Aljamain Sterling delivered a masterful grappling performance against Youssef Zalal in the main event of UFC Vegas 116, ultimately securing a unanimous decision win.
Sterling’s strategy began to unfold in the first round. He utilized his striking to close the distance and successfully executed the first takedown of the bout. Once on the mat, Sterling maintained positional control, dominating the round and likely earning it on the judges’ scorecards.
The second round saw Sterling again take Zalal to the ground after a brief struggle. The ‘Funk Master’ immediately secured Zalal’s back and unleashed a series of effective ground strikes. Despite Zalal’s attempts to escape, Sterling’s body triangle kept him locked in, allowing him to accumulate significant damage and extend his lead to 2-0 after ten minutes.
The third round presented a challenge for Sterling when he attempted an early takedown and found himself caught in a tight guillotine choke. While Sterling managed to escape the submission attempt, he lost top control to Zalal. ‘The Moroccan Devil’ capitalized on this opportunity, maintaining control for the remainder of the round and securing his first round of the fight.
Seemingly motivated by surrendering the third round, Sterling came out strong in the fourth. He quickly closed the distance with strikes and secured another takedown early in the round. Mirroring his performance in the second, Sterling unleashed a barrage of strikes before transitioning to a rear-naked choke attempt. Zalal had no effective counter, leading to what was likely a dominant 10-8 round for Sterling.
Knowing he needed a finish, Zalal adopted an aggressive approach in the fifth and final round. However, his forward pressure did not deter Sterling, who once again secured a takedown and took Zalal’s back. From this dominant position, Sterling continued to land strikes, accumulating points and sealing a clear unanimous decision victory.
Official Result: Aljamain Sterling def. Youssef Zalal via unanimous decision (49-45, 49-45, 49-45).
English Translation and Paraphrasing:
Aljamain Sterling showcased exceptional grappling skills, dominating Youssef Zalal in the main event of UFC Vegas 116 on Saturday night, en route to a convincing unanimous decision victory.
Sterling established his dominance early, using his striking to set up takedowns. He successfully controlled Zalal on the ground in the opening round, dictating the pace and securing an early lead.
In the second round, Sterling once again brought the fight to the mat and quickly took Zalal’s back. He unleashed a series of ground strikes while maintaining a strong positional advantage, including a body triangle, to effectively neutralize Zalal and build a significant lead.
The third round saw a shift in momentum as Sterling was caught in a guillotine choke during a takedown attempt. Although he managed to escape, he lost top control, allowing Zalal to secure a dominant position and win the round.
Regaining his composure, Sterling returned to his dominant grappling in the fourth round. He initiated another takedown and, similar to the second round, utilized his ground-and-pound effectively before threatening with a rear-naked choke. This round was a clear 10-8 in favor of Sterling.
In the final round, despite Zalal’s aggressive attempts to secure a finish, Sterling maintained control. He secured another takedown and continued to inflict damage from the back mount, ultimately securing a decisive unanimous decision win.
Official Result: Aljamain Sterling defeated Youssef Zalal by unanimous decision (49-45, 49-45, 49-45).
