Sterling faces Zalal in FN main event April 25

Aljamain Sterling returns to the octagon on April 25 when he faces Youssef Zalal in the main event of UFC Fight Night: Aljo vs Zalal, live in Las Vegas and streaming on Paramount+. The bout is set at featherweight, marking a continued chapter in Sterling's post-bantamweight career as he looks to carve out contender status at 145 pounds.

Sterling, nicknamed "Funk Master," enters the fight ranked fourth in the featherweight division with a record of 26-5-0. The 36-year-old from the Serra-Longo Fight Team is known for his well-rounded game, and his numbers back that up. He lands 4.45 significant strikes per minute at 52 percent accuracy while also averaging 2.45 takedowns per 15 minutes — a combination that makes him a threat in every phase. At five-foot-seven with a 71-inch reach, he is compact for the division but has repeatedly shown the technical ability to compensate.

Zalal, nicknamed "The Moroccan Devil," comes in ranked 12th at featherweight with a record of 18-6-1. The 29-year-old, who trains out of Factory X, is a switch-stance striker standing five-foot-ten with a 72-inch reach. He averages 3.03 significant strikes per minute at 50 percent accuracy and also brings a credible grappling threat, averaging 2.17 takedowns and 1.4 submission attempts per 15 minutes.

Why it matters

• Sterling at number four against Zalal at number 12 means a win could push "Funk Master" firmly into title contention at featherweight.
• Zalal's switch-stance striking tests Sterling's ability to adapt after years competing one division higher.
• A main-event performance from either fighter could reshape the upper tier of a featherweight rankings landscape that remains in flux heading into the back half of 2026.