UFC Vegas 102 Co-Headliner Youssef Zalal earned a second chance in promotion under bizarre conditions.
UFC Vederweight Youssef Zalal's exchange in the promotion was one of the Feel-good stories of 2024. While Zalal is starting to start a bang of 2025, he thought about the long way he took to earn a second chance of the UFC matchmakers after his release in 2022.
Zalal will be confronted in the UFC APEX facility this Saturday opposite UFC Fan Favorite Calvin Kattar in the UFC Vegas 102 Co-Main event. He returns to the cage after submitting Jack Shore in his most recent fight in November in UFC Edmonton.
After he was released by the UFC in 2022, Zalal concentrated on cutting a path back to the Octagon. Zalal participated in Sparta Combat League in Colorado, a regional promotion with a unique tournament size.
Zalal's first tournament experience contained three different martial arts disciplines, and despite the obvious challenges, Zalal did not prove themselves by the steep tasks for him.
The Sparta Combat League tournament contained the opening round of the bracket that was only boxing, the second round was a kickboxing competition and the final was aimed at MMA.
Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
Youssef Zalal fought in a three-sport tournament to earn the second chance in UFC
In a recent interview with Uncrowned, Zalal explained how a unique tournament set him up for a final UFC on new signing.
“The first round was f – boxing, and I have to face him,” said Zalal. “I was s-my pants, bro. All other boys were allowed to fight kickboxers and MMA hunters in boxing, and I get stuck against a legitimate boxer in a boxing match. I had no choice but to come after.
“I was so nervous for that fight against the boxer – as soon as I defeated him, I celebrated as if I won the whole thing. Coach calm me as: “Yo, you have to relax, we have to get you in the back.” I had something like: “What do you mean?” Bro, I have forgotten that I fought in a tournament! (H/t Unkowned)
Zalal won the Sparta Tournament Championship by submitting Vadim Zadnipryanyi. But after the tournament, Zalal did not immediately offer a second chance in the UFC, because the matchmakers offered him an alternative place in the ultimate hunter.
After the alternative lock was not out, Zalal was given a short-notice call to see Billy Quarantillo in March during a UFC Fight Night event. He submitted Quarantillo in the second round to start a 3-0 run in the UFC in 2024.
Youssef Zalal made a 'Fighter of the Year' business in 2024
Zalal's first stint in the UFC, starting in 2020, contained three straight victories over Austin Lingo, Jordan Griffin and Peter Barrett. But a loss for the current UFC-Fedweight champion Ilia Topuria started a four-field Winless Skid and he was cut by the promotion after a majority of Da'mon Blackshear in August 2022.
Zalal vs. Kattar is expected to be a firefight as long as it takes if at UFC Vegas 102. Kattar fights with a lot on the line, after a crooked defeat against Aljamain Sterling on UFC 300 in April.
UFC Vegas 102 has a middleweight main event between top candidates Jared Cannonier and Gregory Rodrigues.
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