | 11 | 15 | 0.267 | 45 | 0-0 | 1 |
| – | Brigsy | 4 | 11 | 15 | 0.267 | 45 | 0-0 | 1 |
| 72 | The Professor | 4 | 6 | 10 | 0.400 | 45 | 0-0 | |
| 73 | Theredman | 4 | 9 | 13 | 0.308 | 45 | 0-0 | |
| – | Geo Thornton | 4 | 9 | 13 | 0.308 | 45 | 0-0 | |
| – | Dennis Donoghue | 4 | 9 | 13 | 0.308 | 45 | 0-0 | |
| 76 | Larry | 3 | 7 | 10 | 0.300 | 46 | 3-7 | 1 |
| – | Kevin P | 3 | 7 | 10 | 0.300 | 46 | 0-0 | |
| 78 | Patrick Brosnan | 1 | 9 | 10 | 0.100 | 48 | 0-0 |
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