Tag: youssef zalal

Morocco’s Youssef Zalal is eyeing a rematch with UFC Featherweight champion Ilia Topuria, determined to rewrite the story of their first encounter.

Youssef Zalal Wants Ilia Topuria Rematch

Youssef Zalal first faced Topuria on October 11, 2020, and lost the fight by unanimous decision in a hard-fought three rounds. Topuria’s grappling was dominant, and the victory helped the Georgian-Spanish fighter climb the ranks to eventually secure the UFC Featherweight Championship in February 2024.

Reflecting on the potential future fight against Ilia Topuria, Zalal said, “Oh, bro, why not? It’s a whole story, bro. Like, the storyline is right there. You talk about promotion—that’s like a big promotion right there. It’s like you fought the guy in his UFC debut. He’s your only decision, and you’re both coming up. He got kicked out and came back, so there’s a whole story behind this. So, 100%.”

Zalal’s journey to this potential rematch has been marked by perseverance. After a brief stint outside the UFC, due to struggling inside the organization, he returned stronger. In his second UFC run, he earned Performance of the Night bonuses and captured the attention of fans and analysts. The loss to Topuria remains a motivating factor in Zalal’s career.

As for Topuria, the undefeated fighter has seen his incredible rise in the sport. For Zalal, the opportunity to face Topuria again represents a chance to settle unfinished business and prove how far he’s come since their initial meeting. Youssef Zalal is currently on an impressive six-fight win streak and just submitted Jack Shore in the UFC.

Morocco’s Youssef Zalal faced a pivotal moment in his career during his UFC journey. In 2020, Zalal found himself up against an undefeated force, Ilia Topuria, under challenging circumstances. When Zalal’s original opponent pulled out just days before the bout, he had to quickly adapt.

Youssef Zalal vs. Ilia Topuria

“I’m in Abu Dhabi, I land, and I get a call. They’re like, ‘Yeah, your opponent pulled out,’” Zalal recalls. “I say, ‘What the fck do you mean my opponent pulled out? I’m fcking seven days away from the fight.’” The shock didn’t end there.

“They’re like, ‘Yeah, but we got you this guy,’” Zalal continues, “I said, ‘Okay, what’s his record?’ ‘Fcking 8-0 or 9-0 or some sht like that. All finishes, never seen a decision.’ And I said, ‘F*cking great. Thank you. Like, this is awesome, bro.’”

Zalal’s new opponent, Ilia Topuria, was an undefeated juggernaut. The challenge of facing someone on such short notice didn’t deter Zalal. Instead, he took the opportunity in stride.

“I go in and fight this guy, and I was like, first round, they said he’s a grappler,” Zalal explained. “And I was like, ‘Okay.’ I didn’t know this f*cker was a Greco-wrestler. That’s the only highlight you see of him—ever tossing my ass.”

Despite the sudden adjustment, Zalal faced Topuria with resilience, but the fight saw Ilia Topuria’s grappling power earn the W. The bout went the full three rounds, with Topuria’s control on the ground proving too much for Zalal to overcome, and Topuria secured the unanimous decision victory.

Topuria’s success in the division, culminating in his February 2024 UFC Featherweight Championship win against Alexander Volkanovski, has only highlighted the significance of their encounter, as both fighters’ careers have continued to rise.

Zalal’s experience against Topuria in 2020 has proven invaluable in his development. The fight may have ended in a loss for Zalal, but it propelled him towards future success. He is now on a six-fight win streak with his most victory being a submission win against Jack Shore.