Yussef Zalal to headline UFC event for first time in career

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 consecutive bouts and one no contest. After leaving for the American promotion Sparta, where he earned three first-round finishes, he returned to the UFC in 2024. Since his return, Zalal has won three consecutive submission victories and defeated ranked opponents Calvin Kattar by decision and Josh Emmett by first-round armbar. The 29-year-old currently sits at #7 in the featherweight rankings, just behind Geon Silva, and could enter the top five with a win over Sterling.