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Tag: Youssef Zalal

  • “Statement Win” – Aljamain Sterling Dominates Youssef Zalal

    “Statement Win” – Aljamain Sterling Dominates Youssef Zalal

    Aljamain Sterling may now find himself in contention for a potential bantamweight title shot after a one-sided, mostly master-class performance against Youssef Zalal in the main event of UFC Vegas 116.

    A competitive first round saw plenty of striking exchanges, with Sterling seeming to land the more effective strikes. Sterling also scored a takedown during the round, taking over two minutes of top control time.

    The two continued to have their exchanges on the feet in round two; however, Sterling again was able to take the fight to the ground and control from there. He emphasized this control with some solid ground-and-pound before the round’s end.

    Zalal stole the momentum in the third round, threatening a tight guillotine choke early before Sterling worked his way out. It was Zalal’s best round, landing sharp strikes and gaining back control.

    Sterling, however, took everything right back with a dominant, 10-8-worthy fourth round. Sterling put on a dominant display, controlling Zalal and landing more ground-and-pound while threatening submissions.

    Sterling added one more takedown and strong ground session to end the fight, with all three judges scoring the fight 49-45 in his favor.

    Aljamain Sterling Puts On Master Class Ground Performance On Youssef Zalal At UFC Vegas 116

    Sterling is now 3-1 since moving up to featherweight. The former bantamweight champion entered this fight off a win over Brian Ortega last August. His only loss in the division came against Movsar Evloev.

    This is Zalal’s first UFC loss since his return to the promotion in 2024. He entered this fight 5-0 in his second Octagon stint, coming in off a submission of Josh Emmett at UFC 320.

  • UFC Vegas 116 Results: Sterling vs. Zalal Live Updates & Highlights

    UFC Vegas 116 Results: Sterling vs. Zalal Live Updates & Highlights

    UFC Vegas 116 results and highlights are updated live as the action unfolds from the Meta Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada. The main event will feature a featherweight bout between Aljamain Sterling vs. Youssef Zalal. MMANews has you covered with all the results and highlights!

    Aljamain Sterling vs. Youssef Zalal – Featherweight Main Event

    Sterling moved up to featherweight after the end of his bantamweight title run. Sterling defeated Calvin Kattar at UFC 300 in his first bout at 135, but he was defeated by Movsar Evloev at UFC 310. Sterling last fought at UFC Shanghai this past August, defeating Brian Ortega.

    Zalal has won eight straight and is currently 5-0 in his second stint with the UFC. He comes into this bout off a submission of Josh Emmett at UFC 320.

    The co-main event will feature Norma Dumont taking on Joselyne Edwards. Dumont has won six straight, most recently scoring a split decision over Ketlen Vieira at UFC Vegas 110 in November. Edwards has won four straight, most recently submitting Nora Cornolle at UFC Houston in February.

    If you can’t watch the action, check here for all the latest results and highlights from UFC Vegas 116!

    How to Watch UFC Vegas 116

    • Date: Saturday, April 25, 2026
    • Venue: Meta Apex, Las Vegas, Nevada
    • Streaming: Paramount+ (exclusive)
    • Prelims: 5 PM ET / 2 PM PT
    • Main Card: 8 PM ET / 5 PM PT

    UFC Vegas 116 Quick Results

    • Main Event: Aljamain Sterling vs. Youssef Zalal — Aljamain Sterling def. Youssef Zalal via unanimous decision (49-45 x3)
    • Co-Main Event: Norma Dumont vs. Joselyne Edwards — Joselyne Edwards def. Norma Dumont via unanimous decision (29-28 x2, 30-27)
    • Rafa Garcia vs. Alexander Hernandez — Rafa Garcia def. Alexander Hernandez via unanimous decision (29-28 x2, 30-27)
    • Davey Grant vs. Adrian Luna Martinetti — Davey Grant def. Adrian Luna Martinetti via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
    • Montel Jackson vs. Raoni Barcelos — Raoni Barcelos def. Montel Jackson via split decision (29-28 x2, 28-29)
    • Marcus Buchecha vs. Ryan Spann — Ryan Spann def. Marcus Buchecha via KO (Rd. 2, 2:10)

    UFC Vegas 116 Results & Highlights

    Preliminary Card (Paramount+, 5 PM ET)

