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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Sterling again lets Zalal come in and clinches, but Zalal immediately frees himself. Zalal’s 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 he’s got a body triangle! Bad times for Zalal!
Sterling lands some big shots as Zalal starts his defense, moving, and eventualy puts Sterling’s 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.
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. He’s 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. He’s attacking a choke but Sterling is defending well and he broke the body triangle.
Zalal still working for a choke and he’s getting closer but Sterling looks like he’s 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.
Both men are smiling to start the championship rounds. We’re 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. That’s 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 won’t 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.
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 he’s 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 doesn’t 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, we’re just waiting for the time. Sterling back to chipping in with punches while Zalal just covers up. 30 seconds and we’re 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 that’s a wrap.
MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 Sterling, 49-45 Sterling overall.
Aljamain Sterling def. Youssef Zalal via unanimous decision (49-45, 49-45, 49-45)
Sterling is very complimentary of Zalal, saying he’s as good as he remembers. Then says he’s trying to stay active for the fans. Sterling says he knows Zalal is hard to finish so he planned on hitting him a lot. He says he’s happy to be back, happy to be fighting a a young prospect, who can fight for the belt right now.
“Movsar, I’m coming for that ass next. Volkanovski, you know I’m coming for that ass!”
Sterling then makes his case for a featherweight title shot.
Zalal is all smiles as he speaks to Daniel Cormier, putting Sterling over and says he’s having fun and he’ll be back.
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