UFC Vegas 116: Sterling vs Zalal – Full Card Analysis

UFC Vegas 116: Sterling vs Zalal – 4.25.2026 – Fight Predictions and Analysis

Welcome to our collaborative coverage of UFC Vegas 116: Sterling vs Zalal. We are back at the Meta Apex in Las Vegas for a solid slate of fights this weekend. Be sure to check out our full reasoning for every pick as our records will not reflect confidence in each selection. We will be picking every fight, but likely only recommend betting on a select few. 

Current Record

• Anthony: 108-42-3 (Last Year 331-183-3, 64%)
• Nick: 100-50-3 (Last Year 326-188-3, 63%)

*Fight odds were last updated from bet365 on 4-24-2026 at 6pm EST

Preliminary Card- Starts 5:00pm EST

Julia Polastri -250 vs Talita Alencar +200

• Anthony: Opening this card is a women’s strawweight fight between Talita Alencar and Julia Polastri. Both of these fighters are coming off victories in their most recent performances. Alencar was successful in submitting Ariane Carnelossi in that last fight. She is a talented jiu jitsu practitioner with solid takedown entries. Alencar is small but normally she does well driving through takedown attempts and bringing her opponents onto the mat. Polastri will attempt to keep Alencar at range here, making it more difficult for her to shoot in. I would expect that perhaps Polastri gets taken down in round one here before rallying in the latter half of this bout. Polastri impressed me in his most recent fight against Karolina Kowalkiewicz. That fight let Polastri showcase her full skillset and it does seem that she has improved in a lot of areas. Her consistent striking offense will be a difference maker in this particular fight. While Alencar will likely give a good effort here early, Polastri should be able to prevent any late takedowns in this bout. Polastri will win a decision here by scoring more consistently with her striking offense. Julia Polastri by Decision 
• Nick: Julia Polastri is 15-4 professionally, with five wins via KO and three via submission. She’s still rounding into form as she’s only 28-years old, but she’s relatively well rounded and it can be expected we see her make considerable improvements from fight to fight. She is 2-1 in the UFC, coming into this fight off an impressive KO win over an experienced opponent in Karolina Kowalkiewicz. Talita Alencar is a credentialed grappler who has scored a submission in five of her seven professional victories. She’s very dangerous if she can take her opponent to the mat, but she’s small for the division and her striking is far from refined. Additionally, she has shown cardio issues on several occasions, since she began fighting professionally. She’s small for the division, but she always has a chance to find a submission if she can take her opponents to the mat. Alencar is live for the submission if she can find herself on top here, but Polastri is the much bigger and stronger fighter and she has the takedown defense to keep this fight standing. This is a binary fight and the line feels a bit wide, but I do see Polastri as the favorite. If she can keep this on the feet she should outclass Alencar by a considerable margin. Julia Polastri by Round Three KO

Victor Valenzuela -150 vs Max Griffin +125

• Anthony: Next is a fight at welterweight between Max Griffin and Victor Valenzuela. This is the promotional debut for Valenzuela who has been on the promotion’s radar for quite some time. The former Fury FC and LFA fighter was signed to compete on Dana White’s Contender Series last fall. This will be the first appearance for Valenzuela and I am excited to see what he can do. This is an athlete with great striking instincts and a potent offensive attack. Griffin is a more measured boxer while Valenzuela will throw more risky techniques in combination against his opponents. Valenzuela is somebody that can take advantage of situations in close range, hurting opponents along the fence and landing higher volume attacks. Speed will be a key factor in this particular fight against Griffin. While the veteran Griffin benefits from a reach advantage over Valenzuela, I think it will be hard for him to keep up with the younger fighter’s constant output. Griffin is now 40 years old and facing an athlete in prime fighting shape. I think this is a good price to get Valenzuela in what is a very winnable promotional debut. Valenzuela trains at MMA Masters and should arrive here with a gameplan to touch Griffin a lot and quickly take control of this fight’s pace. Victor Valenzuela by Round Two KO
• Nick: Max Griffin is a well-rounded fighter, but his greatest strength is his athleticism. He has a very large frame for a welterweight and he’s shown solid strength against a variety of high level competition. He has notable wins over Carlos Condit, Tim Means, and Mike Perry. That being said, at 40 years old, his speed seems to be rapidly declining. He has suffered a loss in three of his last four fights and could be cut from the roster if he can’t work his way back into the win column here. Victor Valenzuela will be making his UFC debut here, coming off a KO win over Yusaku Kinoshita and Lemino Shooto 4. Valenzuela is 13-4 professionally and 32 years old. He’s relatively well rounded, but most of his wins have come by landing power on the feet. He’s very aggressive and he does a good job finishing fights, but his kill-or-be-killed style makes him susceptible to taking serious damage in lengthy exchanges. Additionally, he has been KO’d in two of his four professional losses and he’s getting a late start to his UFC career in general. Griffin’s age is a concern here and he has been slowing down. Still, he feels like the value side in this match-up. He’s a durable fighter who has taken on the best in the world at welterweight. A low confidence play, but I see him edging this out on volume. Max Griffin by Decision

