Aljamain Sterling defeated Youssef Zalal by unanimous decision with all three judges scoring the bout 49-45 at UFC Vegas 116. The victory marks Sterling's second consecutive win, bringing his professional record to 26-5. Zalal suffered his first loss after an impressive eight-fight winning streak, with his record now standing at 18-6-1. The dominant performance by Sterling cements his position in the featherweight division following his move down from bantamweight.
Aljamain Sterling handed Youssef Zalal his first defeat in over two years, earning a dominant unanimous decision victory at UFC Vegas 116 on April 26, with all three judges returning identical 49-45 scorecards.
Sterling, known as "Funk Master," improved his professional record to 26-5 with the win, his second consecutive victory since moving down from bantamweight to featherweight. The 36-year-old American, training out of Serra-Longo Fight Team, currently sits at number four in the featherweight rankings. Fighting out of an orthodox stance at five-foot-seven with a 71-inch reach, Sterling has developed into a well-rounded threat, averaging 4.45 significant strikes per minute at 52 percent accuracy while also posing a consistent grappling danger with 2.45 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Zalal, nicknamed "The Moroccan Devil," entered the bout riding an eight-fight winning streak and carrying a record of 18-5-1, but the Factory X product could not find answers across five rounds. The 29-year-old switch-hitter, ranked 12th in the featherweight division, stands five-foot-ten with a 72-inch reach and had looked dangerous in recent outings, averaging 3.03 significant strikes per minute at 50 percent accuracy and mixing in 2.17 takedowns per 15 minutes. His record now reads 18-6-1 following the defeat.
Why it matters
- Sterling's win at 145 pounds strengthens his case as a legitimate featherweight contender, pushing him further up a competitive divisional ladder.
- Sitting at number four in the rankings, another strong performance could position him within reach of a title shot.
- Zalal's first loss snaps significant momentum built across his eight-fight run, leaving him to rebuild at number 12 in the division.
