Youssef Zalal Explained

Youssef Zalal
Other Names:The Moroccan Devil
Birth Date:4 September 1996
Birth Place:Casablanca, Morocco
Weight Lb:145
Weight Class:Bantamweight (2022)
Featherweight (2017-2021, 2022-present)
Lightweight (2017)
Reach:72 in[1]
Rank:Brown belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Stance:Orthodox
Fighting Out Of:Denver, Colorado, U.S.
Team:Factory X
Years Active:2017–present
Mma Kowin:4
Mma Subwin:9
Mma Decwin:3
Mma Decloss:5
Mma Draw:1
Sherdog:229985

Youssef Zalal (ar|يوسف زلال;[2] born September 4, 1996) is a Moroccan professional mixed martial artist who currently competes in the Featherweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).

Early life

Zalal grew up fighting other kids on the streets of Morocco. His mother put him in kickboxing at the age of 10 to help control his anger. Zalal moved to the United States at age 15.[3]

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

In the beginning of his mixed martial arts career, Zalal fought primarily on the regional circuit in Colorado compiling a 7-2 record, with most of his fights happening for Legacy Fighting Alliance.[4]

Ultimate Fighting Championship

In his promotional debut, Youssef faced fellow newcomer Austin Lingo on February 8, 2020, at UFC 247.[5] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[6]

Youssef faced Jordan Griffin on June 27, 2020, at .[7] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[8]

Zalal faced Peter Barrett at on August 8, 2020.[9] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[10]

Zalal was expected to face Seung Woo Choi on October 11, 2020, at UFC Fight Night 179.[11] However, on October 1, 2020, Choi withdrew from the fight and was replaced by Ilia Topuria.[12] Zalal lost the fight via unanimous decision.[13]

Zalal faced Seung Woo Choi, replacing Collin Anglin, on February 6, 2021, at UFC Fight Night 184.[14] He lost the fight via unanimous decision.[15]

Zalal faced Sean Woodson on June 5, 2021, at .[16] He lost the fight via split decision.[17]

Zalal was scheduled to face Cristian Quiñonez on August 13, 2022, at .[18] However, Quiñonez was forced out of the event due to visa issues, and was replaced by Da'Mon Blackshear.[19] The fight ended in a majority draw.[20]

On August 25, 2022, it was announced that Zalal had been released from the UFC.[21]

Post UFC career

Following his release from the UFC, Youssef Zalal made a strong comeback in the MMA circuit. He showcased his skills at Sparta 93 on November 18, 2022, where he triumphed over Edwin Chavez via TKO within the first round. Zalal continued his winning streak on January 20, 2023, at SCL: Fight Night 14 - King of Sparta Welterweight, defeating Jake Childers also by TKO in the first round. His remarkable run persisted as he secured another victory on August 19, 2023, at Sparta Combat League 98, submitting Vadim Zadnipryanyi with an arm-triangle choke in the first round.[22]

Return to UFC

Zalal faced Billy Quarantillo, replacing Gabriel Miranda, on March 23, 2024, at UFC on ESPN 53.[23] He won the bout by a rear-naked choke submission in the second round.[24]

Zalal faced Jarno Errens on August 10, 2024, at UFC on ESPN 61.[25] He won the fight via a rear-naked choke submission in the first round.[26] This fight earned him a Performance of the Night award.[27]

Zalal faced Jack Shore on November 2, 2024 at UFC Fight Night 246.[28] He won the fight via an arm-triangle choke in the second round.[29] This fight earned him another Performance of the Night award.[30]

