UFC Fight Night heads to the Apex in Las Vegas on Saturday, April 25, 2026, with a compelling featherweight main event between Aljamain Sterling and Youssef Zalal.

Zalal comes in as a slight betting favorite, largely due to his recent momentum and finishing ability, while Sterling is priced as a live underdog thanks to his elite grappling pedigree and championship experience.

This matchup boils down to a classic matchup of explosiveness and grappling vs pace and striking.

UFC Fight Night Predictions & Picks: Saturday, April 25th

This card offers a mix of veteran experience and rising prospects, making it an intriguing slate for bettors. Events at the Apex often favor fighters who can control positioning and pace, especially grapplers who can rack up control time.

Key betting angles to consider:

  • Wrestlers and control-heavy fighters tend to perform well 
  • Underdogs with finishing upside are worth small-unit plays 
  • Many fights trend toward decisions due to tighter, technical matchups 

 

 

 

Sterling vs. Zalal (Main Event)

  • Pick: Sterling by Submission (+460)

Sterling has gone 2-1 since moving to featherweight, earning decision wins over Calvin Kattar and Brian Ortega on either side of a loss to undefeated top contender Movsar Evloev. His submission pedigree is well-established, but the wrinkle here is that Zalal isn't just a striker. He submitted Jack Shore via arm-triangle choke at :59 of the second round and more recently submitted Josh Emmett in R1 at 1:38, so there's a real grappling layer to this matchup that makes the ground game unpredictable. That said, Zalal's submission game is more opportunistic than systematic; he hunts chokes off scrambles. Sterling is the more technically refined submission artist, and if he can dictate where the fight goes, he's the sharper grappler. The concern with this line is that Zalal enters as a significant underdog but is riding an 8-fight win streak and has beaten both Calvin Kattar and Josh Emmett. Sterling has made clear he wants this win badly to push for the Volkanovski title shot. At +460, you're being paid well for a submission that's absolutely within Sterling's range if he can get Zalal to the mat and slow the pace down.

Michelle Montague vs Mayra Bueno Silva

  • Pick: Montague by Submission (+320) 

The narrative heading into this one couldn't be more tilted against Bueno Silva. She extended her current losing streak to four consecutive fights with a unanimous decision loss to Jacqueline Cavalcanti last November, and the weigh-in drama compounded the concern. She needed the curtain to make weight and immediately became emotional while standing on the scales and when leaving the stage. She technically made it at 136, but the optics of a fighter in tears at a weigh-in are hard to ignore from a mental preparation standpoint. Montague enters as a heavy -450 favorite and the consensus is clear. From a tactical standpoint, Bueno Silva's upright stance leaves her vulnerable to a level change, and her center of gravity makes takedown defense difficult from that position. Montague is undefeated and won her UFC debut cleanly. The submission angle makes sense because Bueno Silva historically engages on the ground; her grappling instincts are there, but they've been trending the wrong way. Montague getting the sub at +320 is the value play here.

Jafel Filho vs Cody Durden

  • Pick: Filho Round 2 (+340) 

This one got even more interesting with the late changes. Lucas Rocha withdrew due to an undisclosed injury, and Cody Durden stepped in on less than a week's notice, a massive preparation disadvantage against a submission specialist. Durden enters on a four-fight losing streak and is 1-6 in his last seven UFC appearances, with his most recent loss a unanimous decision just seven weeks ago in March. This isn't just short notice. It's short notice while trending in the wrong direction. Filho made short work of Clayton Carpenter in October with a first-round submission, rebounding from a prior loss to Allan Nascimento and entering with clear momentum. The Round 2 prop is the sweet spot because Durden has the veteran toughness to survive some early chaos. He relies on gritty wrestling to grind opponents, but Filho's submission danger compounds over time, and a fighter on a week of prep with four straight losses isn't going to maintain that wrestle-heavy game plan deep into the fight. If Filho doesn't get him early, the gas tank and game plan both start to crack in Round 2.

How To Bet On My UFC Picks At DraftKings

To place these bets using DraftKings:

  1. Log in to your account 
  2. Navigate to the UFC section 
  3. Select Fight Night: Sterling vs. Zalal 
  4. Choose your bets (moneyline, props, parlays) 
  5. Enter your wager and confirm 

A balanced strategy is key—combine safer picks with a few high-upside props.

 

 

 

How to Watch UFC Fight Night on Paramount+, Sterling vs. Zalal Saturday Night

You can stream the full card live on Paramount+.

  • Prelims: 5 PM ET 
  • Main Card:  8 PM ET 

The event takes place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas and features a full slate of fights from prelims to the main event.

UFC Fight Night Odds & Score $300 Promo At DraftKings

For this event, DraftKings is offering promotional deals that typically include:

  • Bet-and-get offers (e.g., bet a small amount to receive bonus bets) 
  • Odds boosts on select fights 
  • Parlay insurance or profit boosts