UFC Fight Night 274: Sterling Vs. Zalal Live Results

Welcome to Wrestling Inc.'s live coverage of UFC Fight Night 274, headlined by Aljamain Sterling versus Youssef Zalal at the Meta Apex in Las Vegas. 

Sterling is looking to become a two-weight champion having previously held the UFC Bantamweight title, becoming the only UFC star thus far to win a title via disqualification after Petr Yan delivered an illegal knee in the fourth round. He defended the title three times before losing it Sean O'Malley in 2023, moving up to featherweight where he has since chalked up a 2-1 record to sit at No. 5 in the rankings. 

Zalal will be looking to secure his sixth win on the trot since 2024, sitting now at No. 7. He was on a four-fight winless run prior to a 2022 hiatus, including a loss to Ilia Topuria. 

Prior to that, Norma Dumont looks to cement her place at the top of the women's bantamweight rankings sat at No. 3 against No. 11 Joselyne Edwards. 

Rafa Garcia faces Alexander Hernandez at lightweight. Davey Grant faces Adrian Luna Martinetti and then Montel Jackson faces Raoni Barcelos, both at bantamweight. The main card is due to be kicked off with a heavyweight bout between Marcus Buchecha and Ryan Spann. 

Fight Night will be available to watch via Paramount+ in the US as well as internationally via TNT Sports and UFC Fight Pass, with the preliminary fights due to begin at 5 PM ET and the main card with the aforementioned bouts at 8 PM ET. 

Prelims: 

• Strawweight: Talita Alencar def. Julia Polastri via Unanimous Decision (29-28; 29-28; 29-28)
• Welterweight: Victor Valenzuela def. Max Griffin via Unanimous Decision (29-28; 29-28; 29-28)
• Lightweight: Francis Marshall def. Lucas Brennan via Unanimous Decision (30-27; 30-27; 30-27)
• Bantamweight: Cody Durden def. Jafel Filho via Unanimous Decision (30-27; 30-27; 29-28)
• Bantamweight: Michelle Montague def. Mayra Bueno Silva via Unanimous Decision (30-27; 29-28; 29-28)
• Middleweight: Jackson McVey def. Sedriques Dumas via Submission in Round One
• Middleweight: Eric McConico def. Rodolfo Vieira via Unanimous Decision (29-28; 29-28; 29-28)

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The fight gets underway and both Buchecha and Spann are feeling one another out, throwing isolated shots and stepping back to reassess. Buchecha shoots for a takedown first, but Spann defends it well and assumes control on top of Buchecha. 

Buchecha switches and takes the waist control, he looks to trip Spann but he lands in a position precariously close to a guillotine. Buchecha slips that and Spann eventually finds his way to his feet to resume the stand up. 

Buchecha throws a quick Sparta kick to push Spann backward and shoots for the legs again; Spann defends it well and they wind up in a stalemate of sorts, Spann more than comfortable to rest over Buchecha. He stands, calls for Buchecha to do the same, and the stand up is back on. 

Buchecha throws a nasty calf kick that sweeps Spann off balance, Buchecha goes for another takedown, once again ends up risking the guillotine but rolling out of it to take things to the floor again. Spann once again in control over Buchecha on the ground, Spann throws two hammerfists and gets back up, but Buchecha stays on his back for the remainder of the round. 

Round two gets underway and the pair jab at one another, but Herb Dean calls an official time out because Buchecha was throwing nothing but extended fingers. The fight restarts, and although he does not make contact, Dean calls another OTO for Buchecha's reaching fingers. 

Buchecha throws wildly and seemingly outstretched from this position, getting caught with a receipt. Spann's turn to come forward now, and it pays off as he levels Buchecha with left and right hooks. Dean calls it right away. 

Ryan Spann def. Marcus Buchecha via TKO in Round Two

Round one begins and Jackson throws a stiff left body kick that drops Barcelos to the ground, Jackson continues to pepper Barcelos with punches against the cage but he still manages to get back to his feet, clinging to the waist and restricting Jackson against the cage. 

The stand-up resumes after Barcelos finds nothing there, and Jackson continues to connect jabs with kicks to great effect until throwing a body kick caught by Barcelos. Barcelos trips him and takes it to the ground, Jackson manages to get back to his feet. 

They play patty-cake for a bit before Barcelos comes forward with a jab and wrestles Jackson down to the ground. He tries to get the choke locked in but twice does Jackson manage to slip out of it. He finally gets it in tight but the buzzer goes to signal the end of the round. 

Round two begins and they each land a shot on one another before effectively a minute of hesitance passes. Twice does Jackson manage to deny an attempted takedown, and then Barcelos tries another one. Jackson backs up against the cage and defends it well, goes down but comes back up just as quickly. 

Barcelos comes forward but gets tagged on the chin twice, steps back, and comes back in for the takedown. Once again he has Jackson against the cage and finally manages to get him on the ground. Barcelos mounts and continues to throw shots, he cinches in the rear choke again but once again Jackson waits it out and survives the round.

