Youssef Zalal has been spectacular in his second UFC stint, and now he’s seeking to degree issues up additional within the largest combat of his profession.
After placing collectively a 2024 marketing campaign that included three submission wins towards Billy Quarantillo, Jarno Errens and Jack Shore, the surging Zalal now attracts longtime contender Calvin Kattar at UFC Battle Evening 251, which takes place Feb. 15 on the UFC Apex in Las Vegas (ESPN+).
It’s a compelling crossroads matchup, as a result of whereas Zalal (16-5-1 MMA, 6-3-1 UFC) is driving excessive with tons of momentum, the identical can’t be mentioned for Kattar (23-8 MMA, 7-6 UFC), who has dropped his previous three fights and hasn’t received since January 2022.
“He’s preventing for his place, and that’s a scary fighter to combat,” Zalal instructed MMA Junkie Radio. “Clearly everybody is aware of who Calvin Kattar is. He’s been within the sport for therefore lengthy and been by so many loopy fights, so I’m positively getting ready for the most effective Calvin I can ever put together for it. He’s going to be a really harmful Calvin, and I’m excited for that puzzle.”
At 36 and with some vital accidents in recent times, the questions on Kattar’s present state of affairs are honest. The defeats throughout his dropping skid are solely to elite names in Aljamain Sterling, Arnold Allen and Josh Emmett, although, and Zalal hasn’t confirmed himself to be on that degree but.
Zalal, 28, sees this as his alternative to make an announcement within the featherweight division, and he mentioned he’s not going to make the error of pondering Kattar is a diminished model of his prime self.
“I’m not underestimating Calvin,” Zalal mentioned. “I don’t care if he’s on a 5 (combat) dropping streak or a 3 dropping streak, I’m getting ready for the most effective Calvin. I’m getting ready to indicate folks how good I’m, and the way good my boxing is and the way good my placing is.”
For extra on the cardboard, go to MMA Junkie’s occasion hub for UFC Battle Evening 251.
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