TLDR
- Former bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling fights Youssef Zalal in the UFC Vegas 116 main event on Saturday
- Sterling is 2-1 at featherweight and wants a title shot against Alexander Volkanovski to become a two-division champion
- Zalal has won five straight fights since returning to the UFC two years ago, including wins over Calvin Kattar and Josh Emmett
- Sterling, who turns 37 in July, says he has limited fights left and needs impressive wins over big names
- The co-main event features bantamweights Norma Dumont versus Joselyne Edwards, both on winning streaks
Sources: sports.yahoo.com | ufc.com
Former UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling returns to action Saturday night against rising contender Youssef Zalal in the main event of UFC Vegas 116. Both fighters believe a win could earn them a title shot in the featherweight division.
Sterling moved up to 145 pounds after losing his bantamweight title and has gone 2-1 in his new weight class. His only loss came against undefeated contender Movsar Evloev in a competitive fight.
The 36-year-old fighter has made it clear he wants to face featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski next. “I kind of just want to fight the bigger names, because I don’t have a lot of walks left,” Sterling said.
Aljamain Sterling vs. Youssef Zalal #UFCVegas116 Card Preview for This Saturday at the Meta Apex in Las Vegas, NV#ufc #mma pic.twitter.com/us4isKMNHl
— West Till Death (@WestTillDeath) April 21, 2026
Sterling’s Championship Experience
Sterling tied the record for most consecutive bantamweight title defenses with three before moving up in weight. He holds a 17-5 record inside the UFC with wins over multiple former champions and top contenders.
He posted a dominant decision win over Brian Ortega in Shanghai last August. That performance started his push for a featherweight title opportunity.
Sterling will turn 37 in July and says this is a must-win fight. “If I go out there and do my job against a tough competitor like this, I think it really makes me undeniable,” he explained.
Zalal presents a tough challenge as one of the hottest fighters in the division. The 29-year-old has won five straight fights since returning to the UFC two years ago.
His recent wins include former title challengers Calvin Kattar and Josh Emmett. He also defeated Jack Shore, who was a top bantamweight before moving up to featherweight.
Zalal holds an 18-5-1 overall record and sits at number seven in the featherweight rankings. He was previously cut from the UFC but has looked like a completely different fighter in his second run with the promotion.
Fighting Styles and Game Plan
Both fighters are known for their grappling skills despite appearing to be strikers at first glance. Sterling uses his long reach and smooth wrestling technique to control opponents on the ground.
Zalal uses his movement and footwork to set up takedowns. He has submitted most of his recent opponents after securing back control.
Sterling said he has a specific plan for Zalal’s elusive movement. “I call him ‘Youssef the Elusive’ because of the way he moves his feet, he’s hard to hit,” Sterling said. “The plan is to corner him, take his ass down and do what I do best: backpack him up.”
The betting odds favor Zalal at -160 with Sterling as the underdog at +135. The line reflects Zalal’s momentum and youth advantage.
Sterling believes his championship experience gives him an edge over younger opponents. “I think having that championship experience, the five-round experiences at a high level… I fought a murderer’s row of guys,” he said.
The co-main event features bantamweights Norma Dumont versus Joselyne Edwards. Both women have won multiple fights in a row and could earn title shots with victories.
Dumont is 5-0 at bantamweight after moving down from featherweight. Edwards has won her last several fights and is 8-4 overall in the UFC.
The event takes place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas between the promotion’s trips to Canada and Australia. It airs as UFC Fight Night 274 with a six-fight main card scheduled.
