Outside Source
Zalal is scheduled to fight Aljamain Sterling in a featherweight tilt in the main event at UFC Fight Night 274 on April 25 at the Apex in Las Vegas. Zalal revealed that he would prefer a submission win over a knockout win against Sterling. Zalal explains that he is close to Charles Oliveira’s record of the most submissions in UFC featherweight history. Zalal also wants to be the first person to submit Aljamain Sterling, whose only two stoppage losses have come via knockouts.
“[Oliveira] still has the featherweight’s most submissions,” Zalal told MMAjunkie.com. “And I was like, ‘Damn, I see my name right there. Two more Youssef, you get tie.’ Nobody ever submitted Aljamain in his whole career… So, I think if I had to pick, I would pick that sub.”
Closing In on History
Oliveira holds the record for the most submissions in UFC featherweight history (six) despite having not competed in the division for over a decade. The only active UFC fighters in the second spot with four submissions each are Zalal, Brian Ortega, and Makwan Amirkhani. A submission win over Sterling will push Zalal ahead of Ortega and Amirkhani, right behind Oliveira. Considering Oliveira is unlikely to compete at featherweight again, Zalal is confident that he will break “Do Bronx’s” record before he retires.
“100% [will earn three more submissions before retirement]. I love Charles,” Zalal said. “Charles is my boy, one of the legends. It would be an honor just to be in the same conversation.”
Zalal (18-5) was released from the UFC in 2022 after going 3-3-1 in his first stint. However, “The Moroccan Devil” returned to the promotion after three consecutive first-round finishes on the regional circuit. Zalal has since picked up five straight wins in the UFC with four finishes. Meanwhile, Sterling (25-5) is 2-1 since moving up to featherweight and comes off a unanimous decision win over Brian Ortega.
This article first appeared at Recent News on Sherdog.com
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