This is the live blog for Aljamain Sterling vs. Youssef Zalal, the featherweight main event for Saturday’s UFC Vegas 116 card at the Meta APEX in Las Vegas.
A former bantamweight champion, Sterling made the move up to 145 pounds in 2024 and has had success in the weight class, with his only loss being a close decision against Movsar Evloev. Sterling rebounded from that defeat last summer, beating former two-time title challenger Brian Ortega at UFC Shanghai. Now, Sterling hopes to make his case for a featherweight title shot by turning back the surging Zalal.
Zalal famously struggled during his first UFC stint, winning his first three bouts before going winless over his next four, resulting in his exit from the promotion. After a few wins on the regional scene, Zalal found his way back to the octagon, where he’s been perfect, winning five in a row, four by way of submission. Now, Zalal hopes to announce himself as a legitimate title threat at 145 pounds.
Check out the Aljamain Sterling vs. Youssef Zalal live blog below.
Preamble
Of all the events in UFC history, this has certainly been one of them. 12 fights, 10 decisions; we’re one away from tying the record. Will Aljo and Zalal help make history? Let’s find out.
Walkouts and Pre-Fight
Zalal is out wrapped in the Moroccan flag, with his classic headband. I think he’s out to Drake, but I can’t hear great. Zalal is all smiles and looks very unconcerned.
Sterling is grinning from ear-to-ear as he walks out, draped in the Jamaican flag. Merab Dvalishvili is with him as Sterling dances before getting set and stepping into the cage. Almost time.
Sterling is 7 years older than Zalal and 3 inches shorter. He’s a slight underdog at +110, with Zalal coming in as a -130 favorite.
Mike Bell, Derek Cleary, and Sal D’Amato are the judges for this main event. Herb Dean is the referee.
The APEX crowd does its best to get excited while Bruce Buffer does the intros. Both men look ready to go. Let’s get after it.
Round 1
Sterling out in orthodox, Zalal in southpaw. These two have done some training together, so we’ll see how that plays into things.
Zalal looks much taller in there, but Sterling is a thick man. And Sterling, with the pressure right away, throwing low kicks and trying to back Zalal up. Zalal with his jab staying active and he’s getting Sterling backing up now. A puch and pull here.
Sterling looks so uncomfrotable on the feet always. Everything just looks a little forced. But he lands a left hand off a shift step forward. Zalal is keeping Sterling on the back foot and setting a nice long space. Gonna be tough for Sterling to wrestle like this. But he finally finds a moment where Zalal got moving backward, and Sterling charged him down, shooting. Zalal defends, using the fence and gets back to space.
Oh! Zalal went for a kick and Sterling landed a calf kick at the same time sending Zalal to the mat. Zalal tried to roll out and away but Sterling pounced right on him and now Sterling has movved to top half guard, controlling the legs. Zalal on an angle, tying up arms and throwing elbows. Sterling punches but Zalal weaves a leg over for an omaplata and Sterling has to posture out, but he’s still tied up and Zalal chips in some punches. After some time in a tie-up, Sterling gets back down. But Zalal attacks a triangle and Sterling has to posture up. When he does, this time Zalal scrambles but Sterling ends up in top turtle and lands a few knees before the horn.
MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 Sterling.
Round 2
Sterling got some confidence and he runs right across the cage to start, pressuring and getting a clinch against the fence. Zalal is able to fend him off but eats a shot on the break. Zalal now backing Sterling up, and just misses a stepping knee that could be bad news for Sterling. Now Sterling has taken the initiative, backing Zalal up. Back and forth we go.
Sterling biting on feints from Zalal and he keeps kicking and throwing wild punches. Zalal comes forward and lands a right hand to the body, but Sterling takes it and clinches, then turns Zalal to the fence. Zalal defending well and Sterling can’t get it, just missing a punch on the break.
