Aljamain Sterling delivered a commanding performance, defeating Youssef Zalal by unanimous decision in the UFC Vegas 116 main event. Sterling displayed exceptional grappling skills throughout the fight, controlling the pace and dictating where the bout took place.
In the opening round, Sterling utilized his striking to set up a takedown, maintaining positional advantage and securing the first round on the judges’ scorecards. The second round saw Sterling again take Zalal to the mat, quickly securing his opponent’s back. From there, Sterling unleashed a barrage of ground strikes and locked in a body triangle, leaving Zalal with limited options and earning another dominant round.
The third round presented a challenge for Sterling as he was caught in a tight guillotine choke attempt early in the round. While he managed to escape the submission, Zalal capitalized on the opportunity to gain top control and secure his own round.
However, Sterling quickly regained his momentum in the fourth round. He initiated an early takedown and, mirroring his success from the second round, landed effective strikes before transitioning to a rear-naked choke attempt. Sterling’s dominance in this round was significant, potentially scoring a 10-8 round.
Needing a finish in the final round, Zalal came out aggressively. Despite this, Sterling was able to secure another takedown and establish his dominant position on Zalal’s back. He continued to land strikes, accumulating points and ultimately sealing a decisive unanimous decision victory.
Official Result: Aljamain Sterling def. Youssef Zalal via unanimous decision (49-45, 49-45, 49-45).