UFC Vegas 102 co-main event star Youssef Zalal has gone from being cut by the UFC, to entering a fight against #10-ranked featherweight Calvin Kattar, in just a handful of years.
That’s quite the roller coaster.
“We should write a f*cking book about that man. How crazy this is?” Zalal (16-5-1) exclaimed during this week’s UFC Vegas 102 media day. “To be honest, it’s so- blessing in a grateful way. 11 months ago, I was not even in the UFC. To be back and fighting the number 10, and to go out there and get the co-main event spot and for me to go show and all that stuff… …It’s a blessing that I can’t even tell you about.”
“I know how good I am and I know how good I’m capable of and all that stuff, but everything happens for a reason. And I’m just happy where my journey’s going, and I can’t wait to see what comes ahead.”
Zalal is a 4 to 1 favorite heading into the fight, though he claimed to not understand the odds, asking if a -400 meant he was good. “I didn’t know that. That’s crazy. Obviously it’s a part of the sport. It’s the hurt business. I have nothing but respect for Calvin.”
“The Moroccan Devil” also recalled his excitement at getting the match-up with Kattar. The news came while he was in New York in support of teammate David Onama. “I said ‘say what?’ I was like, ‘hold on, did you say Calvin Kattar?’ I said ‘Holy f*ck.’ I had to take a moment.”
Zalal asked his manager incredulously if he meant the same Calvin Katter he’d been watching for the past four years. And when the message finally hit home, Zalal didn’t hesitate at accepting the fight. “‘F*ck yeah I’ll take it. Yeah I’ll take that.’ My inner child just blossomed.”
As far as the fight goes, “I feel like I match up really well with him, and I think I bring a different IQ than most of these fighters,” stated Zalal. “I really do believe that, and I’m excited to show it on Saturday night.”
Sitting on a six-fight win streak with three of those coming since his return to the UFC, Zalal also made a bold prediction. “I will be the first one to finish Calvin Katter,” he proclaimed. “I promise you that.”
Watch the full UFC Vegas 102 media day appearance by Youssef Zalal above.
