Aljamain Sterling defeated Youssef Zalal by unanimous decision in their UFC Fight Night main event on April 25, 2026, in Las Vegas. The fight highlights are available from multiple outlets.
Key points
Aljamain Sterling defeated Youssef Zalal
Fight result was unanimous decision 49-45
Event took place on April 25, 2026
Location was Meta APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada
Fight aired live on Paramount+
Mentioned in this story
Las Vegas, Nevada
Aljamain SterlingYoussef ZalalUFC Fight Night
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - APRIL 25: (R-L) Aljamain Sterling punches Youssef Zalal of Morocco in a featherweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at Meta APEX on April 25, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
Watch Aljamain Sterling vs. Youssef Zalal full fight video highlights from their UFC Vegas 116 main event showdown Saturday night, courtesy of multiple outlets.
Sterling vs. Zalal took place April 25 at the Meta APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada. Aljamain Sterling (26-5) and Youssef Zalal (18-6-1) squared off in the main event clash. The fight aired live on Paramount+.
Official result:Ā Aljamain Sterling def. Youssef Zalal via unanimous decision (49-45 x3)
For more on Sterling vs. Zalal, check out the live blog below.
Round 1
Sterling out in orthodox, Zalal in southpaw. These two have done some training together, so weāll 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 heās 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 heās 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, andĀ justĀ 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 canāt get it, just missing a punch on the break.
Sterling again lets Zalal come in and clinches, but Zalal immediately frees himself. Zalalās jab starting to land and Sterling looks less comfortable in there now. Zalal is putting a lot of pressure on him now. but he misses a right hand and tries to spin, and Sterling grabs the back. Then he immediately drags Zalal to the mat and heās got a body triangle! Bad times for Zalal!
Sterling lands some big shots as Zalal starts his defense, moving, and eventualy puts Sterlingās back to the mat. But Sterling keeps adjusting and punching. Sterling doing a great job of scoring points here. Zalal in full defense mode, waiting out the round. Sterling keeps working and scoring to the horn.
MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 Sterling, 20-18 Sterling overall.
Round 3
Sterling with the pressure to start Round 3 and he lands to the body well. Zalal looking less confident in there and Sterling gets him to the fence and shoots. Zalal tries for a counter knee and it looks like it lands, but Sterling stays on him, eventually finishing the takedown. Zalal wraps up a guillotine and OH!!!!!!! THAT IS REALLY TIGHT! STERLING IS IN TROUBLE!!!!! Sterling has to belly down and Zalal takes the opportunity to get on top! Out of nowhere!
Sterling tying up from the bottom now, creates som space to scramble but Zalal smothers him back down. Heās working well from the top half and Sterling gets back to guard. Lots of head pressure from Zalal, keeping Sterling from moving. Zalal tries to pass but Sterling is active with his legs and lands a decent upkick as Zalal postures to pass.
Zalal goes back down and Sterling tying up but Zalal throws the legs by and moves to side control. Sterling rolls to the open space and Zalal moves to his back, putting both hooks in! Zalal shifts to the body triangle and is trying to put Sterling belly down. Heās attacking a choke but Sterling is defending well and he broke the body triangle.
Zalal still working for a choke and heās getting closer but Sterling looks like heās got the arms covered, and he does, surviving to the end of the round.
MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 Zalal, 29-28 Sterling overall.
Round 4
Both men are smiling to start the championship rounds. Weāre having fun here!
Sterling with pressure right out of the gate but eats a left hand as he comes in. Zalal is against the fence and Sterling lands a nice leg kick. Zalal might be getting tired in there as Sterling popped him and moved right into a takedown, sliding to the back and dragging Zalal down. Sterling has the body triangle and over 4 minutes to work. This is BAD for Zalal.
Sterling punching away from here. Thatās the difference. Zalal went for aubs that failed and Sterling is just clubbing him. Zalal is breaking in there. Sterling sneaks a hand under the chin and punches but Zalal defends enoguh.
OH! Sterling grabs the RNC grip over the arm! Basically a reverse arm-triangle. It requires a lot of squeeze and Zalal is grimacing but he survives. So Sterling rolls him back over and punches. Zalal fighting hands so Sterling punches, then weaves an arm. Whatever Zalal defends, Sterling does the other thing. Zalal trying to get to the angle to start an escape but Sterling wonāt allow it. And he keeps working.
Zalal moves enough to give up mount!But then he turns and Sterling is forced to hold position. He almost gets a leg in, but Sterling starts pounding him. But he is able to get up! He got a fly in and scrmabled up! And Sterling puts more pressure on before the horn.
MMA Fighting scores the round 10-8 Sterling, 39-36 Sterling overall.
Round 5
Sterling with the pressure but Zalal lands a good knee that gets Sterling backing up! Zalal charges arfter him and lands a good left hand, but Sterling eats it and changes levels, grabbing a clinch and turning to the fence. Zalal in good position, fighting the hands to break but Sterling is gonna hold this here as logn as he can. And Sterling gets his hands locked and heās working a trip. Zalal pummels but Sterling just forces him back again.
Sterling draining the clock here like a veteran. He just needs to survive three minutes. Zalal might needs a hail mary ninja choke. Instead he lands a knee and breaks but Sterling punches in a pile and wills his way to the hips and a takedown. Zalal doesnāt have the footwork to keep off these reckless charges and Sterling gonna ride out this final two minutes on top.
Zalal tries to scramble but that lets Sterling take the back and this is a wrap, weāre just waiting for the time. Sterling back to chipping in with punches while Zalal just covers up. 30 seconds and weāre done here. And Sterling knows it, he smiles to the camera and celebrates. Zalal turns into him and Sterling stays on top them a scramble to finish things off and thatās a wrap.
MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 Sterling, 49-45 Sterling overall.
