Yussef Zalal to headline first UFC event after comeback win streak

Yussef Zalal will headline a UFC event this weekend for the first time in his career. The Moroccan fighter debuted in the UFC in 2020, winning his first three fights before losing three and drawing one. He then competed in the American promotion Sparta, where he scored three first-round finishes. Zalal returned to the UFC in 2024 and secured three submission victories before facing ranked opponents. He defeated Calvin Kattar by decision and then submitted Josh Emmett in the first round. The 29-year-old is currently ranked number seven in the featherweight division, positioned directly behind Gene Silva, and a victory over Sterling would move him into the top five.