LAS VEGAS — Aljamain Sterling didn’t just win he made a statement. In the main event of UFC Fight Night 274 at the UFC APEX, Sterling (26-5 MMA, 18-5 UFC) delivered a dominant unanimous decision victory over Youssef Zalal (18-6-1 MMA, 8-4-1 UFC), sweeping the scorecards 49-45, 49-45, 49-45.
Sterling came out sharp on the feet, showing fluid striking early but it was his grappling that ultimately broke the fight open. Round after round, Sterling imposed his will:
- Controlled position
- Took Zalal’s back repeatedly
- Locked in his signature body triangle
- Threatened with rear-naked chokes
By Round 4, Zalal was visibly struggling to escape as Sterling hunted for the finish.
Zalal Shows Heart, But Falls Short
Zalal had his moments most notably in Round 3 but couldn’t match Sterling’s control on the ground. The loss snaps an impressive run for Zalal, who entered the bout on an eight-fight winning streak, including five inside the UFC. Still, his journey from being released and re-signed to headlining a UFC card remains one of the division’s best comeback stories.
Sterling Eyes Gold at 145
With the victory, Sterling strengthens his case for a featherweight title shot against Alexander Volkanovski. A former bantamweight champion with three title defenses, Sterling is now 3-1 at featherweight since moving up following his loss to Sean O’Malley.
And he’s not being subtle about what he wants next. After the fight, Sterling called out both:
- Movsar Evloev (his only loss at 145)
- Volkanovski, the current champion
Sterling entered the night needing a statement. He delivered dominance. Now, the conversation shifts from if he’s a contender to whether he’s next.
Dana White Reacts After Security Scare Disrupts White House Correspondents’ Dinner
Welcome to Dice City Sports — where we provide premium, exclusive, up-to-date news and analysis surrounding the Las Vegas sports scene. Follow along on social media, and check back for new articles daily!
Robert LaMar is a Deputy Editor for Dice City Sports. You can follow him on X via @RobertLaMar26