    Women’s Strawweight: Talita Alencar vs. Julia Polastri

    Results: Talita Alencar def. Julia Polastri via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)

    Welterweight: Max Griffin vs. Victor Valenzuela

    Results: Victor Valenzuela def. Max Griffin via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)

    Lightweight: Francis Marshall vs. Lucas Brennan

    Results: Francis Marshall def. Lucas Brennan via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)

    Bantamweight: Jafel Filho vs. Cody Durden

    Results: Cody Durden def. Jafel Filho via unanimous decision (30-27 x2, 29-28)

    Women’s Bantamweight: Mayra Bueno Silva vs. Michelle Montague

    Results: Michelle Montague def. Mayra Bueno Silva via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28 x2)

    Middleweight: Jackson McVey vs. Sedriques Dumas

    Results: Jackson McVey def. Sedriques Dumas via submission (D’Arce choke) (Rd. 1, 2:14)

    Middleweight: Rodolfo Vieira vs. Eric McConico

    Results: Eric McConico def. Rodolfo Vieira via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)

    Main Card (Paramount+, 8 PM ET)

    Heavyweight: Marcus Buchecha vs. Ryan Spann

    Results: Ryan Spann def. Marcus Buchecha via KO (Rd. 2, 2:10)

    Bantamweight: Montel Jackson vs. Raoni Barcelos

    Results: Raoni Barcelos def. Montel Jackson via split decision (29-28 x2, 28-29)

    Bantamweight: Davey Grant vs. Adrian Luna Martinetti

    Results: Davey Grant def. Adrian Luna Martinetti via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)

    Lightweight: Rafa Garcia vs. Alexander Hernandez

    Results: Rafa Garcia def. Alexander Hernandez via unanimous decision (29-28 x2, 30-27)

    Women’s Bantamweight: Norma Dumont vs. Joselyne Edwards

    Results: Joselyne Edwards def. Norma Dumont via unanimous decision (29-28 x2, 30-27)

    Featherweight: Aljamain Sterling vs. Youssef Zalal

    Results: Aljamain Sterling def. Youssef Zalal via unanimous decision (49-45 x3)

  • “Zalal Is A Monster” – Fans & Fighters React To Youssef Zalal’s Lightning Quick Submission Win Over Josh Emmett At UFC 320

    “Zalal Is A Monster” – Fans & Fighters React To Youssef Zalal’s Lightning Quick Submission Win Over Josh Emmett At UFC 320

    Youssef Zalal has now scored perhaps the biggest and most impressive win of his UFC career, needing just 98 seconds to put away former interim title challenger Josh Emmett at UFC 320.

    Emmett attempted to pressure and flash his power, but Zalal showed off his speed and managed to score a quick takedown in on Emmett. Zalal quickly worked his way to wrap himself up on Emmett. Zalal transitioned quickly into an armbar, locking it in and scoring a verbal submission victory.

    Youssef Zalal Scores Verbal Submission Of Josh Emmett At UFC 320

    Zalal, who is currently in his second UFC run, now sees his win streak increase to eight. Before tonight, he most recently defeating Calvin Kattar in February.

    Emmett now has four losses in his last five fights.

  • Youssef Zalal: UFC Followers Are “The worst fans I’ve ever seen in my life”

    Youssef Zalal: UFC Followers Are “The worst fans I’ve ever seen in my life”

    Youssef Zalal is not particularly fond of the mixed martial arts fanbase and recently expressed why ahead of a high stakes featherweight fight. During an interview with Farah Hannoun of MMA Junkie, Zalal touched on multiple topics ahead of his consequential contest with Josh Emmett at UFC 320 on October 4th.

    When touching on the MMA fanbase’s style of interfacing with the sport from a fighter’s perspective, Zalal said,

    “The fans are spoiled. All they care about is what you did the last fight. That’s all they care about. They don’t care about your whole story. They don’t care about nothing. Some guys didn’t even, like, I saw some comments, I think they were saying like, ‘Oh, he’s on a like three and three or something like that.’”

    “I’m like, you guys obviously are the worst fans I ever seen in my life. I fought four fights in 11 months. I was one of the most active guys in the featherweight. And to go have three finishes and two bonuses, and then they still; it’s not enough. We’re spoiled human beings. It’s crazy.”

