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 116
Dressed for success ✨@FunkmasterMMA & @TheMorocanDevil have arrived!
[ #UFCVegas116 | LIVE NOW on @ParamountPlus ] pic.twitter.com/aYOTEPexhb
— UFC (@ufc) April 25, 2026
In 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, 2026
STERLING vs ZALAL! Who you got in our #UFCVegas116 main event?! pic.twitter.com/7xLdak6aU6
— UFC Canada (@UFC_CA) April 26, 2026
Rad pic.twitter.com/jMVzvgBj1v
— RJ Clifford (@RJcliffordMMA) April 26, 2026
Sterling looking very sharp. 10-9 #UFCVegas116
— Seán Sheehan (@SeanSheehanBA) April 26, 2026
2-0 Aljo but man bro gotta stay focus them knees were close
— Terrance McKinney (@twrecks155) April 26, 2026
20-18 Aljo after two rounds
Solid performance so far
— Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) April 26, 2026
Not panicked at all. Great couple of rounds by these two warriors! #ufc
— Dustin Jacoby 🇺🇸 (@thehanyakdj) April 26, 2026
Damn Zalal really had Aljo panicking there for a second
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) April 26, 2026
Zalal takes Round 3
29-28 Sterling #UFCVegas116
— Matthew Wells (@MrMWells) April 26, 2026
Round 4 is gonna be interesting
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) April 26, 2026
Aljo’s body triangle is so hard to get out of
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) April 26, 2026
10-8 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, 2026
Aljo might the the top-5 all time fighter who looks like he’s gonna gets KOd with every punch.
— Seán Sheehan (@SeanSheehanBA) April 26, 2026
Congratulations Movsar Evloev, the UFC cannot take your title shot away from you at this point.
— Jed Meshew II (@JedKMeshew) April 26, 2026
Makes u appreciate the grappling exchanges in the movsar vs aljo fight more
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) April 26, 2026
Vintage 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, 2026
Aljo 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, 2026
Strong 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, 2026
Aljo gets his hand raised #UFCVegas116
📺 @paramountpluspic.twitter.com/mrVilK5C6O
— UFC on Paramount+ (@UFConParamount) April 26, 2026
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC Vegas 116: Fighters react to Aljamain Sterling beating Youssef Zalal
