LAS VEGAS – Caution: Youssef Zalal may be closer than he appears.
Zalal (17-5-1 MMA, 7-3-1 UFC) steps into the biggest fight of his life Saturday at UFC 320 when he battles perennial contender Josh Emmett (19-5 MMA, 10-5 UFC) in a three-round featherweight bout at T-Mobile Arena. The bout is part of the main card, which streams on ESPN+ pay-per-view.
The UFC featherweight division is in a bit of an unclear position. Zalal thinks he could shoot up the ladder and into the immediate conversation should he be able to do something not even former titleholder Ilia Topuria could do.
“Finishing Josh Emmett will 100 percent get me either a title shot or get me into the conversation of a title shot, no questions asked,” Zalal told reporters including MMA Junkie on Wednesday. “To go finish that guy, the last time that guy got finished, the guy fought for the belt, for the interim belt. So for me to go out there and do that and obviously, like you said, the pound-for-pound No. 1 guy couldn’t do it, even though that was an easy matchup for Ilia Topuria, I think. But Josh Emmett, bro, he’s well-known. He’s more well-known than me. I still don’t think anybody knows my name yet. I really take this week to get this respect and that’s what I’m here for.”
Zalal, 29, has had quite the journey through MMA competition to this point. Released from the UFC in 2022, Zalal went 3-0 before Sean Shelby circled back with a short-notice opportunity. He submitted Billy Quarantillo, Jarno Errens, and Jack Shore before he beat Calvin Kattar by unanimous decision in February.
Saturday could continue the improbable career turnaround for the Morocco-born fighter as he searches for UFC gold.
“Volk does not have a fight,” Zalal said. “That’s all I know so far. So for me, going out there and doing a statement. I come in this week to change my life, and I really do believe I will do that. I feel like he had his time. He made a lot of money, a lot of stuff like that. I’m just getting started. I really do believe this week is my week, and I can’t wait to go out there and really showcase all the skills that I know I’m capable of.”