Francis Marshall -600 vs Lucas Brennan +450

• Anthony: This is a fight at lightweight between Francis Marshall and Lucas Brennan. Marshall is one of the biggest betting favorites today as he faces Brennan on relatively short notice. Brennan was formerly 9-0 in Bellator before that promotion recently faded away. He is a solid fighter with good grappling skills and a black belt in jiu jitsu. However, Brennan does not seem to necessarily have the tools needed to oppose Marshall in this fight. Those that are familiar with Marshall know that he has great wrestling and an effective style attacking opponents with ground and pound. The clear path to victory beating Marshall comes on the feet and Brennan does not seem like someone with the boxing skills needed to knock him out. Brennan prefers to fight his opponents on the mat and that luxury is not available to him here in this fight against Marshall. It is extremely unlikely that Brennen is able to catch Marshall in any submissions here. Marshall should be able to rinse and repeat with his takedowns here easily winning this fight. Competing at 155 pounds seems like a bat fit for Marshall but this fight against Brennan I do not think he will seem too undersized. Francis Marshall by Decision
• Nick: Marshall is 27-years old and 9-3 professionally. He’s well-rounded as an effective offensive striker, but five of his nine professional wins have actually come via rear naked choke. Marshall recently shifted camps to American Top Team which is certainly going to expedite his improvement. He’s coming off a submission win over a relatively low level opponent in Erik Silva, and he’ll be taking on another relatively low level opponent here against Lucas Brennan.  Lucas Brennan will be making his UFC debut here, entering the promotion with an 11-2 record at 25 years old. Brennan was once a highly regarded prospect as he debuted with Bellator at just 19 years old. He has been somewhat inconsistent since then, but he’s relatively well rounded with dangerous BJJ and his striking still seems to be improving fight to fight. As solid as he’s been, this match-up represents a dramatic step up for him in terms of level of competition. He often struggles when he can’t take down his opponents, so he’s running into a difficult match-up here against Marshall. The line is wide here, but it probably should be. Brennan can be dangerous on the mat, but Marshall is the much better fighter in general here and the gap in striking is much wider than it will be on the mat. Francis Marshall by Round Two KO

Jafel Filho -600 vs Cody Durden +450

• Anthony: Next is a fight at bantamweight between Cody Durden and Jafel Filho. This is a short notice booking for Durden who again steps in with almost no time to prepare. These two athletes are accustomed to competing at flyweight but here they will be meeting up at bantamweight instead. Filho was a large favorite against Lucas Rocha in this matchup and now drawing into Durden he is an even bigger favorite. Filho trains with a great team at Nova Unao and stands quite a bit taller than Durden. Filho is an elite submission grappler with great jiu jitsu and wrestling skills. This figures to be an easy matchup to handicap since Durden has been submitted six times as a professional. This is an athlete with more losses than wins inside the promotion and few commendable attributes apart from his durability and grit. Filho should take a conservative approach to this fight as to not overexert himself early on. I am expecting Filho to dominate the grappling exchanges and eventually win via submission. Durden has only won a single fight in his previous seven attempts, so most fighters with a pulse right now can beat him. Jafel Filho by Round Two Submission
• Nick: Jafel Filho gained a lot of attention off a loss in his UFC debut in 2023, where Filho took on Muhammad Mokaev and nearly finished him in a very close fight as a massive underdog.. Filho showed effective striking, and excellent wrestling and BJJ in that match-up. He nearly finished Mokaev via kneebar, before he was eventually reversed and submitted late in the third round. He has since posted a 3-1 record in the promotion, most recently securing a submission win via Kimura over Clayton Carpenter. While he is certainly well-rounded, Filho’s greatest skill is his offensive BJJ. At his best, Cody Durden is a well-rounded and gritty fighter who finds most of his success using his wrestling to keep pressure on his opponents. He’s more than competent on the feet, but in most matchups we see him try to score takedowns to control position and grind out wins on the scorecards. While he does still have talent, he enters this fight on a four fight losing streak. There is a good chance he will be cut from the promotion if he can’t secure a win in this match-up. Durden is tough, but I don’t expect he has the defensive grappling ability to stay safe for fifteen minutes in this one. Filho’s BJJ is just too good. Jafel Filho by Round Two Submission