    Youssef Zalal: Josh Emmett “had no choice” in accepting UFC 320 bout

    Youssef Zalal and Josh Emmett have quasi history with one another with the two set to settle their score in the cage in the coming weeks. Zalal previously called out the former UFC interim title challenger but Emmett at the time of the callout, circa February, indicated he was looking for something a bit bigger in the division. Touching on their prior interactions and how we got to this bout booking becoming locked in, Zalal stated [via MMA Junkie],

    “He’s at a point where he had no choice. He either had to wait a year or so to fight, or fight right now. Obviously, we’ve got a bunch of young guys coming in and a bunch of prospects coming in, and they need to fight, and that’s why I feel he had no choice in a way. It is what it is.”

    Zalal vs. Emmett pits the number nine and number eight ranked contenders, respectively, at 145 pounds against one another in Las Vegas at UFC 320.

  • Josh Emmett vs. Youssef Zalal Booked For UFC 320 Main Card

    Josh Emmett vs. Youssef Zalal Booked For UFC 320 Main Card

    A key top-10 featherweight matchup has been made official for UFC 320, as Josh Emmett will take on Youssef Zalal.

    The UFC announced the news during the UFC Shanghai broadcast, confirming that the bout will take place during the pay-per-view’s main card.

    Emmett and Zalal are currently ranked No. 8 and 9, respectively, in the UFC featherweight rankings as of UFC Shanghai.

    Josh Emmett To Meet Youssef Zalal At UFC 320

    Emmett has lost three of his last four. After over a year away from the Octagon, Emmett returned at UFC Vegas 105 in April, dropping a decision to potential future title challenger Lerone Murphy.

    Zalal has won his last seven straight and is a perfect 4-0 since returning to the UFC last year.

    UFC 320 is headlined by a light heavyweight title rematch between Magomed Ankalaev and Alex Pereira and Merab Dvalshvili defending the bantamweight championship against Cory Sandhagen.

  • Youssef Zalal Accuses Calvin Kattar Of Underhanded Tactics At UFC Vegas 102: ‘Slipperiest Guy I’ve Ever Seen’

    Youssef Zalal Accuses Calvin Kattar Of Underhanded Tactics At UFC Vegas 102: ‘Slipperiest Guy I’ve Ever Seen’

    Youssef Zalal may have had his hand raised at Saturday’s UFC Fight Night, but he believes achieving the win was made more difficult by some potential cheating.

    Zalal recorded the biggest win of his career to date in this weekend’s co-main event at the Apex, where he outpointed top-10 opposition in perennial featherweight contender Calvin Kattar.

    But while he’s now won seven straight and can expect a high number next to his name come Tuesday’s rankings update, “The Moroccan Devil” wasn’t totally happy in the aftermath of his triumph.

    During his post-fight press conference, Zalal appeared to accuse Kattar of cheating by greasing his body to ensure an advantage in grappling exchanges.

    “This is the crazy part: We worked a lot of grappling, and I sh*t you not, I felt like there’s Vaseline all over his legs,” Zalal said. “I swear to God, he was the most slipperiest guy I’ve ever seen in my life, and I felt like I’m not trying to be that guy with this and that (excuse). But man, that was suspicious, bro.

    “Nobody slides like that – that quick. I’ve fought a lot of good guys – Jack Shore and all those guys – and I felt when you’re dry and all that stuff, there’s no way. It is what it is. You can cheat the sport, you can do whatever you want.”

  • ‘Zalal To PFL For Running An Entire Round’ – Fans Split As Youssef Zalal Outpoints Calvin Kattar At UFC Vegas 102

    ‘Zalal To PFL For Running An Entire Round’ – Fans Split As Youssef Zalal Outpoints Calvin Kattar At UFC Vegas 102

    Youssef Zalal received the biggest opportunity of his career thus far when he took on Calvin Kattar in the co-main event of UFC Vegas 102. But while he scored a decision win, the result led to a mix of reactions from MMA fans.

    Kattar tried to take control of the fight from the get-go, looking to blitz with the striking that led him to popularity during his Octagon career. Zalal, however, took advantage of that by using his footwork, keeping distance and landing counterstrikes.

