The fight will be at the 145lbs limit, and the 13th of the event, which is scheduled to take place on Sunday, April 26 (from 07:00 AEST).

Quick Picks

Our pick: Zalal to win

Value bet: Zalal to win by submission

Long shot: Sterling to win

Tale of the Tape

Sterling walks in with championship-level experience and elite grappling, while Zalal brings improved striking, slick submissions, and underrated cardio after a recent three-finishes streak.

Sterling is a pressure-oriented, wrestling-heavy strategist who hunts control and submissions from the top.

He pushes forward, cuts the cage, uses clinch-striking and underhooks to set up takedowns, then rides opponents down and grinds them out with top-control chains and rear-neck-focused subs. He has 8 wins by submission.

Zalal is a switch-stance, freestyle-infused fighter who looks for scrambles, counters, and slick submissions on the way in or out of the cage.

He circles, feints, and uses distance management to bait level-changes or counters, then dives into scrambles from the stand-up or against the cage where his arm-triangle, RNC, and guillotine shine. Zalal has 10 wins by submission.

How do the two compare? Sterling's figures are first…

• Age - 36 vs 29

• Height - 5'7" (171cm) vs 5'10" (178cm)

• Stance - Orthodox vs Switch

• Record - 25-5-0 vs 18-5-1

• KO Record - 3 vs 4

Betting Preview

How have they performed in their last five fights?

Sterling's last five fights:

• Brian Ortega - Win (UD, 5) - Aug 2025

• Movsar Evloev - Loss (UD, 3) - Dec 2024

• Calvin Kattar - Win (UD, 3) - Apr 2024

• Sean O'Malley - Loss (TKO, 2) - Aug 2023

• Henry Cejudo - Win (SD, 5) - May 2023

Zalal's last five fights:

• Josh Emmett - Win (Sub, 1) - Oct 2025

• Calvin Kattar - Win (UD, 3) - Feb 2025

• Jack Shore - Win (Sub, 2) - Nov 2024

• Jarno Errens - Win (Sub, 1) - Aug 2024

• Billy Quarantillo - Win (Sub, 2) - Mar 2024

Betting Markets to Watch

Zalal enters this bout as the slight favourite, meaning there could be value worth exploring in Sterling as a slight underdog.

Although Sterling doesn't have the best of form at the moment, he is more accomplished in the Octagon and has shown his veteran abilities in recent bouts, especially when being forced to go the distance.

However, this might be considered a long shot.

Zalal has won each of his last eight pro MMA fights, winning five of his last six pro MMA fights by submission.

This arguably gives him the edge, with the value being in a submission victory. Sterling, though, has never been submitted.

Our Prediction

Check the latest Sterling vs Zalal betting odds at Sportsbet.

Our prediction is that Zalal is the likely winner, with a win by submission offering big value.

Our long shot is that Sterling upsets the odds and wins as the underdog. There's every reason that he can achieve a win with his experience, but we do deem it unlikely.

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