Michelle Montague -400 vs Mayra Bueno Silva +300

• Anthony: This is a fight at bantamweight between Michelle Montague and Mayra Bueno Silva. It is a contrast of records with Silva facing Montague who is still undefeated at 7-0. It has been a slow and methodical build for Montague who emerged from the PFL Challenger Series. She is a boxer who has developed very good skills training with American Top Team in Florida. Her height and length present a problem for most opponents looking to engage against Montague by striking. Montague is also a good grappler that can probably control Silva here on the mat if she does elect to shoot for takedowns. Silva is a gritty fighter that will always oblige a brawl but this matchup against Montague could be dangerous in particular. The speed of Montague and poor defense of Silva likely mean that she will be battered throughout the fifteen minutes of this fight. Silva has been in poor form lately. The four consecutive losses for Silva tell me that she will not be fighting in the promotion for much longer. She has not been herself since a main event fight against Holly Holm overturned due to a positive drug test. Perhaps this is not the same fighter anymore without ritalin and other banned substances. Montague possesses the skills and athletic talent to easily beat Silva here today. Michelle Montague by Decision
• Nick: Montague is 7-0 professionally and 32-years old, with six of her wins coming via rear naked choke. Montague trains out of an excellent gym via American Top Team, and her greatest strength is certainly her offensive grappling ability and BJJ. In almost all of her fights she pursues takedowns aggressively. Her ability to secure chokes has been impressive, but she’s taking a step up here in level of competition as she steps in against Bueno Silva. Mayra Bueno Silva is a brawler. She can be dangerous on the feet, but she also carries sneaky offensive grappling ability as a BJJ black belt.  She doesn’t really have much wrestling ability, so it’s rare we see her shoot for takedowns. However, whenever she’s grounded she’s very capable of finishing her opponent. She fights well when she can force a pace on her opponents, but she can be tentative at times as she waits for fights to come to her. The line is too wide here, but Bueno Silva has looked terrible lately. I expect Montague can take her down with ease and eventually find a submission. Michelle Montague by Round Three Submission 

Jackson McVey -200 vs Sedriques Dumas +160

• Anthony: This is a fight at middleweight between Jackson McVey and Sedriques Dumas. These men are both desperate to earn victories after suffering losses in both of their previous two fights. McVey is still struggling to prove he belongs at this level given the two losses by submission since joining the UFC. It does seem that McVey is an aggressive and brave fighter but he lacks the discipline needed to compete against the athletes in this division with immense firepower. McVey is also sloppy when it comes to mixing up his techniques and initiating grappling exchanges. Dumas will stand across from him there to be hit as he throws naked leg kicks and telegraphs overhand strikes. Dumas has an extremely limited skillset and he does not seem to develop much in between each fight. There are very few winnable bouts for Dumas inside of the UFC but here facing McVey I do like his chances of earning a victory. Dumas’ size and power make him a bigger threat to McVey than it seems bettors are giving credit. It would not surprise me to see Dumas gain control of this fight by landing heavier shots on McVey and taking the more patient approach. He has the ability to win by knockout or submission and I would say the same is true for McVey in this fight as well. It is a very low-level matchup and I’d rather take Dumas than lay money on McVey as a favorite. Sedriques Dumas by Round Two Submission
• Nick: Jackson McVey is 6-2 professionally and 27 years old, coming off a submission loss to Zachary Reese back in November of 2025. All six of his wins have come via first round finish, but he’s tough to gauge in terms of ability as he’s been taking on a questionable level of opponent. He’s an opportunistic finisher on the mat, but he’s struggled to take fights to the ground as his level of competition has improved. Sedriques Dumas is an athletic striker whose long reach allows him to pick his opponents apart at a distance. He does a decent job moving in and out of range, he mixes elbows into his combinations well, and he has shown he can place a timely counter with fight-ending power.  He’s decent on the mat with a strong choke series, but his takedown defense is mediocre at best. He is 10-4-1 professionally, and 3-4-1 in the UFC, and his fight IQ seems to be deteriorating rather than improving. This is a comically low level match-up, but I do see McVey as the rightful favorite. Neither fighter can be trusted here, but at least McVey will have a game plan as I expect he aggressively pursues his grappling. Jackson McVey by Round One Submission

