Sterling, Zalal talk past training, ‘weird’ featherweight title picture

When Aljamain Sterling and Youssef Zalal step into the cage this weekend for their UFC Fight Night main event, it won’t be the first time they’ve felt the other’s skill.

Zalal, 29, downplayed any aforementioned success he had against Sterling in the gym earlier in his career, but also explained this week that they’ve each submitted the other in past training sessions.

Sterling’s main takeaway from spending some time sparring with Zalal was that he can’t overlook his much younger opponent.

“I don’t underestimate him,” the 37-year-old explained. “I’ve done that before, and that was the last time I underestimated somebody. That was Marlon Moraes (in 2017), and it did not end well for me. I think the world got to see that, so with that said, I just know (Zalal’s) a very talented dude, he’s skilled, and he’s gonna bring it. 

“This is his chance to get a big win and make his push for a world title, and it’s up to me to turn him back and show him that ‘unc’ is not done yet. I’m looking to become a two-division champ, and not many people can ever say they’ve done that, so that’s where I’m at.”

Reigning featherweight titleholder Alexander Volkanovski is coming off back-to-back championship wins over Diego Lopes and doesn’t have his next challenger officially lined up yet.

Current No. 1 contender Movsar Evloev is the frontrunner, but all 10 of his UFC wins have been via decision, and he has had multiple injury and/or illness layoffs over the past couple of years.

Sterling is a former bantamweight champion whose only loss since moving up to featherweight was a closely contested three-round decision to Evloev at UFC 310 in December of 2024.

Lopes also had a previous decision loss to Evloev, but it didn’t prevent him from getting two separate title shots before Evloev, which is one reason Sterling is hopeful a strong performance against Zalal could get him into a 145-pound championship matchup with Volkanovski.

“I think a lot of people still think I won that fight with Evloev, so it could be something with that,” Sterling added. “I’m gonna make sure I say this: I do think, and I’ve always said this, that (Evloev) should’ve been given the shot over Diego Lopes (at UFC 325) … and here we are in this weird space with this whole division, and there’s not much more I can say about that other than I just gotta go out there and do my job and hopefully good things come.

“I think there’s a really strong case for me to get another crack at a title.”

Zalal has finished 14 of his 18 pro wins either by submission or KO/TKO, including a first-round armbar of Josh Emmett in October.

Sterling has only been finished twice in his 30-fight career, but has never been submitted in MMA, and Zalal knows putting away a former champion without needing the scorecards would be quite the accomplishment.

A highlight-reel stoppage victory from either fighter could also potentially further complicate the title picture in the 145-pound division.

“It all depends on how you perform,” Zalal said. “I think once you perform within this division, you can get a title shot. We’ve seen how Diego (Lopes) just jumped the line over two guys and stuff like that, so I think that we’re gonna see. If it’s not us, I think it’s gonna be Movsar for sure — I mean, I would hope, right? Again, it all depends on how you’re gonna perform, and that’s what’s most important.”

Sterling officially enters the weekend as the No. 5 contender, and Zalal is sitting at No. 7 in the division.

Projected bout order for UFC Fight Night: Sterling vs. Zalal (subject to change)…

— Aljamain Sterling vs. Youssef Zalal

— Norma Dumont vs. Joselyne Edwards

— Rafa García vs. Alexander Hernandez

— Davey Grant vs. Adrian Luna Martinetti

— Montel Jackson vs. Raoni Barcelos

— Marcus Buchecha vs. Ryan Spann

— Rodolfo Vieira vs. Eric McConico

— Mayra Bueno Silva vs. Michelle Montague

— Jackson McVey vs. Sedriques Dumas

— Jafel Filho vs. Cody Durden

— Francis Marshall vs. Lucas Brennan

— Max Griffin vs. Victor Valenzuela

— Talita Alencar vs. Julia Polastri