Aljamain Sterling defeated Said Zalal and issued callouts to all top featherweights after his victory. The event featured 13 fights with 11 going to decision, with only the Grant-Martinetti bout being notably competitive among decisions. Dana White was present at the White House during a shooting incident and later gave an interview describing the experience as intense, with security personnel rushing in and ordering everyone to the floor. Carlos Ulberg revealed his expected recovery time is six to eight months from injury.
Aljamain Sterling extended his run at featherweight on April 26, defeating Said Zalal and immediately calling out the division's top contenders in the aftermath of his victory.
Sterling, nicknamed "Funk Master," carries a 26-5 record and sits fourth in the featherweight rankings. The 36-year-old American, who trains out of Serra-Longo Fight Team, stands five-foot-seven with a 71-inch reach. Known throughout his career as a grappling specialist, he averages 2.45 takedowns per 15 minutes and lands 4.45 significant strikes per minute at 52 percent accuracy. His callouts following the Zalal win signal that Sterling views himself as firmly in contention for a title shot in the 145-pound division.
The event itself was a grinding card, with 11 of 13 bouts going to the judges' scorecards. The Grant-Martinetti contest was singled out as the one notably competitive decision on the night.
In a separate development away from the cage, UFC president Dana White was present at the White House during a shooting incident and later described the experience as intense in an interview, recounting security personnel rushing in and directing everyone to the floor.
Why it matters
- Sterling's callout of featherweight top contenders at ranked fourth puts immediate pressure on the fighters above him and signals his intent to chase a title fight.
- With 11 decisions across 13 bouts, the card raised questions about matchmaking and fighter activity in the division.
- Carlos Ulberg, the third-ranked light heavyweight and City Kickboxing standout, faces a projected six-to-eight month absence due to injury, which could reshape the top of the 205-pound rankings and delay his path back to title contention.
Ulberg, 35, holds a 15-1 record and had been one of the more productive strikers in the light heavyweight division, averaging 6.54 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy. The New Zealander's extended absence leaves a notable gap near the top of a competitive division.