Rodolfo Vieira -300 vs Eric McConico +240

• Anthony: The featured prelim is a middleweight fight between Rodolfo Vieira and Eric McConico. Vieira is a large favorite here facing McConico who is so far just 1-2 since joining the promotion. McConico’s only victory came against Cody Brundage and it would be extremely surprising to see him victorious tonight against Vieira. The only path to victory for him is likely going to be a boring split decision where Vieira does not do much. On occasion the Brazilian is a bit hesitant to engage because he does not maintain great cardio. I hope that he is a bit more aggressive here in this matchup since McConico is not a very threatening opponent. McConico does not have great power or fast hands that would give Vieira issues. Vieira has become much more comfortable on the feet in recent fights. He will be confident here wearing McConico’s strikes on his guard and returning fire with hooks of his own. Vieira struggles to reliably secure takedowns but even one successful shot may be enough to get the stoppage here. McConico has been finished in all four losses and I do not think his grappling can stack up against Vieira. Rodolfo Vieira by Round Two Submission
• Nick: Rodolfo Vieira is one of the most talented BJJ players in the UFC as a decorated Black belt and Five-time BJJ World Champion. He’s a Freestyle Wrestling and a Combat Sambo Master of sport, but he definitely leans on his jiu-jitsu as it’s far and away his greatest strength. Vieira’s striking is far from technical, but he’s a monster physically so he can put power behind his punches and close distance effectively enough to work opponents to the mat. As dangerous as he is, his cardio is a major liability. He’s also coming off an ugly KO loss to Bo Nickal and he’s one of the older fighters in the division at 36 years old. Eric McConico is primarily a striker with decent power on the feet and as a southpaw he can be difficult for lower level opponents to read. He’s one of the main training partners of Jared Cannonier, fighting out of a solid camp in MMA Lab in Arizona. He is 10-4-1 professionally, coming off a hard fought loss to Baisangur Sursukaev in which he was KO’d in the third round.  He has decent offensive grappling ability, but it seems he mostly likes to stand and exchange on the feet. Vieira is tough to back as a favorite as he’s getting up there in age, but if he can take McConico down here I expect he will have his way with him. Rodolfo Vieira by Round Two Submission

Main Card- Starts 8:00pm EST

Marcus Buchecha -140 vs Ryan Spann +115

• Anthony: The main card begins at heavyweight with this fight between Ryan Spann and Marcus Buchecha. It is interesting to see Buchecha here the betting favorite despite looking completely awful in his last octagon appearance. This is a jiu jitsu practitioner at heavyweight that relies on the submission very much. He is a ADCC World Champion and also world champ for IBJJF World No-Gi. Spann weighed in near the heavyweight limit on Friday. I think it is concerning that Spann is now competing this heavy after making 205 pounds just over one year ago. Buchecha is a full fledged heavyweight that will make Spann carry his weight throughout this fight. Obviously Spann has a clear edge over Buchecha in terms of his striking but that potent finishing attack will only exist in round one of this fight. Spann normally falls apart after fighting one round and that will especially be true here if he is pinned underneath this heavy grappler. Spann also relies on the guillotine choke to win a lot of his matchups. Guillotines will not work against an elite grappler like Buchecha and if Spann does hunt for a submission here I think it will end up resulting in him gassing out instead. This is a very low-level fight at heavyweight and bettors should look elsewhere tonight for their action. Marcus Buchecha by Round Two Submission
• Nick: Marcus Buchecha enters this match-up with a 5-2-1 professional record at 35 years old. While it’s true his MMA resume is relatively brief, he’s an extremely talented and decorated BJJ player. Buchecha is a member of the IBJJF Hall of Fame, as a  multiple-time World BJJ and ADCC champion. As a fourth degree black belt in BJJ under Rodrigo Cavaca , his offensive grappling ability is as dangerous as anyone if he can take his fights to the mat. He’s been fighting against a decent level of competition since he’s transitioned to MMA, securing all five of his professional wins for a respectable promotion in ONE FC. His striking isn’t terrible and it seems he has decent durability on the feet, but he’s looking to take almost all of his opponents to the mat both early and often. As talented as he is on paper, he hasn’t looked good in the UFC. He is 0-1-1 in the promotion, coming off a Draw to Kennedy Nzechukwu in a fight that he had plenty of chances to win. Ryan Spann carries a lot of power and sneaky submission ability, but he’s been extremely inconsistent since he debuted with the UFC. His cardio has proven to be an issue in many of his recent fights, and his Fight IQ is questionable at best. His kill-or-be-killed style makes him dangerous against anyone, but it also means he’s a risky fighter to back with any sort of confidence. It’s tough to trust either fighter in this match-up, but I see some value on Spann. I’ll bank on him landing a power shot before Bucecha can take him down. Ryan Spann by Round One KO

