Las Vegas — It was a quick submission for Youssef Zalal at UFC 320 on Saturday, with “The Moroccan Devil” getting a big win over the hard-to-finish Josh Emmett.
The featherweight was looking to put the memory of a tepid third round against Calvin Kattar out of his mind, and did just that. While he’d won the Kattar fight via decision, there was plenty of criticism for his lack of engagement. Including criticism from Zalal himself.
“I go hard on myself, I really do, and you can ask anybody, all these coaches, man,” Zalal (18-5-1) told media outlets including Cageside Press following the bout. “I set a standard that’s crazy-high, I really go out there, and that third round really haunted me.”
Zalal went on to say that he apologized after the third round of the Kattar fight, and took that experience into his fight with Josh Emmett. Where, of course, no third round, or even second, was needed.
“I have such a high IQ, I know what I bring into this game. And I can’t wait to keep improving and keep bringing it on,” Zalal added.
UFC 320 marked the first time the 29-year old’s mother had seen him fight. It turned out to be an emotional affair. Admitting he might be a mamma’s body, Zalal recalled that “I thought I was not going to see them, and then the first f*cking thing I see is them, and my dad. My dad’s loud as hell, just like me. I saw him, and I teared up. That was her first fight, first ever fight she’s ever watched me. I think she blew my ear drum screaming. This is for her, man. I can’t wait to take care of her.”
Youssef Zalal also revealed that he had predicted a flawless victory for the fight. Key word, “flawless.”
“My word for this fight— I take a word for every fight, and this word was ‘flawless.’ You can ask anybody that I told them that. What an amazing day.”
Watch the full UFC 320 post-fight press conference with Youssef Zalal above.
