UFC Fight Night: Sterling v Zalal Predictions

It’s a big event for bantamweights with three fights at 135 pounds on the main card, including the co-headliner between Norma Dumont and Joselyne Edwards. The others will see Davey Grant go up against promotional newcomer Adrian Luna Martinetti, and Montel Jackson meet Raoni Barcelos.

The action doesn’t stop there as Rafa Garcia and Alexander Hernandez lock horns at lightweight, and Brazilian jiu-jitsu legend Marcus Buchecha squares off against Ryan Spann in a heavyweight showdown.

MAIN CARD:

Sunday, April 26, 2:00 AM SAST

Aljamain Sterling (2.10) v Youssef Zalal (1.70) (Featherweight)

After cementing his legacy as one of the best bantamweights of all time, Sterling (25-5) began his journey to climb a new mountain at featherweight in 2024.

“The Funk Master” jumped straight into the deep end and used his excellent wrestling to control Calvin Kattar en route to a decision win that April, but fell to 1-1 when he lost on points to the undefeated Movsar Evloev eight months later.

He bounced back in style last August, dominating former title challenger Brian Ortega over five rounds to reassert himself as one of the top dogs at 145 pounds. Ranked fifth, Sterling has a chip on his shoulder and is out to make another statement this weekend.

Much of the 36-year-old’s success is down to wrestling. The former Division I wrestler uses unorthodox striking and movement to set up takedowns, and either controls or finishes fights from there.

A world-class grappler, he has eight submissions to his name and arguably the best rear-naked choke in the sport. He’s not known as a human backpack for nothing.

A high-level grappler in his own right, Zalal (18-5-1) has won five fights on the trot since returning to the UFC in 2024.

“The Moroccan Devil” completed a hat-trick of submission wins before besting Kattar by decision and finished 2025 on a serious high with a first-round submission victory over Josh Emmett to stretch his overall win streak to eight and move up to seventh place in the rankings.

The 29-year-old is a fast, technical, submission-focused fighter (10 wins by tapout) with excellent movement and evolving fight IQ. His combination of dangerous grappling and solid striking makes him a genuine contender in the division.

Given his momentum, Zalal enters his first main event and biggest fight of his career as the favourite. With his vast elite-level experience and champion pedigree, however, Sterling is a value underdog to get it done.

Prediction: Sterling by decision.

Best Bet: Sterling by decision at 3.45.

Alternative Bet: Sterling at 2.10.

Norma Dumont (1.40) v Joselyne Edwards (2.90) (Bantamweight)

Elite bantamweights collide in the co-main event.

Dumont (13-2) has made a name for herself across two divisions by taking out noteworthy opponents, including former champion Germaine de Randamie, Irene Aldana, and Ketlen Vieira.

The Brazilian has strung together a six-fight win streak to move up to third place in the rankings and will be out to strengthen her case for a championship opportunity by defeating rising contender Edwards (17-6).

Panama’s Edwards is on a roll of her own and sets out to secure a fifth straight victory. Joining the UFC at 26, “La Pantera” has grown into a full-fledged veteran and fierce competitor, delivering finishes against Nora Cornolle, Priscila Cachoeira, and Chelsea Chandler.

Ranked 11th, she’s known for her aggression and finishing ability (eight knockouts and four submissions) and looks to deliver another highlight reel stoppage and break into the top five.

A hallmark of Dumont’s game is that she’s very defensively responsible, absorbing just 2.12 significant strikes per minute. Couple that with her tactical nous and strong grappling, and “The Immortal” should continue her winning ways. 

Prediction: Dumont by decision.

Best Bet: Dumont by decision at 1.65.

Rafa Garcia (2.00) v Alexander Hernandez (1.76) (Lightweight)

Lightweights who love to finish fights face off in the featured bout.

Both men have 10 finishes to their name, but are dangerous in different ways, with eight of Garcia’s stoppage wins being submissions and eight of Hernandez’s being knockouts.

