UFC Fight Night 274 live results: Aljamain Sterling vs. Youssef Zalal
The UFC closes out a busy month of April with the Octagon back inside the Meta Apex in Las Vegas for UFC Fight Night 274.
The main event is a pivotal five-round bout at featherweight as former UFC Bantamweight Champion Aljamain Sterling takes on Youssef Zalal. Sterling is gunning to become a two-division champion and is looking to score his second straight win on the path to a title shot. Zalal has risen up the 145-pound rankings during his second UFC stint, winning eight straight fights overall and all five of his UFC bouts during his second run.
The co-main event is a battle of ranked women’s bantamweights as Norma Dumont battles Joselyne Edwards. Also on the main card is a lightweight fight between Rafa Garcia and Alexander Hernandez; a bantamweight bout pitting Montel Jackson against Raoni Barcelos; and a heavyweight opener between Marcus Buchecha and Ryan Spann.
PRELIMS | 5 PM ET/2 PM PT
> Women’s Strawweights- Talita Alencar (7-1-1, 3-1 UFC) vs. Julia Polastri (14-5, 2-2 UFC)
Both looking to establish their range in the first minute as they don’t trade until a minute in. They trade kicks. Polastri lands a hard body kick. Alencar lands a high kick. Alencar lands a right hand and Polastri counters with a leg kick. Polastri lands a series of kicks. Polastri lands a stiff jab. Alencar with a leg kick followed by a right hand. Alencar scores with a body kick. Polastri lands a jab followed by a body kick. Polastri lands a body kick and they trade right hands before Polastri puts it against the fence, but they break the clinch. Alencar scores a takedown but Polastri is throwing upkicks. Alencar with a leg kick as Polastri is on her back. Polastri tries to get up, but Alencar keeps it down and gets to side control. Alencar with a few shots from the top. 10-9 Alencar.
Polastri lands a stiff jab. Alencar lands a right hand. Polastri with a stiff inside leg kick. They trade kicks before both land punches in close range. Polastri starting to land with more volume as she lands a body kick. Polastri lands a jab. Alencar throws some kicks that Polastri blocks, but Alencar lands a combo. Polastri lands a high kick. They trade inside the pocket. Polastri lands a body kick. Polastri snaps Alencar’s head back with a jab. Polastri lands a body kick, but Alencar grabs it and scores a takedown. Alencar gets into the half-guard. Alencar lands a pair of elbows, though she got warned for back to the head shots. Alencar lands to the body from the top. Alencar lands some elbows from the top. 10-9 Alencar, 20-18 Alencar.
Alencar with a body kick and a spinning back fist. Alencar lands a combo as Polastri lands a leg kick. Polastri with a body kick and Alencar lands a right hand. They trade jabs. They trade as Alencar looks for a takedown. Alencar with a right hand followed by a high kick. They trade. Polastri lands a right hand. Alencar lands a solid combination. Polastri with a leg kick. Alencar lands a solid right hand. They trade kicks and Polastri lands a jab. Alencar lands a body kick. Polastri lands a combo. Alencar with a right hand and they trade at the end. 10-9 Polastri, 29-28 Alencar.
Fight Result- Talita Alencar def. Julia Polastri by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
> Welterweights- Max Griffin (20-12, 8-10 UFC) vs. Victor Valenzuela (13-4, 0-0 UFC)
Neither has landed in the first 90 seconds. Valenzuela lands a leg kick. Griffin lands as they almost clinch up. Valenzuela lands and then lands a body kick. Valenzuela shoots for a takedown but Griffin defends and just misses a right hand. Griffin lands a short combo. Griffin lands a right hand as Valenzuela comes forward. Valenzuela with an inside leg kick. They trade and Valenzuela lands a body kick. Valenzuela lands a pair of right hands and Griffin counters and almost gets a takedown. Valenzuela defends as they work to the feet. 10-9 Valenzuela.
Valenzuela lands a pair of body kicks. Griffin with a leg kick. Valenzuela lands a left hand as he comes forward. Griffin lands a leg kick. Valenzuela lands a spinning back fist as Griffin scores a takedown and he nearly had a choke locked in as they scramble up and separate. Griffin lands a leg kick and looks for a takedown, but lands a right hand as he abandons the attempt. Griffin with a short combo as he advances. Valenzuela tries a wheel kick but Griffin ducks under and scores a takedown. They scramble up and Griffin lands an elbow in the clinch. Valenzuela has the body lock and drags it to the knees. They separate and both land combinations. 10-9 Griffin, 19-19.
Valenzuela lands a big combination and had Griffin in trouble. Griffin recovers and scores a takedown. Griffin controls for a moment before they work to their feet. They trade and Valenzuela connects with a solid right hand. Valenzuela lands a right hand as Griffin is backing up. Valenzuela lands a jab. Griffin lands a combination. Griffin looks for a takedown but Valenzuela defends. Valenzuela with a short uppercut. Valenzuela lands a left hand and pushes Griffin to the mat. Valenzuela lands an elbow and a knee. Griffin lands a right hand. Valenzuela with a small combination and he lands a body kick. Valenzuela lands a knee and Griffin lands a right hand. Griffin lands a knee. Valenzuela with a high kick and lands a combo. 10-9 Valenzuela, 29-28 Valenzuela.
Fight Result- Victor Valenzuela def. Max Griffin by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
> Lightweights- Francis Marshall (9-3, 3-3 UFC) vs. Lucas Brennan (11-2, 0-0 UFC)
Marshall lands a right hand followed by a leg kick. Marshall with a quick combination and lands a right hand that forces Brennan to look for a takedown. Marshall scores a takedown and lands from the top. Marshall continues to land and control from the top. Marshall working inside the half-guard of Brennan. Marshall lands to the body. Brennan looks for a heel hook as he attacks the leg. Marshall escapes and ends up back on top. Marshall lands an elbow. They get to their feet. 10-9 Marshall.
> Bantamweights- Jafel Filho (17-4, 3-2 UFC) vs. Cody Durden (17-10-1, 6-8-1 UFC)
> Women’s Bantamweights- #12 Mayra Bueno Silva (10-6-1 1 NC, 5-6-1 1 NC UFC) vs. Michelle Montague (7-0, 1-0 UFC)
> Middleweights- Jackson McVey (6-2, 0-2 UFC) vs. Sedriques Dumas (10-4 1 NC, 3-4 1 NC UFC)
> Middleweights- Rodolfo Vieira (11-4, 6-4 UFC) vs. Eric McConico (10-4-1, 1-2 UFC)
MAIN CARD | 8 PM ET/5 PM PT
> Heavyweights- Marcus Buchecha (5-2-1, 0-1-1 UFC) vs. Ryan Spann (23-11, 9-6 UFC)
> Bantamweights- #14 Montel Jackson (15-3, 9-3 UFC) vs. Raoni Barcelos (21-5, 10-4 UFC)
> Bantamweights- Davey Grant (15-8, 8-7 UFC) vs. Adrian Luna Martinetti (17-1, 0-0 UFC)
> Lightweights- Rafa Garcia (18-4, 6-4 UFC) vs. Alexander Hernandez (18-8, 10-7 UFC)
> Women’s Bantamweights- #3 Norma Dumont (13-2, 9-2 UFC) vs. #11 Joselyne Edwards (17-6, 8-4 UFC)
> Featherweights- #5 Aljamain Sterling (25-5, 17-5 UFC) vs. #7 Youssef Zalal (18-5-1, 8-3-1 UFC)
MMA writer & live coverage specialist, contributor to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter