🩸 Aljamain Sterling vs. Youssef Zalal Prediction, Picks & Odds: Zalal's Youth to Prevail

Former UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling looks to continue his ascent up the featherweight rankings today at UFC Fight Night Vegas 116 when he meets up with fast-rising contender Youssef Zalal in the main event. I'm picking Zalal in my UFC Fight Night betting preview, and he is currently the -135 favorite in the latest UFC Fight Night odds.

My Aljamain Sterling vs. Youssef Zalal prediction focuses on why Zalal looks primed for a hard-fought decision victory, and why I'm betting the Over on total rounds as the safest option.

The action will stream on Paramount+, with the prelims from Meta APEX in Las Vegas starting at 5 p.m. ET, followed by main card action at 8 p.m. ET.

🩸 Aljamain Sterling vs. Youssef Zalal predictions: UFC Vegas 116

See all of our UFC picks for this weekend's fights; pick confidence based on a 1-to-5-star scale.

Total wagered: 6 units | Max profit: 4.39 units

💰 Aljamain Sterling vs. Youssef Zalal best bet: Over 4.5 Total Rounds (-180)

This really is just a style clash that heavily favors the Over for total rounds. Zalal has never been finished in nearly a decade and 24 fights as a professional. All five of his career losses have been by decision, and, still only 29 years old, his durability does not appear to be an issue.

Sterling, meanwhile, has never been submitted in 30 professional fights since debuting 15 years ago. His last four fights have all gone to decision, and this looks like another outing that will follow that trend.

🆚 Aljamain Sterling vs. Youssef Zalal fight preview

Check our best UFC betting sites for the latest odds for this fight.

This very much feels like a passing-of-the-torch type of fight to me. Sterling is by far the more accomplished fighter, but he's a few months away from turning 37 years old, and his best days were likely at 135 pounds, where he was a former champion.

Zalal took a few lumps in his first stint in the UFC years ago, but since returning to the promotion, he's been lights out, going a perfect 5-0 with four of the wins inside the distance. He's three inches taller than Sterling and nearly eight years younger. This is Zalal's chance to shine in his first UFC main event, and I expect him to seize the opportunity and deliver a quality victory.

Prediction: Youssef Zalal to win (-135 via Draft Kings)

💡 How I'm handicapping Aljamain Sterling vs. Youssef Zalal

This is another well-matched main event where the UFC Fight Night odds are pretty close, and both fighters have legitimate paths to victory, so I don't want to over-commit to a specific winner when I believe the safest play is backing the Over for total rounds.

Although I am still betting Zalal to win and to cash a decision prop at +185, I invested more heavily in the Over 4.5 rounds with a 4-unit bet so that I can still profit regardless of which man edges the decision in the end.

📊 Aljamain Sterling vs. Youssef Zalal odds

Odds via BetMGM; subject to change.

⚖️ Aljamain Sterling vs. Youssef Zalal tale of the tape

📺 How to watch Aljamain Sterling vs. Youssef Zalal: UFC Fight Night Vegas 116

• Date: Saturday, April 25, 2026
• Time: 5 p.m. ET (prelims), 8 p.m. ET (main card)
• Location: Meta APEX (Las Vegas)
• TV: Paramount+