Youssef Zalal is aiming to turn UFC Vegas 116 into his personal showcase when he meets Aljamain Sterling in Saturday’s five-round main event.
Zalal enters the headliner on a five-fight win streak since returning to the UFC, with victories over two top 15 ranked opponents. Sterling comes in on a one-fight win streak and is set to turn 37 in July, as the two highly regarded featherweight grapplers collide with major stakes on the line.
“I’m the obstacle to see who exactly is going to get the title shot. It’s respect,” Zalal said, framing the bout as a pivotal step toward the division’s summit. With Alexander Volkanovski holding the featherweight title and currently without a booked opponent according to the article, Zalal is clear about what this opportunity represents. “So I’ve got to go out show that show! I think it’s the battle of that game right now that’s going on. I think it’s the golden ticket to my title shot.”
Zalal has built his surge with submission wins over Josh Emmett and Billy Quarantillo and is now targeting another statement on the mat. “That’s that the puzzle is. I want to be the first guy to submit him. That’s my thing. That’s what excites me about this whole thing,” he said. “We’re in a delusional sport sometimes but you’ve also got to be real. It’s a five-round fight. I’m ready for the five rounds. I’m going to be ready for the grappling. I’m going to be ready to test my grappling and test my striking.”
