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Aljamain Sterling is set to face Youssef Zalal at UFC Vegas 116 on April 25, 2026. Despite being a slight underdog, Sterling believes his experience will give him the edge in the fight.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JANUARY 06: In this image released on January 07, 2026, mixed martial artist Aljamain Sterling attends the Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year ceremony at XS nightclub at Encore Las Vegas on January 06, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
āFunkmasterā isnāt expecting an easy night ā even if he sounds like he is.
Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Bantamweight champion-turned Featherweight contender Aljamain Sterling headlines UFC Vegas 116 this weekend (Sat., April 25, 2026) against No. 7-ranked Youssef Zalal inside the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Despite sitting as a slight +105 underdog, Sterling is confident the experience gap will show. While he acknowledges Zalalās well-rounded skill set, he believes the rising contender is in over his head.
āI didnāt get here by accident and this is no cake walk for Youssef Zalal ā and if he thinks itās going to be easy, heās got a rude awakening coming this Saturday,ā Sterling said. āIām giving it everything I got. Heās a young gun and Iāve got to break him in there. Simple as that. The goal is to go in there, dominate and break the dude.ā
Part of Sterlingās confidence stems from Zalalās past exit from the promotion. āThe Moroccan Devilā was released in 2022 after going 3-3-1, something Sterling hasnāt forgotten.
UFC Vegas 116 is scheduled for April 25, 2026, at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Aljamain Sterling is fighting Youssef Zalal, who is currently ranked No. 7 in the Featherweight division.
Aljamain Sterling is currently a slight underdog with betting odds of +105 against Youssef Zalal.
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āYoussef is good but shit, man, Iāve been doing this for a very long time,ā Sterling said during UFC Vegas 116 media day. āI didnāt have to get cut and make my way back and he did. He had to dig deep to do that. I think itās two different mental attitudes right? He could have gone to the regional circuit and maybe lost but he decided to come back. For me, Iāve been knocked down, knocked out, built myself up and here I am today ā became a champion and tied for the most title defenses and have the most wins in Bantamweight history.ā
Sterling is 2-1 since moving up to Featherweight, with his lone loss coming in a razor-close fight against top contender Movsar Evloev. A win here could push him into the mix for a second title run.
Meanwhile, Zalal has been red-hot since returning, going 5-0 with five submission wins, including a blistering finish of Josh Emmett in under two minutes (watch highlights) ā making him just the second fighter to submit the veteran.
The stakes are high, and the margin for error is thin ā whoever loses is taking a big step back in a loaded division.
To checkout the latest UFC Vegas 116 fight card and rumors click here.