Montel Jackson -185 vs Raoni Barcelos +150

• Anthony: Next is a fight at bantamweight between Raoni Barcelos and Montel Jackson. It seems that Barcelos continues to age like a fine wine, emerging victorious in all four of his last performances. The Brazilian still is very quick to engage with his striking and peppering opponents with attacks that are very effective at this weight. Barcelos will continue to produce a consistent product in his performance here tonight. He will not stray away from a fight here with Jackson happy to stand and work on the outside with his kicks. Jackson has not proven to be totally comfortable when he is forced to compete at boxing range. Jackson could get his wrestling going in this matchup and does figure to be much stronger and capable grappling when compared to Barcelos. However, this really is a very tough fight to handicap because of that veteran savvy of Barcelos. In some performances he has been handled by opponents on the mat while there are others that Barcelos makes it almost impossible to hold him down. Jackson will be my pick as I do expect him to be significantly stronger but this is one of the harder fights to handicap for tonight’s event. Jackson is also a bit younger than Barcelos but this age gap does not seem at all relevant given Jackson’s speed and overall experience. He will likely win here but Barcelos will make it a very close bout. Montel Jackson by Decision
• Nick: Montel Jackson is good pretty much everywhere. He’s primarily a striker with surprising power for a bantamweight. As good as he’s looked lately, Jackson has been finding most of his success against lower level talent and he enters this match-up off a loss to Deiveson Figueriedo. He was once a highly regarded prospect, but it’s hard not to feel he’s developing much slower than expected. At 34-years old he still has time to make a run towards the top of the division, but he has very little room for error. As talented as he is he can be overly tentative at times which makes him a difficult fighter to back as a favorite. Raoni Barcelos was once considered by many to be a future top contender in this division. He’s extremely well rounded as a third-degree black belt in BJJ whose striking is as creative as it is dangerous.  He has a diverse arsenal of kicks, which he mixes in well with his boxing to keep his opponents on their heels. As talented as he is, there is really no denying that he is not as dangerous or effective as he was just a few years ago. At 38-years old, he’s now one of the older fighters in the division, but it is notable that he enters this fight on a four fight win streak. This fight should play out closely, so I’ll take a small shot on Barcelos. He’s more likely to push a pace and he should be able to pull this out on volume. Raoni Barcelos by Decision

