Aljamain Sterling showcased a dominant grappling display in his fight against Youssef Zalal at UFC Vegas 116, ultimately securing a unanimous decision victory. Sterling controlled much of the action, utilizing his wrestling and ground game to wear down Zalal.
In the opening round, Sterling effectively used his striking to close the distance and secure a takedown. Once on the ground, he maintained positional control, effectively scoring points to win the first round.
The second round saw Sterling again get Zalal to the mat. This time, the ‘Funk Master’ quickly took his opponent’s back and unleashed a series of ground strikes. With a body triangle locked in, Zalal was unable to escape the onslaught, giving Sterling a clear advantage after ten minutes.
The third round presented a challenge for Sterling as he was caught in a tight guillotine choke early on. Although he managed to escape the submission attempt, he lost top control to Zalal. The ‘Moroccan Devil’ capitalized on this opportunity and secured the round, marking his first on the scorecards.
Feeling the pressure of losing a round, Sterling came out strong in the fourth. He quickly secured another takedown and, similar to the second round, rained down strikes before working towards a rear-naked choke. Zalal struggled to defend, and Sterling likely secured a dominant 10-8 round.
In the final round, Zalal, aware of the need for a finish, pressed forward aggressively. However, this did not deter Sterling, who managed to take him down and secure his back once more. Sterling continued to inflict damage with strikes, solidifying his dominant performance and clinching a decisive unanimous decision.
Official Result: Aljamain Sterling defeated Youssef Zalal via unanimous decision (49-45, 49-45, 49-45).