EDMONTON, Alberta, Canada – UFC occasion headliner. That’s a label Youssef Zalal needs to have by the top of 2025.
The rising UFC featherweight prospect has had a stellar return to the promotion. Zalal (16-5-1 MMA, 6-3-1 UFC) returned earlier this yr after being reduce in 2022 and has picked up three consecutive submission wins within the octagon, together with Saturday at UFC Battle Evening 246.
Zalal was not solely assured he was going to place away Jack Shore (17-3 MMA, 6-3 UFC), however that he was additionally going to kill it in his return to the UFC.
“That is what I anticipated,” Zalal informed reporters on the UFC Battle Evening 246 post-fight press convention. “That is the stress that I placed on myself. I really feel like earlier than, I used to be similar to, ‘Oh I simply wish to win,’ and I inform this to my coaches and crew and younger, upcoming guys: ‘Successful is cool, however performing is best.’ That is the distinction between being good and being elite.’”
For Zalal, the following step goes past getting a superb title for his subsequent outing. He’s additionally prefer to compete in the primary occasion of a UFC card.
“I’ve been calling all these guys out,” Zalal mentioned. “I referred to as (out Edson) Barboza. I referred to as Alex Caceres. I referred to as all these guys. My purpose is to headline a card in 2025, and I’m on the trail of doing that. I’ll maintain doing what I have to do to earn that spot, and my time will come.”
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