UFC Vegas 116 betting guide: Sterling vs. Zalal picks and props
Youssef Zalal closed as a narrow favourite over Aljamain Sterling ahead of their featherweight main event at UFC Vegas 116 on Saturday at the Meta Apex in Las Vegas. Zalal sits at -142 while Sterling opened at +120, per MMA Mania.
Sterling last fought in August 2025, when he cruised past a drained Brian Ortega at a catchweight of 155 pounds after Ortega missed the featherweight limit. That lopsided decision win followed Sterling’s loss to Movsar Evloev and marked just his third appearance since losing the bantamweight title to Sean O’Malley in 2023. The former 135-pound champion has fought sparingly, largely due to his well-documented friction with UFC brass.
Why Zalal’s size and submission game could swing the main event
Zalal has won five straight since rejoining the promotion in 2024, finishing four of those opponents. He arm-barred Josh Emmett in 90 seconds last time out and dominated Calvin Kattar over three rounds before that. The Moroccan was cut from UFC after going winless in four fights from 2020 to 2021, a stretch that included a decision loss to Ilia Topuria. He and Emmett are the only fighters to hear the final horn against Topuria.
Both men excel at back takes and control, but Zalal hunts submissions more aggressively. Sterling defends 59 percent of significant strikes while Zalal stops 66 percent. If the fight stays on the feet, Zalal holds the edge in pure kickboxing. MMA Mania noted that Sterling has struggled to impose his wrestling at featherweight, where he gives up size to most opponents. Zalal’s flexibility and body awareness in scrambles could also prove decisive if the bout hits the mat.
The co-main event features Norma Dumont as a -245 favourite over Joselyne Edwards. Dumont has won six straight but fought just three times in the past two years. Edwards has finished her last four opponents and carries a four-fight streak into Saturday. She owns a slight reach advantage and has made weight consistently for the first time in her UFC tenure, suggesting a new level of commitment. “I guess what makes this the right fight for me is that I’m facing a surging, hot prospect,” Sterling told UFC.com. “He’s beaten Calvin Kattar, Josh Emmett — some really tough dudes. I think beating a guy like this makes me undeniable.”
UFC Vegas 116 streams on Paramount Plus. Ceremonial weigh-ins take place Friday afternoon.
Photo: MMAnytt / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
Original reporting:
- mmamania.com — UFC Vegas 116’s best betting props, parlays and picks | MMA Mania
- mmamania.com — Live: UFC Vegas 116 media day video | Sterling vs. Zalal | MMA Mania