The UFC returns to the Meta APEX in Las Vegas on Saturday, April 25, 2026. The event will stream on Paramount+ with prelims at 5 PM ET and the main card at 8 PM ET.
Main event: Sterling vs. Zalal
Former bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling (25-5) moves into a five-round featherweight main event against Youssef Zalal (18-5-1). Sterling is 36 and from Long Island. He held the 135-pound title from 2021 to 2023 and had three successful defenses.
Sterling is 2-1 since moving up to featherweight. He beat Brian Ortega by five-round decision last August at UFC Shanghai. His only featherweight loss came to Movsar Evloev at UFC 310. Oddsmakers list Sterling as a slight underdog, roughly +105 to +120 depending on the sportsbook. He is ranked fifth at featherweight.
Zalal is 29, a Moroccan switch-stance striker ranked seventh at 145 pounds. He is on a five-fight win streak and has four submission finishes in his last five fights. His best recent win was a first-round armbar over Josh Emmett. Zalal brings size and reach advantages (about 5’10” and a 72-inch reach) and strong striking numbers.
The matchup is clear: Sterling will try to use wrestling, chain takedowns and top control. He averages about 2.45 takedowns per 15 minutes and has never been submitted in 30 pro fights. Zalal will look to keep distance, strike and scramble. His takedown defense is 59 percent, and he attempts many submissions (about 1.41 per 15 minutes). The winner could move into a top-three spot at 145 pounds while Evloev is already booked for the next title shot.
| Fighter | Recent Result |
|---|---|
| Aljamain Sterling (25-5) | Beat Brian Ortega by five-round decision; 2-1 at featherweight |
| Youssef Zalal (18-5-1) | Five-fight win streak; first-round armbar of Josh Emmett |
Key fights on the main card
The co-main is a women’s bantamweight bout: No. 3 Norma Dumont faces No. 11 Joselyne Edwards. Dumont is pushing for a title shot and a win keeps her near the front of the line. Edwards gets a big chance against a top-five opponent.
Other main-card fights include:
- Rafa García vs. Alexander Hernandez (lightweight) — a pick’em. García brings pressure and a 3.13 takedown rate; Hernandez is a sharp striker with good takedown defense (73 percent).
- Davey Grant vs. Adrian Luna Martinetti (bantamweight) — Grant is a veteran with heavy hands; Luna Martinetti is a short-notice debuting prospect.
- Montel Jackson vs. Raoni Barcelos (bantamweight) — Jackson is a ranked veteran; Barcelos poses a strong jiu-jitsu threat.
- Marcus “Buchecha” Almeida vs. Ryan Spann (heavyweight) — elite grappler versus veteran knockout striker.
Prelims and other notes
Prelims start at 5 PM ET on Paramount+. Notable preliminary fights include Rodolfo Vieira vs. Eric McConico at middleweight, Sedriques Dumas vs. Jackson McVey, and Mayra Bueno Silva vs. Michelle Montague in the women’s bantamweight division. Other prelim bouts are Jafel Filho vs. Cody Durden, Francis Marshall vs. Lucas Brennan, and Max Griffin vs. Victor Valenzuela.
This card was originally set to be headlined by Sean Brady vs. Joaquin Buckley, but that fight was moved to UFC 328. The winner of Sterling vs. Zalal will likely push for a top-three featherweight spot and a clearer path to a title shot.
How to watch
Event: UFC Fight Night at the Meta APEX, Las Vegas. Date: Saturday, April 25, 2026. Prelim start time: 5 PM ET. Main card start time: 8 PM ET. Streaming: Paramount+.