Adrian Luna -110 vs Davey Grant -110

• Anthony: This is a bantamweight matchup between Davey Grant and Adrian Luna. It is the promotional debut for Luna who earned a contract last year on Dana White’s Contender Series. The 30 year old from Ecuador is ready to prove it now at this level and thus he will be facing an elite veteran here in his debut. Grant is now 40 years old but he has remained a gatekeeper for this division at the highest level. Grant always puts forth a very grueling fight, making the opponent match his high pace and brawling throughout despite often absorbing heaps of damage. Grant is a fan favorite since he does march forward often and force opponents into a brawl whether they like it or not. Luna seems to be confident in his offensive striking and this probably will be a kickboxing match between the two men. Grant could do well landing low kicks and mixed techniques against Luna but ultimately I do think Luna will land much more. Grant is becoming harder to trust as he enters the final stages of his career now. He trains locally in Las Vegas but Luna is a killer that will push him throughout these three rounds. I am expecting to see this end up as a unanimous decision win for the newcomer. Adrian Luna by Decision
• Nick: Adrian Luna Martinetti will be making his UFC debut here, coming off a solid win on Contender Series over Mark Volgdin. Both Luna and his opponent were signed after that fight as they both landed ridiculous volume and showed outstanding durability and cardio. Luna does a good job putting pressure on his opponents and mixing in takedowns to win rounds. He’s a high volume striker who works well behind his jab, but there is no denying the fact he can be hittable in lengthy exchanges. He enters this fight with a 17-1 professional record, but he’s taking a major step up in terms of level of competition. Davey Grant is a well-rounded fighter who manages to outmuscle most of his lower level opponents at bantamweight. His striking is somewhat unconventional, but he carries surprising power. He has a solid wrestling base and does a good job in the ground and pound department if he can take his opponent to the mat. He does a good job moving out of range after throwing combinations and his footwork is solid in spite of his unconventional style. The one knock on Grant is that he is entering the twilight of his career at 40-years old. He’s slowing down in general, and his reaction time seems to have turned from a strength to a weakness. It’s tough to back Grant at this age, but I still see him as the side here. Martinetti doesn’t really have the power to put him away, and Grant is more well rounded. Davey Grant by Decision

Alexander Hernandez -165 vs Rafa Garcia +140

• Anthony: Next is a fight at lightweight between Rafa Garcia and Alexander Hernandez. This is a tough matchup to handicap as both fighters enter on impressive winning streaks. Hernandez has won back to back fights by knockout, stopping Diego Ferreira and Chase Hooper. His offensive output has become more measured, landing 4.31 significant strikes per minute but seeing drastic improvement in terms of his striking accuracy. Hernandez does well mixing in kicks to his attacks and hurting opponents from all angles. Garcia is comfortable in terms of his own boxing but I think that Hernandez will be much faster and more decisive with his strikes. Garcia and Hernandez both will blend wrestling into their approaches but I do not think either will shoot much in this particular fight. Both men will be eager to throw hands in the pocket and I expect to see a lot of collisions. These are two fighters that have their great footwork negated a bit here fighting inside the smaller Apex cage. Hernandez seems like the right side here as a short priced favorite. I will also be tracking the odds movement here ahead of this fight taking place. There has been a lot of weird betting action during Hernandez’ past few octagon appearances. Alexander Hernandez by Decision
• Nick: Alexander Hernandez has KO power on the feet. He’s also a decent defensive grappler, but his constant movement and aggressive style often leaves him tired and vulnerable in later rounds. His cardio has been improving since he moved his training camp to Colorado, but it still seems to be more of a weakness than a strength. He’s extremely gifted athletically, but wildly inconsistent. His hyper aggressive style almost always leads to him fading in later rounds if he can’t find that early finish. Rafa Garcia has decent offensive grappling ability, but prefers to stand and trade. He usually comes out aggressive and he’s very dangerous early in fights, but his defense and overall decision making leave him vulnerable against even lower level opponents. His cardio has improved since he shifted camps to Elevation Fight Team in Colorado, but he does have a history of fading late in fights. Garcia is 5-5 in the UFC, and he’s been generally inconsistent since making his debut. These are two inconsistent fighters, but I see Hernandez as the side here. He’s the much faster fighter in general here, and that should allow him to stay a step ahead. Alexander Hernandez by Decision