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts

Mixed martial arts record

|-||align=center|16–5–1|Jack Shore|Submission (arm-triangle choke)|||align=center|2|align=center|0:59|Edmonton, Alberta, Canada||-||align=center|15–5–1|Jarno Errens|Submission (rear-naked choke)| | |align=center|1|align=center|3:52|Las Vegas, Nevada, United States||-|Win|align=center|14–5–1|Billy Quarantillo|Submission (rear-naked choke)|||align=center|2|align=center|1:50|Las Vegas, Nevada, United States ||-|Win|align=center|13–5–1|Vadim Zadnipryanyi|Submission (arm-triangle choke)|Sparta Combat League 98||align=center|1|align=center|3:48|Superior, Colorado, United States||-|Win|align=center|12–5–1|Jake Childers|TKO (punches)|Sparta Combat League: Fight Night 14||align=center|1|align=center|1:53|Aurora, Colorado, United States||-|Win|align=center|11–5–1|Edwin Chavez|TKO (punches)|Sparta Combat League 93||align=center|1|align=center|3:44|Denver, Colorado, United States||-|Draw|align=center||Da'Mon Blackshear|Draw (majority)|||align=center|3|align=center|5:00|San Diego, California, United States||-|Loss|align=center|10–5|Sean Woodson|Decision (split)|||align=center|3|align=center|5:00|Las Vegas, Nevada, United States||-|Loss|align=center|10–4|Choi Seung-woo|Decision (unanimous)|||align=center|3|align=center|5:00|Las Vegas, Nevada, United States||-|Loss|align=center|10–3|Ilia Topuria|Decision (unanimous)|||align=center|3|align=center|5:00|Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates||-|Win|align=center|10–2|Peter Barrett|Decision (unanimous)|||align=center|3|align=center|5:00|Las Vegas, Nevada, United States||-|Win|align=center|9–2|Jordan Griffin|Decision (unanimous)|||align=center|3|align=center|5:00|Las Vegas, Nevada, United States||-|Win|align=center|8–2|Austin Lingo|Decision (unanimous)|UFC 247||align=center|3|align=center|5:00|Houston, Texas, United States||-| Win| align=center| 7–2| Jaime Hernandez| KO (flying knee)| LFA 79| | align=center| 1| align=center| 2:15| Broomfield, Colorado, United States| |-| Loss| align=center| 6–2| Matt Jones| Decision (split)| LFA 65| | align=center| 3| align=center| 5:00| Vail, Colorado, United States| |-| Loss| align=center| 6–1| Jose Mariscal| Decision (unanimous)| LFA 57| | align=center| 3| align=center| 5:00| Broomfield, Colorado, United States| |-| Win| align=center| 6–0| Steven Merrill| Submission (brabo choke)| LFA 56| | align=center| 1| align=center| 3:22| Prior Lake, Minnesota, United States| |-| Win| align=center| 5–0| Daniel Soto| Submission (rear-naked choke)| LFA 39| | align=center| 2| align=center| 1:38| Vail, Colorado, United States| |-| Win| align=center| 4–0| Joey Banks| Submission (armbar)| Paramount MMA: Contenders| | align=center| 3| align=center| 1:58| Denver, Colorado, United States| |-| Win| align=center| 3–0| Clay Wimer| Submission (guillotine choke)| Mile High MMAyhem 1| | align=center| 2| align=center| 2:42| Glendale, Colorado, United States| |-| Win| align=center| 2–0| Maurice Salazar| TKO (punches)| LFA 22| | align=center| 2| align=center| 4:41| Broomfield, Colorado, United States| |-| Win| align=center| 1–0| Michael Santos| Submission (brabo choke)| Sparta Combat League 61| | align=center| 3| align=center| 1:38| Denver, Colorado, United States| [31]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Youssef Zalal UFC. UFC.com. October 16, 2020.
  2. Web site: Azzam . Amr . 2024-03-25 . يوسف زلال بعد عودته إلى UFC: "أنا أحد أفضل المقاتلين في العالم" . Youssef Zalal after his return to the UFC: “I am one of the best fighters in the world” . 2024-03-25 . arabsmma . ar.
  3. Web site: Youssef Zalal is ready for the spotlight. UFC.
  4. Web site: Sherdog.com. Youssef. 2020-08-08. Sherdog.
  5. Web site: Nolan King and Mike Bohn. 2020-01-29. UFC 247 adds last-minute bout between newcomers Austin Lingo and Youssef Zalal. 2020-08-18. mmajunkie.usatoday.com.
