With Sean Brady vs. Joaquin Buckley shifted to UFC 328 in New Jersey, April’s UFC Vegas 116 was in need of a new event.
Promotion officials announced it on Thursday. With the welterweight bout moved, featherweights Aljamain Stirling (25-5) and Youssef Zalal (18-5-1) will face off in a five-round main event at the Meta Apex on April 25, 2026.
The news comes among a host of UFC fight announcements, with the promotion opening the floodgates after last week’s lukewarm reception to “Freedom 250” at the White House in June.
Stirling, a former bantamweight champion, will be fighting for the first time since August, when he earned a unanimous decision against ex-title challenger Brian Ortega. That puts “Aljo” (or “The Funkmaster,” if you prefer) at 2-1 since dropping to featherweight in 2024. The Serra-Longo Fight Team member fought at 145lbs at one point in his pre-UFC career.
Zalal, known as “The Moroccan Devil,” has quietly amassed a stellar win streak. Now on his second stint with the company, Zalal is riding an eight-fight win streak overall, with five of those victories coming under the UFC banner. That includes wins over Billy Quarantillo, Calvin Kattar, and most recently, a submission of Josh Emmett.
Stirling is ranked #5, Zalal #7 in the UFC’s official featherweight rankings currently.
UFC Vegas 116 on April 25, 2026 currently features the following match-ups:
- Aljamain Sterling vs. Youssef Zalal
- Davey Grant vs. Juan Adrián Luna Martinetti
- Norma Dumont vs. Joselyne Edwards
- Mayra Bueno Silva vs. Michelle Montague
- Jafel Filho vs. Lucas Rocha
- Rodolfo Vieira vs. Eric McConico
- Sedriques Dumas vs. Jackson McVey
- Raoni Barcelos vs. Montel Jackson
- Max Gimenis vs. Allen Frye
