Youssef Zalal revealed his ambition to match Charles Oliveira's record for most submissions in featherweight history, which currently stands at six. Zalal has four submissions in the division and says he needs two more victories to equal Oliveira's mark. He specifically mentioned his upcoming opponent Aljamain Sterling, noting that Sterling has never been submitted in his career—only finished twice by TKO and knockout. Zalal stated it would be a great source of pride if he could become the first fighter to submit Sterling. The comment underscores Zalal's grappling confidence heading into UFC Vegas 116.
Youssef Zalal has set his sights on a piece of featherweight history ahead of UFC Vegas 116, publicly stating his intention to match Charles Oliveira's divisional record of six submission victories — a mark Zalal says he is just two wins away from reaching.
Zalal, nicknamed "The Moroccan Devil," carries an 18-6-1 professional record and currently holds a No. 12 ranking in the featherweight division. The 29-year-old American, who trains out of Factory X, has built his reputation around a well-rounded grappling game, averaging 2.17 takedowns and 1.4 submission attempts per 15 minutes. Four of his featherweight submissions already put him within striking distance of Oliveira's benchmark.
The record he is chasing belongs to Charles Oliveira, the Brazilian veteran currently ranked No. 3 at lightweight and No. 11 in the pound-for-pound standings. Oliveira, 36, remains one of the most dangerous submission artists in UFC history, posting an extraordinary 2.6 submission attempts per 15 minutes across his career.
Standing between Zalal and that next submission is Aljamain Sterling, and Zalal was candid about the magnitude of that challenge. Sterling, also 36, holds a 26-5-0 record and sits at No. 4 in the featherweight rankings. The "Funk Master" has never been submitted in his professional career, with his only two finishes coming by TKO and knockout. Zalal acknowledged that reality directly, framing a potential submission victory over Sterling as something that would bring him enormous pride — making history in the process by becoming the first fighter to put Sterling away on the mat.
Why it matters
- A submission finish would move Zalal to five in the featherweight division, one away from Oliveira's all-time record
- Sterling's submission-proof résumé makes the stylistic challenge significant; his 71-inch reach and orthodox stance present a compact, tested defensive profile
- A Zalal win over a top-five featherweight would carry serious ranking implications, potentially pushing him well inside the division's elite
