Aljamain Sterling vs Youssef Zalal Set for UFC Vegas 116

Aljamain Sterling and Youssef Zalal successfully weighed in Friday for a featherweight contender bout at UFC Vegas 116 that could leapfrog the winner past Movsar Evloev in the title picture.

Sterling, the former bantamweight champion now ranked fourth at 145 pounds, came in at 146, while the ninth-ranked Zalal registered 145.5, per MMA Fighting. Both used the one-pound allowance for non-title fights. The bout headlines Saturday’s card from the Meta APEX in Las Vegas.

Sterling Eyes Title Shot After Move to Featherweight

Sterling told UFC.com he views Zalal as the kind of scalp that makes a title claim undeniable. “I guess what makes this the right fight for me is that I’m facing a surging, hot prospect; someone who has been cut from the UFC, came back, and had a career resurgence,” Sterling said. “He’s beaten Calvin Kattar, Josh Emmett — some really tough dudes — and of course there was Jack Shore who was a top-ranked bantamweight before moving up to featherweight.”

The co-main event also carries title implications as fourth-ranked bantamweight Norma Dumont faces tenth-ranked Joselyne Edwards, who stepped in on short notice for an injured Yana Santos. Both fighters hit 135.5 pounds. Dumont and Edwards have each missed weight in the past, but according to MMA Mania, all 26 fighters on the card made weight without issue.

UFC Vegas 116 streams on Paramount+ Saturday night, with the main card beginning at 8 p.m. ET.

Original reporting:

• mmafighting.com — UFC Vegas 116 Preview Show: Can either Aljamain Sterling or Youssef Zalal jump Movsar Evloev for a title shot? | MMA Fighting
• mmafighting.com — UFC Vegas 116 weigh-in results: Aljamain Sterling, Youssef Zalal set for featherweight contender main event | MMA Fighting
• mmamania.com — Face off! Aljamain Sterling stares down Youssef Zalal for UFC Vegas 116 | MMA Mania