Featherweight Youssef Zalal returned to the octagon against Billy Quarantillo at UFC Vegas 89.
Quarantillo looked to improve to 7-3 in the promotion in his tenth UFC fight, while Zalal looked to right the ship from the 0-3-1 run that sent him back to the regional scene. Once there, he won five fights in three sports, earning him this second UFC stint. He continued that streak with a dominant win and finish against Billy Q.
Zalal constantly circled the outside of the octagon in the first round, avoiding the pace and pressure of Billy Q. Youssef quickly established a lead with sharp, straight striking on the back foot. Billy tried to clinch up and look for a takedown but with no luck. Zalal then stunned Quarantillo for a few seconds with a knee to the head of a ducking Billy, before taking him down with a slick foot-sweep. Youssef quickly got to Billy Q’s back and got a very tight rear-naked choke in. It astounded everyone when Quarantillo escaped the choke without tapping and survived to the next round.
Quarantillo began round two with a good right hand but got taken down by the same trip from Zalal as the one in the first round. Once again he took Billy’s back with a body triangle locked in. Again he hunted for the choke and this time he got it.
In his return to the UFC Youssef Zalal looked better than ever, looking like a brand new fighter – and new contender – in the UFC featherweight division now ruled by Ilia Topuria.
Official Result: Youssef Zalal def. Billy Quarantillo by submission (rear-naked choke), Round 2, 1:50
