Aljamain Sterling has shared a look at his current physical condition ahead of his upcoming fight against Youssef Zalal this weekend. The footage shows Sterling in what appears to be peak form, with one week remaining before the bout. Observers have noted that Sterling looks powerful and ready for competition. The timing of the physique reveal suggests Sterling is on track with his weight cut and training camp. This weekend's fight represents an important matchup for Sterling as he continues his career in a new weight class.
Aljamain Sterling has offered a public look at his physical condition with one week to go before his featherweight bout against Youssef Zalal this weekend, and by all accounts the 36-year-old appears to be in sharp form heading into fight week.
Sterling, known as "Funk Master," carries a 26-5-0 record and currently sits fourth in the featherweight rankings. The Long Island native trains out of Serra-Longo Fight Team and stands five-foot-seven with a 71-inch reach. Now competing at 145 pounds, Sterling has shown no signs of slowing down, posting 4.45 significant strikes landed per minute with a 52 percent striking accuracy, while also averaging 2.45 takedowns per 15 minutes — a reminder that his wrestling remains a constant threat.
Standing across from him will be Youssef Zalal, nicknamed "The Moroccan Devil," who holds an 18-6-1 record and checks in at number 12 in the featherweight division. The 29-year-old, who trains out of Factory X in Colorado, is five-foot-ten with a 72-inch reach — giving him a size advantage over Sterling. Zalal is a switch-stance fighter who lands 3.03 significant strikes per minute at 50 percent accuracy and averages 2.17 takedowns per 15 minutes, complemented by an active submission game at 1.4 attempts per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- Sterling's physique update suggests his weight cut to featherweight is proceeding smoothly, an important factor given his move down from bantamweight
- A win for Sterling over a ranked opponent like Zalal would strengthen his case as a legitimate title contender at 145 pounds
- The size and reach edges belong to Zalal, but Sterling's output, accuracy, and wrestling offer him multiple paths to victory
- Both fighters bring takedown threats, setting up a potential grappling chess match alongside the striking exchanges
