Youssef Zalal set to headline UFC event for first time this weekend

Moroccan featherweight Youssef Zalal will headline a UFC card for the first time this weekend. The 29-year-old debuted in the UFC in 2020, winning his first three fights before going through a rough patch with three losses and one draw. After competing successfully in the American promotion Sparta with three first-round finishes, Zalal returned to the UFC in 2024. Since his return, he has won three fights by submission and defeated ranked opponents Calvin Kattar by decision and Josh Emmett by first-round armbar. Currently ranked No. 7 at featherweight, directly behind Jean Silva, Zalal will face Aljamain Sterling in a bout that could elevate him into the top five with a victory.