Youssef Zalal to headline UFC event for first time this weekend

Moroccan fighter Youssef Zalal will headline a UFC event for the first time in his career this weekend. The 29-year-old debuted in the UFC in 2020, winning his first three fights before suffering three losses and a draw. After leaving for Sparta promotion where he scored three first-round finishes, Zalal returned to the UFC in 2024. He has since won three submission victories, then defeated ranked opponents Calvin Kattar by decision and Josh Emmett by first-round armbar. Zalal currently sits at number 7 in the featherweight rankings, directly behind Giga Chikadze. A victory over Aljamain Sterling would move him into the top 5 of the division.