Round three begins with Barcelos almost immediately going for the single leg. They spend a while in a stalemate and the stand-up eventually resumes. Barcelos tags Jackson's chin with a single right straight but Jackson comes back with a combination. That opening allows Barcelos to get another takedown.

Once again Jackson gets up and the grapple is taken to the cage. Back to the stand up and Jackson lands a clean left head kick. Barcelos shoots for the single, trips Jackson but again he finds his feet against the cage. Barcelos tries to trip but Jackson hops out of it, Barcelos lands a kick to the nose but the round and thus the fight comes to an end. 

Raoni Barcelos def. Montel Jackson via Split Decision (29-28; 29-28; 28-29)

Round one begins and both are swinging freely with great accuracy, Martinetti just the quicker and more snappy compared to the firm if a little lethargic shots from Grant. 

Martinetti continues to slip and work the body, returning when Grant drops the guard for a flurry. Grant trying to make space with swinging shots and kicks but Martinetti is comfortably slipping them. Martinetti hits a spinning kick to the body. Grant is finding room with punches-in-bunches returning just as Martinetti fires a solitary shot off. Round one comes to an end. 

Round two begins with Grant begins with kicks to the legs, but Martinetti pushes him back with a right overhand. Grant is stinging Martinetti with calf kicks. Martinetti's solution is to switch stance and come forward.

Grant hit a high kick, goes for another but slips. Martinetti comes forward, absorbing Grant's swinging shots to try and get something on the inside. He doesn't find it and the stand-up resumes. Grant continues to plaster Martinetti with front kicks to the body, follows up with a left head kick. 

Martinetti catches Grant with a a left open-palm strike, but gets rocked by a stern right hook and smiles through it, eyes glassier and blinking the stars away. Martinetti with two solid right hands to the nose but gets clinched and kneed for it. Grant recreates that right hand from before, making use of Martinetti coming forward in the unfamiliar southpaw stance. 

Martinetti connects with an accurate spinning backfist and Grant holds his arms up like this is what he wants, but the round comes to an end before the action can continue. 

Round three begins and both are throwing and landing, Martinetti goes for a takedown attempt but it doesn't come to anything. Grant continuing to out-throw Martinetti. 

Martinetti does find some promise with two shots to the chin and head, but he doesn't follow up. Martinetti coming forward and throwing a little more, pairing slapping strikes with elbows. Martinetti looks like he might be out of answers. 

Grant with a combo upstairs that rattles Martinetti's head but he continues through it. Grant is peppering Martinetti as he comes forward. Martinetti does get a takedown at last, a little clumsy and desperate but successful all the same. 

Martinetti almost gets the choke but Grant slips it, gets back up and starts throwing, bleeding Martinetti's nose. Martinetti tries a fatigued and hopeless rolling thunder, the round and the fight comes to an end. 

Davey Grant def. Adrian Luna Martinetti via Unanimous Decision (29-28; 29-28; 29-28)

Round one begins and Hernandez is forced to the outside by Garcia, having to come forward, get his shots off, and step back. Garcia shoots for the takedown against the cage and gets a slam to an audible "Ohhh" from the crowd. 

The stand-up resumes and Hernandez is still trying to find some space only to get chased back by Garcia. Hernandez shoots for a takedown but it's defended really well by Garcia, and as they stand up Garcia takes the time to lay some shots in. But the round comes to an end. 

Round two begins, Hernandez's nose is bleeding. He's still searching for a way in, but Garcia is still the more accurate and imposing when he comes back. Hernandez slips as he comes forward, jabbing the air. 

Garcia grazes past Hernandez's head with a left kick. He follows up with a left then a right. Hernandez's face is getting redder and redder. Another right counter snaps Hernandez's head back. Garcia is throwing accurate shots, restrained to two or three at a time, to great effect. Left, left, planting the foot, swinging with the right. 

Hernandez sticks Garcia with a good right jab but has no follow-up. Round two comes to an end with a little jawing and the fighters getting in one another's face. 

Round three begins much the same, Hernandez trying to find something only to be threatened by Garcia's flurry. Hernandez is finding more this round but still seems unable to find the combination to the safe. Garcia happy to go for the takedown and to wrestle with Hernandez against the cage, eventually getting the takedown but the ultimately standing back up with nothing gained but time wasted. 

Less than a minute to go and Hernandez looks spent. He does come forward, a little braver now and turning up the volume. Both are throwing and leaving nothing unsaid. The round and the fight comes to an end with the pair swinging mercilessly. 

Rafa Garcia def. Alexander Hernandez via Unanimous Decision (29-28; 29-28; 30-27)

Round one begins with both Edwards and Dumont opening with leg kicks. Dumont continues in that vein while being wary of the dangerous flurries of Edwards, and then she opts to wrestle with Edwards and look for the takedown. 

Edwards now with the control over Dumont against the cage. Both continue to make use of the stalemate with knees from the inside. Edwards tries to get the takedown but Dumont falls on top of her and assumes the side control. Now both are just throwing elbows into the sides of one another. Edwards tries and gets the roll-over to reverse the position. Edwards picks her up briefly and slams her back to the ground, it does nothing but the round comes to an an end anyway. 

