Former bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling has been aiming to make waves in the UFC featherweight division since moving up to it in 2024. Now, he will have the chance to do just that when he tangles with a touted young phenom.

Aljamain Sterling, former UFC Bantamweight Champion has been aiming to make waves in the featherweight division since moving up to it in 2024.  His fight vs. Youssef Zalal in the UFC Vegas 116 main event is a chance for the former to do just that this weekend. 

Aljamain Sterling’s Run as a UFC Featherweight So Far

Off the back of a disappointing loss to Sean O’Malley at UFC 292 in 2023, which saw him lose his title by dramatic knockout, Sterling, citing difficulties with cutting to bantamweight,opted to move up to the UFC featherweight class. Making his debut in the weight category at the phenomenal UFC 300 event that next year, “Funk Master” would wow the mixed martial arts community by dominating divisional contender Calvin Kattar. Sporting a wider frame that time out, the Matt Serra disciple easily outgrappled Kattar en route to a one-sided unanimous decision victory, even managing to dramatically power bomb the New England Cartel product while besting his opponent in takedowns landed, 8-0. 

Aljamain Sterling Returns to Action After Hiatus

Appearing to be a legitimate player in the upper echelon of the UFC featherweight landscape, “Funk Master” next found himself engaged in a dog fight in his next bout against the undefeated Russian star Movsar Evloev at UFC 310. Pushing the European to his limits, the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt started off strong in the first, before Evloev began to take over in the later rounds, besting the previous champion by decision.  During that fight, Sterling was outpaced in takedowns, 6-4 and in strikes landed, 136-45.

Taking nearly a year off, Sterling returned to action in China at UFC on ESPN+ 115 in what was the promotion’s first time back in Mainland China since the COVID-19 pandemic. Taking the co-main event slot of the card, “Funk Master” prepared to lock horns with two-time UFC featherweight title challenger Brian Ortega, however, following issues with cutting weight, the match was instead contested as a 153-lb catchweight. Making a return to form, Sterling trounced “T-City,” outstriking him 153-100 to take home the decision.  

Fight Breakdown: Aljamain Sterling Takes On Dominant Contender in Meta Apex Saturday

Eager to get back in the cage once more, Sterling, a -145 underdog according to the oddsmakers, accepts what is likely his most dangerous assignment as a UFC featherweight to date, as he will soon face off with Moroccan finisher Youssef Zalal , a +120 underdog, at UFC Vegas 116. Making his first stint with the company from 2020 to 2022, Zalal proved to be a very promising prospect in the making after winning his first two contests in a row.

Although a setback to future double champion Ilia Topuria brought his then four-fight winning streak to an end, the future seemed bright for the 24-year old.  After back-to-back losses to Choi Seung-woo, Sean Woodson, and a draw against Da’Mon Blackshear in his bantamweight debut, Zalal was then cut by the UFC. 

Forced back to the drawing board, Zalal wasted little time in getting back into the fray, taking his first post-UFC fight a mere three months after his release. Entering the year-long Sparta Combat League featherweight tournament, “The Moroccan Devil” stomped his way through the competition, conquering the bracket with three straight first-round victories. 

For the second time, the UFC came calling for Zalal, and this time, he delivered in spades, securing a submission stoppage over Billy Quarantillo at UFC Vegas 89 to kick off his second go in the promotion. In the two years since coming back to the UFC, he has rattled off five consecutive triumphs, almost all of them ending via finish, with the only man he was unable to put away being the otherworldly-durable Kattar. Gaining entrance into the UFC featherweight top 10 with an armbar annihilation of Josh Emmett last October, Zalal now stands at No. 7 in the rankings. 

Could Aljamain Sterling Make Run at Championship with Win at UFC Vegas 116?

For the aging Sterling, a battle with a young and up-and-coming fighter like Zalal seems like a nightmare matchup. But, the former bantamweight king remains in high spirits ahead of his high-stakes tilt this Saturday, with him even confidently boasting his gameplan. Should he triumph over the streaking Zalal, it isn’t out of the realm of possibility for Sterling to achieve a championship opportunity, considering how current incumbent Alexander Volkanovski remains unbooked at the time of this writing.