Aljamain Sterling continued to build a case toward a chance for a title in a second division when he turned back surging contender Youssef Zalal in the UFC Fight Night 274 main event.Sterling (26-5 MMA, 18-5 UFC) has won two of three since moving up to featherweight with a unanimous decision victory over Zalal (18-6-1 MMA, 8-4-1 UFC) in Saturday's headlining matchup at Meta APEX in Las Vegas.Check below for the top X (formerly Twitter) reactions to Sterling beating Zalal at UFC Fight Night 274.Fighters react to Youssef Zalal's victory over Aljamain Sterling at UFC Vegas 116Dressed for success ✨@FunkmasterMMA & @TheMorocanDevil have arrived![ #UFCVegas116 | LIVE NOW on @ParamountPlus ] pic.twitter.com/aYOTEPexhb— UFC (@ufc) April 25, 2026In the wings! Our #UFCVegas116 headliners getting the hands ready for battle! ⚔️🔥Sterling vs Zalal | @Sportsnet & @TVASportspic.twitter.com/iB6zdQmVZs— UFC Canada (@UFC_CA) April 26, 2026STERLING vs ZALAL!
Who you got in our #UFCVegas116 main event?! pic.twitter.com/7xLdak6aU6— UFC Canada (@UFC_CA) April 26, 2026Rad pic.twitter.com/jMVzvgBj1v— RJ Clifford (@RJcliffordMMA) April 26, 2026Sterling looking very sharp. 10-9 #UFCVegas116— Seán Sheehan (@SeanSheehanBA) April 26, 20262-0 Aljo but man bro gotta stay focus them knees were close— Terrance McKinney (@twrecks155) April 26, 202620-18 Aljo after two roundsSolid performance so far— Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) April 26, 2026Not panicked at all. Great couple of rounds by these two warriors! #ufc— Dustin Jacoby 🇺🇸 (@thehanyakdj) April 26, 2026Damn Zalal really had Aljo panicking there for a second— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) April 26, 2026Zalal takes Round 329-28 Sterling #UFCVegas116— Matthew Wells (@MrMWells) April 26, 2026Round 4 is gonna be interesting— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) April 26, 2026Aljo’s body triangle is so hard to get out of— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) April 26, 202610-8 comeback round for Sterling.
That was complete dominance on the ground. Zalal looked like he went to sleep for a moment. #UFCVegas116— Korean John (@KoreanJohn_) April 26, 2026Aljo might the the top-5 all time fighter who looks like he's gonna gets KOd with every punch.— Seán Sheehan (@SeanSheehanBA) April 26, 2026Congratulations Movsar Evloev, the UFC cannot take your title shot away from you at this point.— Jed Meshew II (@JedKMeshew) April 26, 2026Makes u appreciate the grappling exchanges in the movsar vs aljo fight more— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) April 26, 2026Vintage performance from Aljamain Sterling. Don't count the former champ out — he's coming for the second belt at 145.#UFCVegas116 | @UFConPolymarketpic.twitter.com/f2pyqwPWau— UFC on Polymarket (@UFConPolymarket) April 26, 2026🤪🤪🤪[ #UFCVegas116 | LIVE NOW on @ParamountPlus ] pic.twitter.com/our8GXicZP— UFC (@ufc) April 26, 2026Aljo fight iq was incredible 👏👏👏 Zalal showed no quit tho— Terrance McKinney (@twrecks155) April 26, 2026#UFCVegas116 results: Aljamain Sterling def.
Youssef Zalal via unanimous decision (49-45, 49-45, 49-45)Full coverage ➡️ https://t.co/Tgb4cfK91zpic.twitter.com/zeSuXh4M2c— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) April 26, 2026Strong showing by Aljo. Featherweight is fairly open right now. One more W and he gets a crack at gold, imo https://t.co/WDRO4Gs2Wt— Nolan King (@mma_kings) April 26, 2026Aljo gets his hand raised #UFCVegas116📺 @paramountpluspic.twitter.com/mrVilK5C6O— UFC on Paramount+ (@UFConParamount) April 26, 2026This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC Vegas 116: Fighters react to Aljamain Sterling beating Youssef Zalal