Norma Dumont -250 vs Joselyne Edwards +200

• Anthony: The co-main event is a fight between bantamweights Norma Dumont and Joselyne Edwards. The matchup between ranked athletes should be a good one as Edwards looks to take the #3 ranking from Dumont. The Brazilian has been tough to beat at this weight due to his strength and power overall. Edwards has really been the total package in each of her fights while Dumont gets it done with a more basic approach. Dumont’s boxing and speed in the pocket make it very hard to fight standing at this weight. Dumont also does well holding her own grappling and controlling most fights that do hit the mat. Edwards has been pursuing a lot more takedowns but I do not think that gameplan will work here against Dumont. Edwards would be smart to use her size to hit Dumont with strikes at distance. Edwards will struggle to land heavy strikes like Dumont but the bigger task will be matching that output. Dumont lands 3.89 significant strikes per minute while only absorbing 2.12 on average in return. Dumont has won six fights in a row compared to four in a row for Edwards. I think she has proven to be a bit more capable of biting down on her mouthpiece and winning in a brawl. Dumont will bring the best out of Edwards here but I think it is still going to be her fight to win or lose. Norma Dumont by Decision
• Nick: Norma Dumont has decent striking ability, but most of her recent success has come via her positional grappling ability. She can score takedowns against the cage or in open space, and she does a good job staying heavy when she’s on top of her opponent. Dumont has excellent low kicks, but her striking is fairly predictable. She has some power on the feet, but she telegraphs most of her strikes.  Joselyne Edwards is a Muay Thai style striker who finds most of her success striking both at range and in the clinch.  She has decent offensive grappling ability, but she has trouble getting back to her feet if she’s taken down by her opponent.  She’s almost always in very close fights, but she enters this fight having finished each of her last four opponents. She’s made more dramatic improvements than almost anyone on the roster, but this match-up represents a considerable step up for her in terms of level of competition. As impressive as Edwards has been, I see Dumont as the side here. I expect she can lean on her grappling to win this convincingly on the scorecards. Norma Dumont by Decision

Youssef Zalal -130 vs Aljamain Sterling +110

• Anthony: The main event is a bout at featherweight between Aljamain Sterling and Youssef Zalal. This is a very good matchup and I am interested to see who emerges from this fight with all of the headlines. Zalal has now won eight fights in a row and adding a name like Sterling to that list would be quite the feat. His last performance was perhaps the most impressive so far, submitting Josh Emmett in the very first round. Sterling still seems to be ready to ascend toward a title opportunity once again. At featherweight he has looked great beating Brian Ortega and Calvin Kattar. He also fought hard in a bout against Movsar Evloev. Zalal presents some challenges for Sterling in terms of his striking but I do think that there is a clear grappling advantage for Sterling in this fight. These two athletes have formerly trained together and Sterling completely dominated Zalal with his wrestling. I favor Sterling here in a five round fight because his style is very economical and good for earning decision victories. Sterling sometimes does have to fight hard for his takedowns but he is very decisive when it comes to advancing position on the mat. Sterling will always take the back of his opponents when that option is available, normally getting in hooks from there and spending the entire round in control. Zalal will spend a portion of this fight wrapped up by Sterling and forced to carefully fight out of loose submission attempts. I do not think Zalal can do enough with his striking here to keep Sterling away from him. Zalal has also won ten of his fights via submission and that will not be a path for him to beat Sterling here today. Funkmaster should be able to use his strength and experience to win this fight rather handily. Aljamain Sterling by Decision
• Nick: Youseff Zalal was cut from the UFC back in 2022, but he has since returned to the promotion and strung together a solid five fight win streak. He’s coming off a career best win via submission over Josh Emmett, and he enters having not lost a professional fight since 2021. He’s made dramatic improvements since his first stint with the promotion as he’s far more aggressive in pursuing a finish. Whether striking or on the mat, he’s been putting out plenty of volume as he generally forces his opponents to fight moving backwards. His cardio is somewhat of a concern as we’ve seen him fade late in fights before. There is also no denying the fact that this match-up represents a major step up for him here in terms of level of competition. Aljamain Sterling usually starts his fights aggressively. His strikes don’t pack a ton of power, but he’s mostly accurate, and he does a good job frustrating his opponents at range with his unconventional style. He is primarily a wrestler with excellent takedown ability and BJJ. His best position is on his opponents’ back(s), and one could argue that he’s changed the meta of the sport with his utilization of the body triangle. He enters this match-up off a dominant decision win over Brian Ortega.  Sterling decided to move up a weight class, after dropping the bantamweight title to Sean O’Malley in August of 2019, he has since gone 2-1 at featherweight. Zalal should have moments early here, but Sterling’s strength and experience advantages make this a difficult match-up for him on paper. As this fight wears on I expect Sterling to mix in takedowns, find Zalal’s back, and eventually work him for a submission. Zalal’s cardio is questionable at best, and this is his first five round fight in the UFC. Aljamain Sterling by Round Four Submission

-Nick Marro

Twitter: @NickMarroDFS

-Anthony Marro

Twitter: @AnthonyMarro_

Photo: UFC.com