Photos showing the current condition of Aljamain Sterling and Youssef Zalal have been released ahead of their bout at UFC Vegas 116 this weekend. Sterling, ranked fifth in the bantamweight division, is aiming to compete for the title and has suffered only two losses in the past eight years: a decision to Movsar Evloev and a TKO to Sean O'Malley. Zalal is on an impressive five-fight winning streak since returning to the UFC, with four finishes, and currently holds the seventh ranking. The fight represents a significant test for both fighters in the 135-pound division.
Prefight photos of Aljamain Sterling and Youssef Zalal have been released ahead of their bantamweight clash at UFC Vegas 116 this weekend, with both fighters appearing sharp as they close out their final preparations.
Sterling enters the bout ranked fifth in the bantamweight division and firmly focused on a title run. Over the past eight years he has suffered just two losses — a decision defeat to Movsar Evloev and a TKO stoppage at the hands of Sean O'Malley, who currently sits fourth in the division. That résumé underscores how durable and consistently competitive Sterling has been at 135 pounds.
Zalal comes in riding a five-fight winning streak since his UFC return, four of those victories coming by way of finish. Listed in the verified data as a featherweight ranked twelfth in that division, the 29-year-old American — nicknamed The Moroccan Devil and training out of Factory X — brings a well-rounded skill set to the matchup. He lands 3.03 significant strikes per minute at a 50 percent accuracy rate, and his wrestling is a notable factor, averaging 2.17 takedowns per 15 minutes alongside 1.4 submission attempts in the same window. He stands five-foot-ten with a 72-inch reach.
Why it matters
- Sterling, ranked fifth at bantamweight, views a win here as a direct step toward a title shot at 135 pounds.
- Zalal's five-fight finishing run gives him real momentum, and a victory over a name of Sterling's caliber would dramatically elevate his standing.
- Zalal's wrestling and submission threat could pose a unique stylistic challenge, while Sterling's experience against elite opposition makes him a stiff test for anyone in the division.
