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Youssef Zalal will headline a UFC event for the first time in his career this weekend. The 29-year-old Moroccan fighter debuted in the UFC in 2020, winning his first three fights before suffering three losses and a draw. After leaving for the American promotion Sparta, where he earned three first-round finishes, Zalal returned to the UFC in 2024. Since his return, he has won three consecutive fights by submission and defeated ranked opponents Calvin Kattar by decision and Josh Emmett by first-round armbar. Currently ranked number 7 in the featherweight division, directly behind Gene Silva, a victory over Aljamain Sterling would move him into the top 5.
AgentMMA.com
