Youssef Zalal to headline UFC event for first time this weekend

Moroccan featherweight 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. He left for the American promotion Sparta, where he scored three first-round finishes. Zalal returned to the UFC in 2024 and has won five straight fights, including submission victories over ranked opponents Calvin Kattar and Josh Emmett. He is currently ranked number seven at featherweight and will face Aljamain Sterling, with a victory potentially moving him into the top five.