Round two begins and Dumont is throwing more to begin with, using some of those throws to dissuade Edwards from coming forward. Both are throwing and searching for the mark but have each other scouted really well, but Edwards manages to get a solid switch kick off to an "Ohh" from the crowd. 

Edwards comes forward with a Sparta kick, and continues to use her leading leg as a jabbing mechanism as she comes forward. Dumont happy now to stand back and look for the counter, but that is a dangerous tactic in the face of the power behind Edwards' shots, even if they have yet to find their mark in the moment. 

Edwards comes forward to grapple now, pushing Dumont against the cage as the ten-second clapper sounds. But nothing really comes of it as the round comes to an end. 

Round three begins with both fighters showing their respect to one another. Edwards is opening up a little more and throwing three-four punches at a time in quick succession. Edwards now searching for a finish, throwing front kicks and a spinning kick to little effect – but the intent is there. 

Dumont is forced to come in for the clinch after receiving more of those fast-paced punches to the body, and the pair start to exchange knees while clinched against the cage. Dumont pushes her off. Edwards continues to use teeps to come forward. Teases a bicycle kick but Dumont steps back, and follows up instead with another flurry of shots this time upstairs. 

The round and the fight comes to an end with both firing shots to no avail. 

Joselyne Edwards def. Norma Dumont via Unanimous Decision (29-28; 30-27; 29-28)

Round one begins with both feeling one another out, Sterling throwing big kicks that miss even bigger. Zalal far more content just to take his time and watch Sterling's movement. 

Sterling is trying to move upstairs with the hands a little more, connecting with a nice right cutting close to the jaw. He shoots for a takedown but Zalal appears to have it dealt with. Zalal comes forward, Sterling throws a leg kick that wipes out the leg from beneath Zalal and sends him to the floor. 

Zalal looks for the triangle in the grappling exchange on the floor, but Sterling postures up to prevent it. The round comes to an end with Sterling in control. 

Round two begins and Sterling comes forward with calf kicks. Sterling presses forward with the jab and clinches up with Zalal against the cage. Zalal comes back with a solid knee to the cheek, wobbling Sterling only slightly. Two stinging right inside leg kicks land for Sterling on Zalal and he looks to be coming forward with a little more behind him. 

He clinches up with Zalal against the cage. Zalal gives a nod after getting a stern shot to the gut. Zalal is coming forward with the jab now, getting tagged as he comes in all the same. This time coming forward Zalal is stung with a calf kick and Sterling gets the takedown. 

Sterling has Zalal mounted and is raining down punches. Zalal adjusts backwards, breaks the body triangle but continues to get lit up with punches from Sterling in the process. Sterling has Zalal in a half-Nelson, Zalal rolls through but Sterling rolls with him and continues to bury his fist in the side of his head. But the round comes to an end and grants Zalal a reprieve. 

Round three begins and Sterling is backing Zalal up once more with testing straights. Sterling goes for another takedown against the cage, picks up and slams Zalal. Zalal is looking for a guillotine choke and looks to have it in, but Sterling defends it really well and gets out of it. 

Zalal continues to press from the mounted position but Sterling is squirming with him and not allowing any room for great effect. Sterling makes a big noise with an up-kick to the face of Zalal. Zalal gets back on the ground with Sterling after that. Now he has the body triangle and is looking for the rear choke. The last ten seconds of the round are spent with Sterling getting up to one knee with Zalal on his back. 

Round four gets underway and Sterling is on the chase, pushing Zalal against the cage, dialing up the tempo with shots upstairs, and going for the takedown. He has the back control on the ground, looking for the choke. He throws punches into the side of Zalal's head looking to loosen him for the choke. 

Zalal desperately tries to fight out of the submission, refusing to tap out even as his blood vessels bulge from his forehead. The referee could have been forgiven for calling it there. 

Zalal tries to roll Sterling off but Sterling just follows him from the body triangle. Now Sterling has the top mount and sprawl over Zalal, sinking punches in. He could get an arm triangle here. Even as Zalal manages to get to his feet, Sterling is peppering him with shots. But the round comes to an end before anything major happens. 

Round five is here and Zalal is now the one coming forward after his corner told him he needs this. Sterling is on the back foot now, but then he manages to reverse Zalal into the cage with the waist control. 

The crowd breaks into dueling "Aljo" and "Youssef" chants for the fighters as they grapple against the cage. The grappling breaks off after nothing gained and Sterling comes back with punches, which prove to be a great segue into a successful takedown. 

Sterling continues to maintain control over the back of Zalal, sinking more and more punches as he searches for the rear choke. He finishes the fight with slaps and punches to the head of Zalal, not scoring the finish but cementing what should be a clean sweep across the judges. 

Aljamain Sterling def. Youssef Zalal via Unanimous Decision (49-45; 49-45; 49-45)