What’s Next For Youssef Zalal?

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - APRIL 25: Youssef Zalal of Morocco prepares to face Aljamain Sterling 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)

UFC Vegas 116 went down last Saturday night (April 25, 2026) inside Meta Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada, leaving several fighters feeling the post-fight blues. Among them was Mayra Bueno Silva, who suffered her fifth straight defeat after coming up short against Michelle Montague.

And Norma Dumont, who saw her momentum come to a halt after losing a unanimous decision to Joselyn Edwards. But which fighter is suffering from the worst post-fight hangover, now a few days removed from the show?

Youssef Zalal.

Coming into his first-ever headlining bout under the UFC banner, Zalal was riding a career-high eight-fight win streak, which includes winning five in a row in what is his second stint inside the Octagon. Ranked No. 7 at the moment, “The Moroccan Devil” was one more win away from cracking the Top 5, getting him closer to an ever-elusive title shot.

Unfortunately for Zalal, he ran into a motivated former champion on the hunt for another championship fight of his own.

Indeed, Aljamain Sterling was on point throughout the five-round main event. Through the course of 25 minutes, “Funkmaster” controlled and dictated the pace of the fight. While he is known for his grappling, Sterling really showed off his striking this time around, proving that he is far from a one-trick pony.

In the end, Sterling dominated the fight and made the judges’ night a bit easier by earning the clear-cut unanimous decision win. Now, “Funkmaster” gets thrown into the title fight conversation while Zalal will have to go back to the drawing board and start a new win streak and hope he doesn’t fall down the rankings too much.