Athletes
Youssef Zalal | Living With Purpose
Featherweight Discusses Ups And Downs Of His MMA Journey To Now Headlining His First UFC Main Event
If you’ve ever been around Youssef Zalal, you know that you normally hear him before you see him. And when you do finally encounter him, prepare to be welcomed with arms wide open and a big smile. Having spent time around “The Moroccan Devil” throughout the past few years, I was shocked to learn that he hasn’t always been that way.
“I was very, very shy. I was like super, super, super shy. I would not talk to girls. I would not talk to anybody. I was just like a shy kid, and once I graduated high school, I really started coming out of my shell a little bit.”
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Fighting wasn’t always in the cards for Zalal, who never even wanted to fight to begin with. His parents put him and his sister in kickboxing classes as kids, which is how his mixed martial arts journey began. After initially losing in the first tournament he competed in, Zalal got what he called the dopamine rush of winning his first fight, which is when his views on fighting changed, and he began to pursue it full-time, eventually moving to Denver, Colorado.
At the age of 18, Zalal’s life was turned upside down when his brother tragically passed away. The 29-year-old has been very open and honest about the impact this has had on his life, not only in fighting, but in everyday life.
Youssef Zalal Sit-Down Interview | UFC Fight Night: Sterling vs Zalal
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Youssef Zalal Sit-Down Interview | UFC Fight Night: Sterling vs Zalal
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“With my first career run in the UFC, I really didn't take purpose. I feel like that's the biggest difference, and the effect that he has on me is the purpose that I decided to switch and really follow. I think it's a learning experience and it's a life experience, and I know he'll be a part of me, and I can't wait to represent him even more, and I'll represent him till I'm the one that's gone.”
Zalal made his professional MMA debut in August 2017, rattling off six straight wins, with five of them coming by submission. Two and a half years into his pro career, he got the call to make his UFC debut in Houston, Texas. After winning three straight, Zalal dealt with some road bumps, losing three straight and getting handed a draw, which ultimately led to him getting cut from the roster.
RELATED: Aljamain Sterling Out To Make A Statement | Sterling Fight Week Interview
For a kid in his twenties, Zalal admits he didn’t handle things well.
“I really didn't know what was going to happen. I had no clue. I think that's one of the first times I sat down and was like what's next? I remember the phone call I got from my manager. He was like, ‘what do you want me to push for?’ And I was like, ‘I want that UFC back, and I want to get that taste out of my mouth.’ I think that's when I found my purpose, found my why, and understood my why.”
The call to come back to the organization came after the featherweight won three straight wins on the regional scene back in Colorado. On March 23, 2024, Zalal returned to the Octagon, locking up a second-round submission. Going on to secure two more wins in 2024, Zalal rounded out his 2025 campaign with a first-round submission over Josh Emmett last October that sent him into the top 10 of the featherweight rankings.
Now, Zalal sits days away from his first UFC main event against former bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling, and he is enjoying the process and every step that comes with it.
PHOTO GALLERY: Youssef Zalal Trains For Main Event In Denver
“It's the little things that mean a lot to me,” Zalal said. “For me, this main event means the world to me. I manifested this in the Jack Shore fight. I remember they had me do an interview, and I was like, I think it's time to headline in the Apex and I wanted a headline that year. It's crazy how life works. And that didn't work, but look at that, now, a year later, we're headlining in 2026.”
A victory over Sterling on Saturday night should put Zalal in the conversation of who could be next for featherweight king Alexander Volkanovski; however, he still feels people are highly underestimating him and his journey so far.
Youssef Zalal Wraps Up Second-Round Submission | UFC Edmonton
Unlock MORE of your inner combat sports fan with UFC Fight Pass! Fighting is what we live for. And no one brings you MORE live fights, new shows, and events across multiple combat sports from around the world. With a never-ending supply of fighting in every discipline, there`s always something new to watch. Leave it to the world`s authority in MMA to bring you the Ultimate 24/7 platform for MORE combat sports, UFC Fight Pass!
Youssef Zalal Wraps Up Second-Round Submission | UFC Edmonton
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“It really helps me a lot more, I take it personally,” Zalal said. “I can't wait to show these guys what I'm capable of and what I will be capable of. To not even bring up my name, and they are talking about Aljamain more than me, actually not even talking about me, to be honest. I remember all the faces, I remember all the names, and I remember all the voices, and I can't wait to shut those doubters out and become a world champion.”
Youssef Zalal is the billboard for a perfect comeback story, and the comeback is almost complete; all that’s missing is a belt. Bringing a belt back to Morocco would be a full-circle moment for the kid who left home many years ago and has now shown the ability to fail and come back stronger.
RELATED: Zalal Takes Eight Fight Win Streak Into First Main Event
“I'm getting a second chance at life, and I'm getting a second chance at my career. It's going to be a mean a lot to the fans and the Moroccan people and all that stuff that you can fail and still come back and really change your life like a full 360.
“I can't wait for that day and finally cry on my mom's shoulder and cry on my dad's shoulder and tell them to their face, ‘hey, this is for you guys,’ I told you I will do it, and I've done it.”
UFC Fight Night: Sterling vs Zalal took place live from Meta APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada on April 25, 2026. See the final Prelim & Main Card Results, Official Scorecards and Who Won Bonuses - and relive the action on UFC FIGHT PASS!
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