Featherweight contenders aim to advance toward a title shot this Saturday at UFC Vegas 116, when former bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling collides with Youssef Zalal.Meta Apex events admittedly stand out much more these days and not for the better yet their main events, more often than not, can be counted on to hold some value. Thats where Sterling vs. Zalal comes in a fight between a former champ seeking one last chance at glory and a rising contender who had to leave the UFC entirely before finding his footing. On top of all that, theyve trained together extensively, as recently as last year.The co-main event also carries subtle intrigue, more for the surprising fact that UFC, for once, has chosen not to bury female contenders entirely. Norma Dumont returns, doing her best to hold on as bantamweights clear top contender who still cant earn a title shot to save her life. Shell look to extend her win streak while ending Joselyne Edwards own. UFC Vegas 116s lineup Crown grade: D+. Betting odds via BetMGM.Aljamain Sterling is aiming for one more title run, but this time at featherweight.Jeff Bottari via Getty Images145 pounds: Aljamain Sterling (+115) vs. Youssef Zalal (-140)Zalal is on the most low-key roll of a lifetime right now, and he deserves much more respect for it than hes received. The man is on an eight-fight UFC win streak with only a single decision on that run. Largely a submission artist, his striking has caught up significantly with his overall game, and quite frankly, its safe to call him a better fighter than Sterling at this juncture.Sterling, 36, does what he does and does it extremely well: Thats, for the most part, wrestling. Funkmaster has mastered the art of backpacking in a fighting sense, while controlling dominant positions anywhere a fight can go. He fights well at range to establish his moments for closing. But between those sequences, he opens himself to strikes from quicker opponents. Those moments are where Zalal can and will capitalize.Against strong wrestlers, Zalal has performed. Josh Emmett, Zalals last fight, is the best example, but it only lasted less than two minutes. Zalal secured a wildly slick armbar before there was even a chance for him to be controlled. Real wrestling resistance has yet to meet Zalal on this run. His experience, specifically against Sterling in training, could theoretically make that a moot point. At the same time, Sterling will have his own familiarity.In a fight like this, experience can be so pivotal, and Sterling hasnt shown any signs of going on a slide. This could be a vintage performance in either direction, but Sterling is the lean.Pick: Sterling135 pounds: Norma Dumont (-235) vs. Joselyne Edwards (+190)Dumontmania is running wild, brothers and sisters! The more you dissect the Brazilians six-fight win streak, the more it puts her in the same box with featherweight contender Movsar Evloev: Theyre decision machines. Despite that, their talents cant be denied.Edwards has been the opposite in her past four fights. The Panamanian has impressively split her knockouts and submissions her competition level has just been far lower than that of Dumonts. Edwards is a thrasher on the mat. Her ground-and-pound is a problem when on top, potentially leading to a stoppage or opening up submissions. The well-roundedness and high fight IQ of Dumont have put her above everyone else in the 135-pound contender line. Outside of the Irene Aldana fight, which she won by going strike-for-strike, Dumont fights by exploiting her opponents weaknesses and staying sharp defensively. Unless she gets caught in a bad position, expect more of the same.Pick: Dumont155 pounds: Rafa Garca (+110) vs. Alexander Hernandez (-135)Rafa Garcia is ready to get over the hump. But thats also never easy in the UFC lightweight division and Alexander Hernandez has seemingly done that himself, after years of a slow build that followed early hype derailment.This matchup makes for easy entertainment under the Apex lights. Make of that what you will. These two come to bang and itll play into Hernandezs favor. His counter wrestling abilities will give Garcia struggles, and even if he gets behind, hes managed to find ways to score the finish still late.At this point, Hernandez is ready for another crack at the top 15. A win here should do the trick.Pick: HernandezDavey Grant wants to prove he still has some fight left in the tank.Jeff Bottari via Getty Images135 pounds: Davey Grant (-120) vs. Adrin Luna Martinetti (+100)Davey Grant has his hands full once again. At age 40, Grant has to turn back the surging Ecuadorian Adrian Luna Martinetti in what looks like a clear gatekeeper welcome party.The Brit has long been as tough as they come at 135 pounds, and his longevity and durability at his age are to be commended. But throwing him in with a young, hungry dog like Martinetti, who has won 15 straight? Creativity doesnt get much better than scoring a gogoplata in your career that alone should earn your interest in Martinettis stock.Martinetti is a quick starter, which bodes well for him in this fight despite the experience gap. Thats all there is to this one. Martinettis rsum is lacking, but hes made up for it with performances youd expect from a prospect of his caliber.Pick: Martinetti135 pounds: Montel Jackson (-190) vs. Raoni Barcelos (+155)Avoid this fight at all costs if youre a gambler.Sorry, Grant. I know what I just said in the section above, but Raoni Barcelos is bantamweights top ageless wonder, and hes proven that with his surprising four-fight win streak. Montel Jackson had finally appeared to reach his potential until running into former flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo in October and getting shut down.Dont get me wrong. Jackson had his moments in that fight, but it was a disappointing performance considering how far hes come. Simply put, Barcelos has been the more consistently reliable fighter here, possessing surprising durability, but most importantly, superior grappling to his peers. Hes still got it.Pick: Barcelos265 pounds: Marcus Buchecha (-150) vs. Ryan Spann (+125)In a million years, I never would have expected to see Marcus Buchecha and Ryan Spann fight. The heavyweight division never stops doing what it does best: Be silly.Buchechas phenomenal jiu-jitsu skills have yet to translate from ONE Championship. Could they finally be shown off against Spann? Absolutely. Will they be? Flip a coin.Unpredictability was a theme in our previous fight, but here, its a guarantee.Spann has always been a heavy puncher, providing danger at every turn. His lack of consistency can be attributed to more of a mental battle for him, which hes spoken about. Bolt or get bolted even if hes also been deceivingly savvy with his choke game. He shouldnt at all be a submission threat in this matchup, but you know what? Its heavyweight in the UFC. Its going to be weird. Give me Spann via submission.Pick: SpannMayra Bueno Silva has quite the ship to right.Jeff Bottari via Getty ImagesPreliminary NotesMayra Bueno Silva is in full-on desperation mode. Her attempt at becoming a UFC bantamweight champion feels like an eternity ago not that the fight was ultra-memorable as is. But shes lost four straight since. Silva did her best to get back on track by returning to flyweight last year, but still couldnt get the job done. Its a mystery what went wrong, but shes fighting for her job on Saturday.Meanwhile, the UFC continues to turn a blind eye to Sedriques Dumas, who was arrested on five charges last year. Dumas allegedly entered his ex-girlfriends home without permission, threw her around a room, and snatched necklaces from her neck. He is 3-4, with 1 no-contest, in the promotion.Quick picks:Rodolfo Vieira (-275) def. Eric McConico (+220)Michelle Montague (-425) def. Mayra Bueno Silva (+310)Sedriques Dumas (+170) def. Jackson McVey (-210)Jafel Filho (-650) def. Cody Durden (+475)Francis Marshall (-600) def. Lucas Brennan (+425)Max Griffin (+125) def. Victor Valenzuela (-150)Talita Alencar (+200) def. Julia Polastri (-250)