UFC Vegas 116 features four contender who could reasonably challenge for a title with a win Saturday.
So why doesn’t it feel like that’s the case?
Former UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling headlines at Meta Apex opposite Youssef Zalal in a pivotal featherweight bout. Sterling has looked like a legitimate threat at 145 pounds after leaving the men’s 135-pound division in the hands of his good pal Merab Dvalishvili, while Zalal is on a five-fight win streak since returning to the UFC in 2024. Two good fighters with compelling storylines, either of whom would be a tough test for Alexander Volkanovski.
Let’s get back to that one in a second.
The co-main event sees streaking bantamweights Norma Dumont and Joselyne Edwards face off. Dumont has finally figured out her weight cut and now holds significant victories over Ketlen Vieira, Irene Aldana, and Germaine de Randamie. The same could be said of Edwards, who has now beaten the scale three straight times and beaten three straight opponents inside the distance. It’s about time the women’s 135-pound division has had fresh names at the top.
All of that said, Sterling has never been a company favorite for whatever reason, Zalal is nearly invisible to the casual fan, and Dumont and Edwards are stuck in limbo no matter who wins because Kayla Harrison and Amanda Nunes have to settle their business before the contender line can move. So the stakes aren’t as high as they should be.
Still, Sterling, Zalal, Dumont, and Edwards will be out to impress and maybe, just maybe, give the matchmakers something to think about when it comes to booking the second half of 2026.
Where: Meta Apex in Las Vegas
When: Saturday, April 25. The seven-fight early preliminary card begins at 5 p.m. ET, followed by a six-fight main card at 8 p.m. ET. The entire event streams live on Paramount+.
(Numbers in parentheses indicate standing in the MMA Fighting Global Rankings)
Aljamain Sterling (4) vs. Youssef Zalal (9)
Youssef Zalal, strap on that singlet because it’s time for some wrasslin’.
By their own admission, Aljamain Sterling and Zalal know each other well when it comes to grappling as they’ve trained together on occasion. According to Zalal, tap-outs occurred on both sides, which shouldn’t mean much in the grand scheme of things other than that they have a ton of respect for each other’s ground games. Could they possibly cancel each other out?
If it comes down to the striking, I slightly favor Sterling, though both men have made great advances in their standup as their careers have progressed. It’s unlikely to just be a back-and-forth battle on the feet though, because Sterling is going to shoot early and often to try and grind Zalal down. It sounds simple, but this one really comes down to who can win and control more positions.
Give me the more experienced Sterling to take the decision.
Norma Dumont (4) vs. Joselyne Edwards (10)
I dig Joselyne Edwards hopping on this opportunity to crack the top 5. I don’t love that she’s having to do this on short notice.
A little under two months of prep time isn’t the worst scenario for Edwards, but Norma Dumont is the kind of opponent you need to study carefully. Dumont is methodical with her standup, never rushing, and capable of causing her opponents plenty of aggravation as they work to figure out how to get past her jab. It’s a winning formula even it isn’t the most exciting.
Edwards’ more aggressive approach has served her well and there’s a chance she can steal this one early if she forces Dumont to engage. She’s not afraid to mix in takedowns to get where she needs to go, which could throw Dumont off even if Dumont is, on paper, the better grappler. Again, I wish Edwards had just a couple more weeks of proper training before taking on this test.
This one likely stays on the feet and that’s good news for Dumont, who will do just enough to win another decision and continue her chase for an elusive title shot.
Rafa Garcia vs. Alexander Hernandez
With a potentially ugly betting odds controversy behind him, Alexander Hernandez can get back to winning. It’s always been a series of stops and starts for Hernandez, so seeing the talented lightweight put it all together during his UFC best four-fight win streak has been heartening.
He has a versatile and durable challenge next in Rafa Garcia. The Mexican grappler showed off his hands in his most recent win, putting down Jared Gordon with a perfectly timed punch, and he’ll be comfortable going toe-to-toe with Hernandez to start. Hernandez’s physical advantages are what make him the pick here, though.
There’s no polite way to put it. Garcia’s past three wins, Gordon, Vinc Pichel, and Clay Guida, are all up there in age and, more importantly, wear-and-tear. The last time Garcia fought an athlete like Hernandez, it was Grant Dawson, and that didn’t go well for him. This isn’t a track meet or a bodybuilding contest, but the athleticism gap matters here and it’s what will help Hernandez pull away on the scorecards as the fight goes on.
Davey Grant vs. Adrian Luna Martinetti
It sounds hard to believe given how Davey Grant’s UFC run has unfolded, but the Ultimate Fighter 19 finalist was once regarded as a grappling specialist. Now, he’s more known for his thrilling standup brawls, and this matchup with Adrian Luna Martinetti could produce another classic Grant fight.
Funnily enough, Luna Martinetti also has the profile of a grappler, but fans saw a wonderful glimpse of his wild side in his Contender Series contract-winning Fight of the Year candidate against Mark Vologdin this past October. He’s won 15 straight fights, never been finished, and if Grant wants to trade bombs for 15 minutes, Luna Martinetti will oblige.
I’m slightly leaning towards the younger Luna Martinetti even though Grant presents a significant step up in competition. I can say with more confidence that these two will set the bar for Fight of the Night.
Montel Jackson vs. Raoni Barcelos
Montel Jackson, there’s still time.
It was brutal watching Jackson lose a disappointing decision to Deiveson Figueiredo, which would have placed him comfortably in the bantamweight rankings. He’s always had the talent and was on a six-fight win streak before it all came crashing down in Rio. Jackson just turned 34 on Friday, so he’s nearing the end of his prime, and it truly is now or never to prove he is an actual contender.
On the other side, Raoni Barcelos is also on a hot streak, with his past three wins coming against Ricky Simon, former UFC champion Cody Garbrandt, and the inexperienced Payton Talbott. He looks sharp as ever just a week away from his 39th birthday and if he gets his grappling going, he could dominate this matchup.
I bring up the fighters’ ages to emphasize that these are two tested and true fighters who have more than enough skill to make up for any lost steps. Jackson is the heavier hitter, while Barcelos is better at mixing up his techniques. A 135-pound chess match if there ever was one.
Marcus Buchecha vs. Ryan Spann
As for you, Marcus Buchecha, you’re getting one more chance to impress.
To call the jiu-jitsu legend’s UFC career underwhelming would be an understatement. Even fans used to seeing grappling stars flop in the cage had to be optimistic about Buchecha’s chances of thriving in the dire heavyweight division, but alas, he’s had two forgettable performances under the UFC banner. Now he finds himself in a thrown-together matchup against former light heavyweight Ryan Spann (this was originally Allen Frye vs. Max Gimenis, but Buchecha replaced Frye, and Gimenis was subsequently replaced by Spann).
Spann steps up on less than three weeks notice and, to put it flatly, did not look good on the sale, weighing in at 264 pounds after registering 252 pounds in his last heavyweight appearance. He didn’t add 12 pounds of muscle either, I can tell you that much. If you’re Buchecha, you take Spann down immediately and break out your dazzling jitz, because if this goes longer than a round, it’s not like Buchecha has a Merab Dvalishvili gas tank either.
Staying positive, Buchecha by submission.
Rodolfo Vieira def. Eric McConico
Jackson McVey def. Sedriques Dumas
Michelle Montague def. Mayra Bueno Silva (14)
Jafel Filho def. Cody Durden
Lucas Brennan def. Francis Marshall
Victor Valenzuela def. Max Griffin
Julia Polastri def. Talita Alencar
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