UFC Vegas 116 will feature a pivotal featherweight showdown between a grizzled veteran and a surging young contender, as previous bantamweight gold standard Aljamain Sterling tests himself against top-rated finisher Youssef Zalal.\n<\/p>\n
UFC Vegas 116 will feature a pivotal featherweight showdown between a grizzled veteran and a surging young contender, as previous bantamweight gold standard Ajlamain Sterling tests himself against top-rated finisher Youssef Zalal. Before that, extraordinary women\u2019s bantamweights take command of the cage, with Norma Dumont going head-to-head with Joselyne Edwards.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
UFC Vegas 116 Main Event<\/p>\n
At UFC 300, Sterling<\/a> officially began a new chapter of his UFC career by moving up to featherweight, trouncing the durable Calvin Kattar with a vintage performance. In the almost two years since then, \u201cFunkmaster\u201d has gone 1-1 in his last two bouts, coming off of a superb victory over former title-challenger Brian Ortega.\u00a0<\/p>\n Going 0-3-1 in his last four bouts during his first run in the UFC, Zalal<\/a> seemingly reinvented himself on the regional circuit. Making his way back to the company in 2024, \u201cThe Moroccan Devil\u201d has rattled five triumphs in a row, including a career-defining stoppage over Josh Emmett.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n UFC Vegas 116 Co-Main Event\u00a0<\/p>\n Although her time in the bantamweight division has been relatively short, Dumont<\/a> has swiftly brought herself nearly to the forefront of the upper echelon. Owner of a substantial six-fight win streak, \u201cThe Immortal\u201d can make a strong case for a championship shot if she can defeat Edwards in amazing fashion.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Stopping her last four consecutive opponents, Edwards has looked every bit the top contender as she has proven to be. Making a quick turn-around following her appearance at UFC Houston two months ago, \u201cEl Pantera\u201d is seeking to extend her time in the winner\u2019s circle even further.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n More Bouts On the UFC Vegas 116 Main Card\u00a0<\/p>\n Rounding out the main card, Rafa Garc\u00eda battles Alexander Hernandez in a possible Fight of the Night contest. Also, the decorated Davey Grant tussels with Contender Series standout Adri\u00e1n Luna Martinetti. Then, Montel Jackson takes on the resurging Raoni Barcelos. Finally, the heavyweights will rock the cage when Marcus Buchecha meets Ryan Spann. \u00a0 \u00a0<\/p>\n UFC Vegas 116 Predictions and Staff Picks<\/p>\n MMASucka staff picks are composed of four of the world\u2019s leading mixed martial arts organizations: the Ultimate Fighting Championship<\/a> (UFC), the Professional Fighters League<\/a> (PFL), ONE Championship<\/a> (ONE FC), and Dana White\u2019s Contender Series<\/a> (DWCS).<\/p>\n UFC picks will include main card fights ranging from four to six matchups per event.<\/p>\n PFL picks from main cards for both pay-per-views and regular events.<\/p>\n ONE FC and DWCS picks will feature all MMA fights from the event with a minimum of three matchups.<\/p>\n Staff picks in 2025 were won by Hank Strandberg with a record of 216-119.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Find our UFC Vegas 116 picks and fight odds below.<\/p>\n Staff records after UFC Winnipeg:\u00a0<\/p>\n 1. Hank Strandberg: 49-28<\/p>\n 2. Frazer Krohn: 46-32<\/p>\n 3. Drew Zuhosky: 36-40<\/p>\n 4. Andrew Benjamin: 11-10<\/p>\n *Note \u2013 not all staff pick for every event*<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Marcus Buchecha -140 Hank Strandberg: Buchecha by First Round Knockout\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Drew Zuhosky: Spann by Unanimous Decision\u00a0<\/p>\n Frazer Krohn: Spann by Second Round Knockout\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Andrew Benjamin: McMillen by Unanimous Decision<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Staff picking Buchecha: 1<\/p>\n Staff picking Spann: 2<\/p>\n Montel Jackson -190 Hank Strandberg: Barcelos by Unanimous Decision\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Drew Zuhosky: Jackson by First Round Knockout\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Frazer Kron: Jackson by Unanimous Decision\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Andrew Benjamin: Ewing by Unanimous Decision\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Staff picking Jackson: 2<\/p>\n Staff picking Barcelos: 1<\/p>\n Davey Grant -135 Hank Strandberg: Grant by Unanimous Decision \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Drew Zuhosky: Grant by Unanimous Decision\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Frazer Kron: Grant by Third Round Submission \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Andrew Benjamin: Yakhyaev by First Round Knockout\u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Staff picking Grant: 3<\/p>\n Staff picking Martinetti: 0<\/p>\n Alexander Hernandez -115 \u00a0<\/p>\n Hank Strandberg: Hernandez by Unanimous Decision\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Drew Zuhosky: Garcia by Unanimous Decision\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Frazer Krohn: Garcia by Unanimous Decision\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Andrew Benjamin: Jandiroba by Split Decision\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Staff picking Hernandez: 1<\/p>\n Staff picking Garcia: 2\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Norma Dumont -210\u00a0 Hank Strandberg: Dumont by Unanimous Decision<\/p>\n Drew Zuhosky: Edwards by Unanimous Decision\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Frazer Krohn: Dumont by Unanimous Decision\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Andrew Benjamin: Moicano by Unanimous Decision\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Staff picking Dumont: 2<\/p>\n Staff picking Edwards: 1<\/p>\n Youssef Zalaal -125 \u00a0<\/p>\n Hank Strandberg: Zalaal by Second Round Submission\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Drew Zuhosky: Zalal by Unanimous Decision\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Frazer Kron: Sterling by Unanimous Decision\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Andrew Benjamin: Adesanya by Second Round Knockout\u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Staff picking Zalal: 2<\/p>\n Staff picking Sterling: 1<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"UFC Vegas 116 will feature a pivotal featherweight showdown between a grizzled veteran and a surging young 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\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Vs.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Ryan Spann +120
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0HEAVYWEIGHT<\/p>\n
\nVs.
\nRaoni Barcelos +165
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0BANTAMWEIGHT<\/p>\n
\nVs.
\nAdri\u00e1n Luna Martinetti +115
\n\u00a0\u00a0BANTAMWEIGHT\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Vs.
\nRafa Garcia -105
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0LIGHTWEIGHT<\/p>\n
\nVs.
\nJoselyne Edwards +180
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0WOMEN\u2019S BANTAMWEIGHT<\/p>\n
\nVs.
\nAljamain Sterling +105
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0FEATHERWEIGHT<\/p>\n