Former UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling is currently ranked in the Top 5 at 145 pounds and could cement himself as the next featherweight title challenger with a victory over No. 7-ranked Youssef Zalal in the UFC Vegas 116 main event on Paramount+, scheduled for this Sat. night (April 25, 2026) at Meta Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada.
“I guess what makes this the right fight for me is that I’m facing a surging, hot prospect; someone who has been cut from the UFC, came back, and had a career resurgence,”
Sterling told UFC.com. “He’s beaten Calvin Kattar, Josh Emmett — some really tough dudes — and of course there was Jack Shore who was a top-ranked bantamweight before moving up to featherweight. He’s a very unique and interesting puzzle to try to figure out, so I’m excited about the challenge and the test. I think beating a guy like this makes me undeniable.”
The 36 year-old Sterling (25-5) is 2-1 since jumping to featherweight with his most recent victory coming over Brian Ortega at UFC Shanghai. That said, “Funk Master” was defeated by Movsar Evloev at UFC 310 and the undefeated Russian bruiser is currently ranked No. 1 at 145 pounds.
“At this point in my career, I kind of just want to fight the bigger names, because I don’t have a lot of walks left,” Sterling added. “Speaking from a realistic standpoint, I’m 36. I’ll be 37 in July. I don’t have a ton of walks left, so it would make sense for myself and the UFC to give me the fights that make sense. Give me the legends or the guys with the bigger names; make the biggest fights you can make while we’re on our way out. This is a situation where I get to fight another young buck and I hope that if I go out there and turn back the young buck, my efforts are rewarded with a title shot and opportunity to fight for another title and become a two-division champion.”
Not everyone agrees.
“It’s hard not to root for Youssef Zalal as of late,” UFC desk analyst and former welterweight contender Alan Jouban told MMA Junkie. “I take him as a very smart IQ fighter. He’s using his range, he’s using his distance, and picking his shots very wisely. He’s utilizing his grappling, which has looked phenomenal. Sterling is one of the very best in the world. He went toe-to-toe with Movsar Evloev in some very tough exchanges. I don’t know if I would be comfortable saying a win here gets a title shot. Maybe one more win away. It feels like Zalal has more to gain in this matchup coming off a win over the name of an Aljamain Sterling. If he’s able to get through Aljo, it’s like, ‘Wow, maybe this guy is ready for the top of the division.’ It’ll be interesting to see.”
The 29 year-0ld Zalal (18-5-1) is the winner of eight straight with seven finishes during that streak.
