Youssef Zalal aims to be first to submit Aljamain Sterling at UFC Vegas 116

Youssef Zalal has set himself an ambitious target heading into UFC Vegas 116 this weekend, declaring his intention to become the first fighter ever to submit Aljamain Sterling when the two featherweights meet in the main event.

Zalal, known as "The Moroccan Devil," carries an 18-6-1 record into the contest. The 29-year-old trains out of Factory X and currently sits ranked twelfth in the featherweight division. A switch-stance fighter standing five-foot-ten with a 72-inch reach, Zalal has built a reputation as an active submission threat, averaging 1.4 submission attempts per 15 minutes alongside 2.17 takedowns in the same span. His striking lands at a rate of 3.03 significant strikes per minute with 50 percent accuracy.

Sterling, the former bantamweight champion now competing at featherweight, represents a sharp step up in class. "Funk Master" holds a 26-5-0 record and is ranked fourth in the division at 36 years old. The Serra-Longo product is five-foot-seven with a 71-inch reach and has never been submitted throughout his UFC tenure — a streak Zalal is openly targeting. Sterling's own grappling credentials are considerable, with 2.45 takedowns per 15 minutes, and his striking output of 4.45 significant strikes per minute at 52 percent accuracy reflects a well-rounded game.

Why it matters

• Sterling's unblemished submission defense is the central storyline Zalal is leaning into publicly
• A win for Zalal over a fourth-ranked veteran would dramatically reshape his standing in the featherweight division
• The stylistic clash pits Zalal's submission-hunting aggression against Sterling's polished, experience-backed grappling defense
• Sterling's ranking means a main event victory could push the winner firmly into title contention at 145 pounds