UFC Vegas 116 Preview Show: Can either Aljamain Sterling or Youssef Zalal jump Movsar Evloev for a title shot?
MMA Fighting previews Aljamain Sterling vs Youssef Zalal, and the rest of UFC Vegas 116
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - APRIL 24: (L-R) Opponents Aljamain Sterling and Youssef Zalal of Morocco face off during the UFC weigh-in at Meta APEX on April 24, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC) Aljamain Sterling and Youssef Zalal are fighting for big stakes this weekend. On Saturday, the UFC returns to its stomping grounds, the META APEX, for UFC Vegas 116, headlined by a high-stakes featherweight matchup between former bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling and surging contender Youssef Zalal.
Sterling wants a featherweight title shot, while Zalal wants to take his place in the pecking order, but who leaves Las Vegas with a win? Ahead of UFC Vegas 116, MMA Fighting’s Jed Meshew and Alexander K. Lee preview Saturday’s main event matchup between Sterling and Zalal, and discuss whether the winner can leapfrog Movsar Evloev for the next featherweight title shot.
Additionally, Jed and AK discuss the important (and somehow, not important) co-main event bout between Norma Dumont and Joselyne Edwards, rate the rest of the card, answer fan questions, and more. Catch the UFC Seattle preview show video above. An audio-only version of the show can be found below and on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , and wherever you find your favorite podcasts.