Featherweight Youssef Zalal dominated foe Jarno Errens in the second fight of UFC Vegas 95.
Although he went 3-3-1 in his first UFC stint, Zalal had to find his way outside the UFC due to the draw and losses coming in succession at the end of his contract. After winning five fights he got a second chance and made the most of it by annihilating Billy Quarantillo in the debut fight of his second run. As for Errens, he had just notched his first UFC win in 2024 after two losses when he first entered the promotion.
When the fight began the pair felt each other out, with Zalal being the retreating party. Errens ran at him with punches at times but largely missed due to the evasiveness of his foe, whose leg kicks were effective early. Youssef shot the first takedown and got in deep. Errens defended well at first, but after grinding him against the cage, Zalal got Jarno down. He then took the back and locked up a body triangle as Errens stood up.
Youssef switched sides only twice when going for the rear-naked choke and did not even appear to be fully under the chin when he made Jarno tap, to a chorus of Zalal’s Factory X MMA coach Mark Montoya yelling, “He’s going out!” repeatedly. To make Jarno tap while the forearm was still over the chin is extremely impressive.
With two submission wins in two fights since returning to the UFC, Youssef Zalal looks to be the real deal at twenty-seven years old. If he can continue winning he will finding himself ranked at featherweight in no time.
Official Result: Youssef Zalal def. Jarno Errens by Submission (rear-naked choke) Round 1, 3:52
