How to Bet UFC Fight Night: Sterling vs. Zalal

UFC Fight Night is back in Las Vegas on Saturday, April 25, 2026, and for anyone new to betting on mixed martial arts, this card is a great place to start. The event takes place at the Meta APEX facility, with prelims starting at 5 PM ET and the main card going live at 8 PM ET — both are available on Paramount+. The main event is a featherweight contest between former bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling and rising contender Youssef Zalal, and the supporting card has enough intriguing matchups to keep you busy across both sessions.

Understanding the Main Event

Before you place a bet, it helps to know who you are actually watching. Aljamain Sterling carries a 25-5 professional record and is one of the most accomplished fighters on this card. He held the UFC bantamweight championship from 2021 to 2023, defending the belt three times before moving up to featherweight to chase a second title at a higher weight class. He averages 4.45 significant strikes per minute at a 61.39 percent accuracy rate, and lands 2.45 takedowns per fifteen minutes — numbers that paint a picture of a fighter who can win multiple ways.

Youssef Zalal enters with an 18-5-1 record and comes in as a slight favorite at -125, with Sterling priced as the underdog at +105. Zalal is a switch-stance fighter with four submission victories, which ranks fourth among active featherweights, and he averages 1.46 submission attempts per fifteen minutes. His grappling has improved considerably since his return to the UFC, and that is the primary reason oddsmakers have installed him as the favorite. If Zalal can get Sterling to the mat and control the fight there, he has genuine finishing ability to end things early.

How the Method Markets Break Down

For beginners, the method of victory market is one of the most fun ways to bet a UFC fight because it adds an extra layer of prediction beyond simply picking a winner. Here is how the numbers look for this main event. Zalal winning by decision is priced at +165, reflecting the expectation that if he controls the fight, he will likely do it through grappling and point accumulation rather than a quick finish. Sterling winning by decision comes in at +240, which makes sense for a technically skilled fighter who can grind and survive if needed. Zalal winning by KO or TKO is listed at +400, and Sterling winning by submission is at +450 — both reflect scenarios that are possible but not considered the most likely path to victory for either man.

The best value bet in the main event is Sterling at +105. You are getting plus money on a former champion who has already proved he belongs at the elite level. Sterling has been in big fights before and knows how to adapt. The slight underdog price gives you meaningful value if you believe his experience and versatility can get the job done.

Other Fights Worth Betting on the Card

The co-main event features Norma Dumont (13-2) against Joselyne Edwards (17-6) in a women’s bantamweight bout with significant title implications. Dumont is ranked number three in the division and has not been finished since 2020, demonstrating tremendous durability. A win here could put her in line for a championship fight. Edwards, known as “La Pantera,” holds four finishes of her own at number eleven in the rankings. This is a competitive matchup between two contenders, and Dumont’s durability and ranking make her a reasonable choice if you want to add a co-main bet.

In the lightweight division, Rafa Garcia (18-4) faces Alexander Hernandez (18-8). Garcia averages 3.13 takedowns per fifteen minutes, making him a serious wrestling threat, while Hernandez brings momentum from a four-fight win streak that includes back-to-back KO and TKO victories. Hernandez’s finishing power is real, but if Garcia can drag him into a wrestling match, the outcome could look very different.

The heavyweight bout between Marcus Buchecha (5-2-1) and Ryan Spann (23-11) is a fight built for entertainment. Buchecha is widely regarded as the greatest BJJ competitor of all time, holding a fourth-degree black belt, and brings rare submission skills to the cage. Spann fights with an all-or-nothing style he has described as “kill or be killed.” This combination virtually guarantees fireworks. A bet on Over 1.5 rounds at plus money is worth considering — Buchecha needs time to work his submission game, and Spann has enough toughness to survive early pressure. The fight has the ingredients to go past the first round even with the finishing ability on both sides.

Finally, in the bantamweight division, Montel Jackson (15-3) vs. Raoni Barcelos (21-5) is a matchup where Jackson’s eight-inch reach advantage is a real physical factor. Reach in combat sports matters — it allows a fighter to control distance, land strikes from outside, and reduce the opponent’s ability to get comfortable. Jackson’s KO power combined with that reach advantage makes him a compelling moneyline play.

If you are betting UFC for the first time this week, keep it simple: back Sterling at +105 in the main event, take Jackson on the moneyline, and throw a small bet on Buchecha versus Spann going over 1.5 rounds. You can track the latest live UFC odds as the card approaches. For those placing bets in the Silver State this weekend, Nevada sports betting is fully legal and widely available — this is one of the best places in the country to be on fight night.