Yusuf Zalal has declared his intention to become the first fighter to submit Aljamain Sterling in their main event bout at UFC Vegas 116 this weekend. Sterling has never been submitted in his professional MMA career, making Zalal's goal particularly ambitious. The post includes a poll asking fans whether Zalal can achieve this feat or if he will fall short. No further details about training camp or fight strategy were provided in the brief announcement.
Yusuf Zalal has set himself a lofty target heading into UFC Vegas 116 this weekend, publicly declaring his intention to become the first fighter ever to submit Aljamain Sterling in a professional MMA bout.
Sterling enters the featherweight main event carrying a 26-5 record and ranked fourth in the division. The 36-year-old American, who trains out of Serra-Longo Fight Team, has built one of the most well-rounded resumes in the sport. Standing five-foot-seven with a 71-inch reach, the orthodox fighter known as "Funk Master" lands 4.45 significant strikes per minute at 52 percent accuracy and averages 2.45 takedowns per 15 minutes — numbers that reflect the kind of multi-dimensional game that has kept him competitive at the highest level for years. Across his entire professional career, no opponent has ever finished him by submission, which makes Zalal's stated ambition a genuinely historic one.
Zalal has made his goal clear ahead of the bout, though no details about his specific training camp preparations or tactical approach were included in his announcement.
Why it matters
- Sterling has never been submitted professionally, so a finish of that kind would be an immediate landmark moment in the featherweight division
- A win over a ranked, former champion-level fighter like Sterling would dramatically elevate Zalal's standing at 145 pounds
- The stylistic contrast — Zalal hunting a submission against a fighter with Sterling's grappling pedigree and takedown output — sets up a compelling ground-game chess match
