UFC Vegas 116 Best Bets: Full Card Picks, Props, and Betting Predictions

After invasions of Miami and Winnipeg over the last couple of weeks, the Octagon is back at home base with UFC Vegas 116 at the Meta Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The main event of the April 25 card will feature former bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling continuing his path toward a featherweight title shot, taking on rising contender Youssef Zalal.

After dropping the bantamweight title, Sterling moved up to featherweight in 2024, defeating Calvin Kattar in his division debut at UFC 300 before a loss to Movsar Evloev at UFC 310. Sterling last fought at UFC Shanghai last August, defeating Brian Ortega.

Zalal has won eight straight since the end of his first UFC run. He’s 5-0 since returning to the promotion in 2024, most recently submitting Josh Emmett at UFC 320.

The co-main event of the evening will see Norma Dumont take on Joselyne Edwards. Dumont has won six straight and nine of her last 10 fights, most recently scoring a split decision over Ketlen Vieira at UFC Vegas 110. Edwards, who takes this fight on short notice, has won four straight, coming into tonight off a submission of Nora Cornolle at UFC Houston in February.

The rest of the main card includes Rafa Garcia vs. Alexander Hernandez, Davey Grant vs. Adrian Luna Martinetti, Montel Jackson vs. Raoni Barcelos, and Marcus Buchecha vs. Ryan Spann.

ALJAMAIN STERLING VS YOUSSEF ZALAL

This is going to be an interesting matchup because you have Sterling’s wrestling and his championship-level experience against Zalal, who has developed into a solid, well-rounded fighter. Sterling is going to be the toughest test for Zalal, and his skills mean it would be shocking if he managed to submit the former champion. Sterling is still a solid competitor, and he will look to control the action and push the pace against Zalal. This should be a fun fight that goes either way, but it won’t be shocking if this one goes the full 25 minutes.

BET: Fight to go the distance (DraftKings, FanDuel, & BetMGM: -160)

MAYRA BUENO SILVA VS MICHELLE MONTAGUE

Personally, I was never the highest on Mayra Bueno Silva as she was coming up through the ranks, and things seem to have just gotten worse and worse since her 2023 win over Holly Holm was overturned. She’s got decent takedown defense and grappling, but it still leaves a lot to be desired. And now she’s on a bad losing skid as she takes on Michelle Montague in her second UFC bout.

Montague scored a win over Luana Carolina in her UFC debut in Australia this past September. She was a solid finisher in her days before the UFC, including her run with the PFL. She definitely has some upside; it’s just a matter if she’ll get the submission or a decision. We’re going to lean decision here only for the matter of experience. Bueno Silva has been hard to finish, and the opponents Montague faced prior to the UFC did not have the best records when facing them.

BET: Montague via decision (FanDuel: +110)

JACKSON MCVEY VS SEDRIQUES DUMAS

Except for one fight from his amateur days, Jackson McVey has been “finish or be finished.” His first-round finish streak on the regional scene was fun and caught the attention of the UFC. McVey, however, has been submitted by Brunno Ferreira and Zach Reese in his first two UFC bouts. Sedriques Dumas, a 2022 alumnus of Dana White’s Contender Series, hasn’t had a great deal of success either, entering this bout with a 3-4 (1 NC) Octagon record.

Dumas scored plenty of finishes prior to his UFC days, but we haven’t seen that play out in the Octagon. Still, the way McVey does things in his fights, it’s hard to imagine this one going a full 15 minutes.

BET: McVey to win in rounds 1-2 (Caesars: -120)