Garcia (18-4) is gunning for a third consecutive win after seeing off Vinc Pichel and Jared Gordon last year, the latter by knockout. “Gifted” is no slouch on the feet, but his best course of action will be to try to take the fight to the ground.

Hernandez (18-8) has won four on the bounce since moving back up to lightweight and claimed his last two wins, over Chase Hooper and Carlos Ferreira, by knockout.

“El Gran Chango” is on the run of his career right now and has the takedown defence to keep things standing, where he has what should prove to be a decisive advantage.

Prediction: Hernandez by knockout.

Best Bet: Hernandez at 1.76.

Alternative Bet: Hernandez by KO/TKO/DQ at 4.50.

Davey Grant (1.72) v Adrian Luna Martinetti (2.10) (Bantamweight)

British veteran Grant (15-8) welcomes Martinetti (17-1) to the UFC in this bantamweight bout.

Grant is never going to be in the title picture, but he’s a tough first test on the big stage for the promotional newcomer from Ecuador, as is shown with Grant being the favourite.

“Dangerous” has been in the UFC for a full decade and is 8-6 inside the Octagon, with his most notable win being over former title challenger Marlon Vera. He’d secured back-to-back victories over Ramon Taveras and Da’Mon Blackshear before losing to Charles Jourdain last time out.

Martinetti earned a UFC contract with a decision victory over Mark Vologdin in an absolute war on Dana White’s Contender Series in October and is an exciting prospect who enters his promotional debut on a 15-fight win streak. Add the fact that he’s 10 years younger than Grant, and it’s tempting to go with him.

However, he’s unproven at this level, while Grant has vast experience. My pick is the veteran. 

Prediction: Grant by decision.

Best Bet: Grant at 1.72.

Alternative Bet: Grant by decision at 3.10.

Montel Jackson (1.53) v Raoni Barcelos (2.45) (Bantamweight)

Jackson (15-3) is in a battle to preserve his place in the bantamweight top 15 in this one.

It’s a reflection of the depth in the 135-pound division that “Quick” isn’t higher up in the rankings than 14th considering he was on a six-fight win streak – which included a victory over South Africa’s JP Buys – prior to his defeat to Deiveson Figueiredo in October.  

“Quick” was anything but in his lethargic loss last time out, and will have to show more urgency against his fast-starting foe if he hopes to bounce back this weekend.

Barcelos (21-5) has made some major splashes, such as bouncing Payton Talbott from the ranks of the unbeaten and defeating former champion Cody Garbrandt. In November, he outworked Ricky Simon to stretch his win streak to four and now gets an opportunity to break into the top 15.

With the form the Brazilian veteran is in, he’s a great pick, especially as an underdog.

Prediction: Barcelos by decision.

Best Bet: Barcelos at 2.45.

Alternative Bet: Barcelos by decision at 3.40.

Marcus Buchecha (1.65) v Ryan Spann (2.20) (Heavyweight)

Grappling legend Buchecha (5-2-1) makes his third walk to the Octagon hoping to claim his first UFC win in the main card opener.

A multi-time Brazilian jiu-jitsu world champion, Buchecha hasn’t made the impact many had hoped he would in the UFC, dropping his debut to Martin Buday and then fighting to a draw with Nigeria’s Kennedy Nzechukwu in December.

A long-time light heavyweight who stopped two former title challengers in Dominick Reyes and Ovince St. Preux, Spann (23-11) made the move to heavyweight last year and broke even as he recovered from a loss to top contender Waldo Cortes-Acosta with a submission win over Lukasz Brzeski in July.

Tall and lanky, “Superman” doesn’t have the credentials of his opponent, but he’s a slick submission artist in his own right. That said, his obvious advantage in this matchup is on the feet, where his power, superior technique and longer reach should see him hit as the underdog.

Prediction: Spann by knockout.

Best Bet: Spann by KO/TKO/DQ at 3.20. 

Alternative Bet: Spann at 2.20.