    Footwork and distance continued to use this strategy and found success, frustrating Kattar over the course of the remaining 10 minutes to win the fight across all three judges’ scorecards.

    While some fans and media members felt it was excellent strategy, others were critical of the performance, stating Zalal would lose fans for the way he fought here.

    Youseef Zalal Splits MMA Fanbase With Performance In Win Over Calvin Kattar

    After his first stint in the UFC ended unceremoniously, Zalal has won seven straight and is now 4-0 since his return to the Octagon.

    Kattar, meanwhile, has now lost four straight and five of six since a January 2021 loss to Max Holloway.

  • Calvin Kattar vs. Youssef Zalal In The Works For UFC Fight Night On Feb. 15

    Calvin Kattar vs. Youssef Zalal In The Works For UFC Fight Night On Feb. 15

    Veteran UFC featherweight contender Calvin Kattar will need to defend his spot in the rankings this year following a difficult period.

    After a battering at the hands of Max Holloway, Kattar (23-8) kept his name close to the title picture in 2022 by being on the opposite end of a destructive display against Giga Chikadze.

    But “The Boston Finisher” hasn’t had his hand raised since. He fell on the wrong side of a contentious split decision against Josh Emmett, lost to Arnold Allen after tearing his ACL mid-fight, and most recently failed to spoil Aljamain Sterling’s featherweight debut at UFC 300.

    With that losing skid in mind, Kattar will unsurprisingly be fighting down the pecking order in 2025. And should plans come to fruition, that’ll seemingly be against the charging Youssef Zalal (16-5-1).

    The fight was announced by Zalal during an appearance on the JAXXON Podcast.

    Zalal exited the UFC in 2022 after going 0-3-1 across a four-fight run, in which he lost to Ilia Topuria, Seungwoo Choi, and Sean Woodson. But since working his way back with three wins on the regional scene, he’s been unstoppable.

    The 28-year-old Moroccan went 3-0 under the UFC banner in 2024, submitting Billy Quarantillo, Jarno Errens, and Jack Shore to earn a shot at the rankings and the featherweight top 10.

    With this addition, the current fights expected to take place at the UFC Fight Night on Feb. 15 are as follows:

    • Jared Cannonier vs. Gregory Rodrigues (middleweight main event)
    • Edson Barboza vs. Steve Garcia (featherweight)
    • Calvin Kattar vs. Youssef Zalal (featherweight)
    • Yuneisy Duben vs. Carli Judice (women’s flyweight)
    • Ismael Bonfim vs. Nazim Sadykhov (lightweight)
    • Gabriel Bonfim vs. Rinat Fakhretdinov (welterweight)
    • Jose Delgado vs. Connor Matthews (featherweight)
    • Billy Ray Goff vs. Nikolay Veretennikov (welterweight)
    • Dylan Budka vs. Edmen Shahbazyan (middleweight)
    • Vince Morales vs. Elijah Smith (bantamweight)
    • Jesus Aguilar vs. Rafael Estevam (lightweight)
    • Don’Tale Mayes vs. Valter Walker (heavyweight)
    • Kaue Fernandes vs. Jared Gordon (lightweight)
  • VIDEO: Youssef Zalal Sets Up Club & Sub With Brutal Knee At UFC Edmonton

    VIDEO: Youssef Zalal Sets Up Club & Sub With Brutal Knee At UFC Edmonton

    Youssef Zalal is definitely a name to look out for moving forward after he racked up a third straight finish courtesy of a submission during the UFC Edmonton preliminary card.

    The first round between Zalal and Welsh standout Jack Shore was close, with the latter having the better quality action. The Moroccan, however, had more control time that prevented Shore from mounting additional attacks.

    Things quickly came to an end early in the second round when Zalal landed a perfectly timed knee that dropped Shore. “The Moroccan Devil| followed his stricken opponent to the mat and delivered some strong ground-and-pound before locking up an arm-triangle choke that scored the tap.

    Youssef Zalal Earns Third Straight Submission With Victory Over Jack Shore At UFC Edmonton

    The result marked Zalal’s third straight submission, all coming this year, after he defeated Billy Quarantillo in March and Jarno Errens in August.

    Meanwhile, after starting his career 16-0, former bantamweight Shore has now lost three of his last four Octagon outings.