Youssef Zalal stated his intention to become the first fighter to submit Aljamain Sterling in their main event bout at UFC Vegas 116 this weekend. The matchup presents an interesting challenge as Sterling has never been submitted in his professional career. Zalal's confidence suggests he believes he has identified a submission path that previous opponents have not exploited. The post seeks fan predictions on whether Zalal can achieve this historic finish.
Youssef Zalal has declared his intention to become the first fighter in professional MMA history to submit Aljamain Sterling, with the two featherweights set to collide in the main event of UFC Vegas 116 this weekend.
Zalal, nicknamed "The Moroccan Devil," enters the bout ranked twelfth in the featherweight division and carries a record of 18-6-1. The 29-year-old out of Factory X stands five-foot-ten with a 72-inch reach and fights out of a switch stance. His grappling credentials back up the bold claim — he averages 2.17 takedowns per 15 minutes and attempts 1.4 submissions per 15 minutes, while also mixing in a respectable striking output of 3.03 significant strikes landed per minute at 50 percent accuracy.
Sterling, the fourth-ranked featherweight, brings a record of 26-5-0 into the contest. The 36-year-old from the Serra-Longo Fight Team is widely regarded as one of the more complete grapplers in the sport, and no opponent has ever submitted him across his professional career. Standing five-foot-seven with a 71-inch reach, "Funk Master" is also a polished striker, landing 4.45 significant strikes per minute at 52 percent accuracy, and he remains a takedown threat in his own right at 2.45 per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- Sterling's unblemished submission defense represents a genuine historical barrier, giving Zalal's stated goal added weight heading into fight week.
- A victory for Zalal over a top-four opponent would catapult him up the featherweight rankings from his current twelfth-place standing.
- The stylistic matchup pits Zalal's active submission game against Sterling's well-tested grappling defense and sharper striking volume, creating compelling questions about where the fight will be decided.