  6. Web site: Shillan. Keith. 2020-07-08. UFC 247 Results: Youssef Zalal earns unanimous decision over fellow newcomer Austin Lingo. 2020-07-08. Cageside Press. en-US.
  7. Web site: MMA Fighting. 2020-06-19. Jordan Griffin vs. Youssef Zalal added to June 27 UFC show in Las Vegas. 2020-08-18. mmafighting.com.
  8. Web site: Doherty. Dan. 2020-06-27. UFC on ESPN 12 results: Youssef Zalal outworks Jordan Griffin. 2020-06-27. Cageside Press. en-US.
  9. Web site: King. Nolan. 2020-07-08. UFC on ESPN+ 32's Peter Barrett predicts 'ugly, bloody, disgusting, savage' fight vs. Youssef Zalalo. 2020-07-05. MMA Junkie. en-US.
  10. Web site: Doherty. Dan. 2020-08-08. UFC Vegas 6 Results: Youssef Zalal outclasses Peter Barrett. 2020-08-08. Cageside Press. en-US.
  11. Web site: David Tees. 2020-08-17. Youssef Zalal faces Seungwoo Choi at UFC Fight Night: Moraes vs. Sandhagen. 2020-08-18. fightful.com.
  12. Web site: DNA. MMA. 2020-10-02. Toptalent Ilia Topuria tekent bij de UFC, treft Youssef Zalal op 10 oktober in Abu Dhabi. 2020-10-02. MMA DNA. en-US.
  13. Web site: Bitter. Shawn. 2020-10-10. UFC Fight Island 5 Results: Ilia Topuria Stays Undefeated in Debut Win Over Youssef Zalal. 2020-10-11. Cageside Press. en-US.
  14. Web site: DNA. MMA. 2021-01-28. BREAKING: Youssef Zalal vervangt Collin Anglin tegen Seung Woo Choi op 6 februari. 2021-01-28. MMA DNA. en-US.
  15. Web site: Evanoff. Josh. 2021-02-06. UFC Vegas 18 Results: After Over a Year Away, Seung Woo Choi Defeats Youssef Zalal. 2021-02-07. Cageside Press. en-US.
  16. Web site: Youssef Zalal vs. Sean Woodson added to UFC Fight Night on June 5. mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Farah Hannoun and Nolan King. 2021-03-12. 2021-03-12.
  17. Web site: Behunin. Alex. 2021-06-05. UFC Vegas 28 Results: Sean Woodson Back in Win Column with Split Decision Over Zalal. 2021-06-06. Cageside Press. en-US.
  18. Web site: 2022-07-27 . Cristian Quiñonez vs. Youssef Zalal agregado a UFC San Diego - MMA.uno, #1 En noticias de Artes Marciales Mixtas (MMA) en Español. . 2022-07-30 . mma.uno . es.
  19. Web site: CFFC bantamweight champ Da'Mon Blackshear signs with UFC, faces Youssef Zalal in San Diego. mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Nolan King and Farah Hannoun. 2022-08-03. 2022-08-03.
  20. Web site: Bitter . Shawn . 2022-08-13 . UFC San Diego: Youssef Zalal and Da'Mon Blackshear Fight to Draw . 2022-08-15 . Cageside Press . en-US.
  21. Web site: Taylor . Christopher . 2022-08-25 . The UFC parts ways with four more fighters . 2022-08-26 . BJPenn.com . en-US.
  22. Web site: Road to redemption: Morocco’s Youssef Zalal beats 3 men in single night to earn another UFC crack . 2024-03-24 . Arab News . en.
  23. Web site: Billy Quarantillo vs. Youssef Zalal added to UFC Vegas 89. mmaaldia.com. Diego Martinez. 2024-03-12. 2024-03-16.
  24. Web site: Dewar . Val . 2024-03-24 . UFC Vegas 89: Youssef Zalal Showcases Improvements in UFC Return, Submits Billy Q . 2024-03-24 . Cageside Press . en-US.
  25. Web site: 2024-05-24 . UFC Vegas 95 Jarno Errens vecht voor tweede UFC overwinning tegen Youssef Zalal in Las Vegas . 2024-05-24 . Eurosport . nl.
  26. Web site: UFC Vegas 95: Youssef Zalal Submits Errens, Stays Perfect in Second UFC Run. cagesidepress.com. Val Dewar. 2024-08-10. 2024-08-10.
  27. Web site: UFC Vegas 95 Bonus Report: Serghei Spivac one of three fighters to take home an extra $50k. bjpenn.com. Chris Taylor. 2024-08-10. 2024-08-10.
  28. Web site: Jack Shore vs. Youssef Zalal Added to UFC Edmonton. cagesidepress.com. Jay Anderson. 2024-10-09. 2024-10-09.
  29. Web site: Youssef Zalal Lands Nasty Knee, Submits Shore. cagesidepress.com. Bryson Hester. 2024-11-02. 2024-11-02.
  30. Web site: UFC Edmonton Bonus Report: Dustin Stoltzfus one of four fighters to take home an extra $50k. bjpenn.com. Chris Taylor. 2024-11-02. 2024-11-02.
  31. Web site: Sherdog.com. Youssef. 2020-07-25. Sherdog.

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