Youssef Zalal vs Aljamain Sterling

Youssef Zalal

Pro 18-6-1  |  UFC 8-4-1
VS

Aljamain Sterling

Pro 26-5-0  |  UFC 18-5-0
Age
29|37
Height
5'10"|5'7"
Reach
72"|71"
Stance
Switch|Orthodox

Career Statistics

Statistic Youssef Zalal Aljamain Sterling Edge
Striking
Sig. Strike Accuracy50.9%52.6%
Sig. Strikes Landed/min2.84.3
Sig. Strikes Absorbed/min1.82.1
Strike Differential1.0/min2.1/min
Grappling
Takedown Accuracy31.7%32.2%
Takedown Defense55.8%44.9%
Takedowns Landed/15min1.82.5
Submission Attempts/15min1.30.6
Control Time/15min4:214:58
Finishing Ability
KO/TKO % of Wins0.0%11.1%
Submission % of Wins50.0%22.2%
Decision % of Wins50.0%66.7%
Avg Fight Time12:3314:22
Secondary Stats
Knockdowns/15min0.20.0
Reversals/15min0.60.2
Edges225 even

Fight Dynamics

Career Striking Volume
Youssef Zalal   Aljamain Sterling   League median
StatisticYoussef ZalalAljamain SterlingEdge
Fight Shape
Fight Completion Rate79.7%79.7%
Avg Fight Time12:3314:22
% Fights Inside the Distance30.8%39.1%
Strength of UFC Schedule
Opponent UFC Win % (all)64.1%78.3%
Opponent UFC Record (all)50-28 (64.1%)137-38 (78.3%)
Opponent Record (among wins)31-20 (60.8%)108-32 (77.1%)
Positional Profile
% Time at Distance (approx.)45.6%49.9%
% Time in Control29.0%33.1%
% Time Controlled25.3%17.0%
Control Rate of Clinch/Ground Time53.4%66.1%
Distance Striking
Distance Sig. Landed / Min5.225.70
Distance Sig. Absorbed / Min3.153.44
Distance Striking Differential / Min+2.07+2.27
Distance Strike Accuracy49.1%45.5%
Distance Strike Defense68.7%63.0%
Power & Pressure
KDs per 100 Power Strikes0.610.00
Knocked Down per 100 Absorbed0.001.01
TD Attempts per 5 Distance Min4.235.27
TDs Faced per 5 Distance Min2.881.49
Fade Index (R3 / R1 pace)1.321.23
UFC fights only. Metrics with insufficient data show "—" and award no edge. Methodology →

Last 5 Fights (Averages)

Statistic Youssef Zalal Aljamain Sterling Edge
Sig. Strike Accuracy55.5%53.1%
Sig. Strikes Landed/min2.62.8
Sig. Strikes Absorbed/min1.91.5
Takedown Accuracy23.1%57.5%
Takedown Defense46.7%42.9%
Control Time/Fight1:367:03
Edges024 even

Last 3 Fights

Youssef Zalal

LOSS
vs. Aljamain Sterling
UFC Fight Night: Sterling vs. Zalal • Apr 2026Featherweight
Decision (Unanimous) • Rd 5, 5:00
Youssef Zalal35/6554%TD 0/0Ctrl 3:59
Aljamain Sterling46/8952%TD 6/11Ctrl 13:49
▼ Rounds
WIN
vs. Josh Emmett
UFC 320: Ankalaev vs. Pereira 2 • Oct 2025Featherweight
Submission (Armbar) • Rd 1, 1:38
Youssef Zalal0/10%TD 1/1Ctrl 0:48
Josh Emmett0/0TD 0/0Ctrl 0:16
▼ Rounds
WIN
vs. Calvin Kattar
Decision (Unanimous) • Rd 3, 5:00
Youssef Zalal74/13356%TD 0/8Ctrl 0:00
Calvin Kattar38/13428%TD 0/0Ctrl 0:00
▼ Rounds

Aljamain Sterling

WIN
vs. Youssef Zalal
UFC Fight Night: Sterling vs. Zalal • Apr 2026Featherweight
Decision (Unanimous) • Rd 5, 5:00
Aljamain Sterling46/8952%TD 6/11Ctrl 13:49
Youssef Zalal35/6554%TD 0/0Ctrl 3:59
▼ Rounds
WIN
vs. Brian Ortega
UFC Fight Night: Walker vs. Zhang • Aug 2025Catch Weight
Decision (Unanimous) • Rd 5, 5:00
Aljamain Sterling124/22755%TD 3/6Ctrl 3:55
Brian Ortega55/17432%TD 0/2Ctrl 0:08
▼ Rounds
LOSS
vs. Movsar Evloev
UFC 310: Pantoja vs. Asakura • Dec 2024Featherweight
Decision (Unanimous) • Rd 3, 5:00
Aljamain Sterling12/2646%TD 6/8Ctrl 6:16
Movsar Evloev8/2631%TD 4/5Ctrl 6:09
▼ Rounds

Common Opponents

vs. Calvin Kattar
Youssef Zalal
WIN
Decision (Unanimous) • Rd 3, 5:00
Youssef Zalal74/13356%TD 0/8Ctrl 0:00
Calvin Kattar38/13428%TD 0/0Ctrl 0:00
▼ Rounds
Aljamain Sterling
WIN
UFC 300: Pereira vs. Hill • Apr 2024Featherweight
Decision (Unanimous) • Rd 3, 5:00
Aljamain Sterling39/7155%TD 8/13Ctrl 10:43
Calvin Kattar8/2928%TD 0/0Ctrl 0:05
▼ Rounds

Analysis Summary

Striking Volume: Aljamain Sterling is the busier striker, landing 4.3 significant strikes per minute vs 2.8. Their opponent absorbs 1.8 strikes per minute on average — Aljamain Sterling's output should find a target.

Grappling: Youssef Zalal shoots at 32% accuracy but Aljamain Sterling stops 45% of attempts — the takedown path looks difficult. Aljamain Sterling shoots at 32% accuracy against Youssef Zalal's 56% defense — Youssef Zalal should keep it standing.

Finish Threat: Youssef Zalal finishes 50% of wins (0% KO/TKO, 50% sub).

Fight Length: Aljamain Sterling's fights average 14:22 vs 12:33 for Youssef Zalal. If this reaches the championship rounds, Aljamain Sterling's conditioning history becomes a factor.

Last updated: 2026-08-13 | Data source: UFCStats.com