Published April 26, 2026
After nearly two slow-paced rounds, former Ultimate Fighting Championship bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling scored a decision victory over Yousef Zalal in the main event of UFC Vegas 116.
Sterling opened an opening with less than a minute left in the second round, securing a unanimous decision of 49-45, 49-45, 49-45 over 25 minutes of Saturday’s fight. He made several submission attempts, including a chance for a rear-naked choke in the fourth round near the end.
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The American fighter, who has a record of 26-5 in mixed martial arts (MMA) and 18-5 in the UFC, was comfortable in every way with his former training partner, but his goal for the rest of his career is simple: the UFC featherweight title, currently held by Alexander Volkanovski.
“Volkanovski, you know I’m coming,” Sterling said after the win, calling for the title.
Zalal, who has an MMA record of 18-6-1 and a UFC record of 8-4-1, lost classily.
Zalal praised Sterling’s efforts, saying, “I’ve been back before and I’ll be back again.”
Sterling ended Zalal’s eight-fight unbeaten run and predicted that with five more rounds of experience, the Moroccan will fight for the championship.
In the co-main event, UFC women’s bantamweight contender Joselyn Edwards of Panama took a step closer to winning the title with a unanimous decision win over Brazil’s Norma Dumont on scorecards of 29-28, 29-28, 30-27.
Edwards (18-6 MMA, 9-4 UFC) had little trouble against Dumont (13-3 MMA, 9-3 UFC), extending his win streak to five. Dumont had won his past six fights, but suffered his first loss since May 7, 2022, falling one step short of his four-year undefeated streak.
In the lightweight division, Rafa Garcia (Mexico) ended Alexander Hernandez’s winning streak in four, winning a unanimous decision 29-28, 29-28, 30-27. Garcia (19-4 MMA, 7-4 UFC) won three straight and stayed in good form, taking Hernandez’s best punches while returning his own at a much higher rate. Hernandez (18-9 MMA, 10-8 UFC) hasn’t lost since April 6, 2024.
Bantamweight Davey Grant (England) won a 29-28, 29-28, 29-28 decision over Adrian Luna Martinetti, making his UFC debut, in an entertaining all-around bout. Grant (18-8 MMA, 9-7 UFC) has won five of his last seven fights, while Ecuadorian Luna Martinetti (17-2 MMA) hasn’t lost since September 20, 2017.
In the bantamweight division, Raoni Barcelos of Brazil earned a split decision victory over Montel Jackson, winning two of the three judges’ scorecards 29-28, 28-29, 29-28. Barcelos (22-5 MMA, 11-4 UFC) extended his winning streak to five, dating back to February 24, 2024. Meanwhile, Jackson (15-4 MMA, 9-4 UFC) has lost consecutive fights since winning six straight from March 2021 to October of last year.
Heavyweight Ryan Spann opened the six-fight main card of UFC Vegas 116 with the only finish, landing Brazilian Marcus Buchecha with a brutal right hand that ended the bout with a knockout at 2:10 of the second round. Spann (24-11 MMA, 10-6 UFC) has won back-to-back fights and three of his last four fights. Buchecha (5-3-1 MMA, 0-2-1 UFC), an experienced grappler, remains winless in a fight in the promotion.
