Youssef Zalal

Youssef Zalal holds an 18-6-1 professional record and competes as a switch-stance featherweight standing 5'10" with a 72-inch reach. The Moroccan Devil operates as a well-rounded mixed martial artist who blends striking volume with submission threats, averaging 2.78 strikes landed per minute at 50% accuracy while defending strikes at 64%.

His grappling approach centers on submission work rather than pure wrestling dominance—he averages 1.3 submission attempts per 15 minutes compared to 1.84 takedown attempts at just 31% accuracy, indicating a preference for submissions off his back or clinch positions. Recent performance has been strong, with Zalal posting a 6-2 record over his last eight fights, highlighted by first-round submission victories over Jack Shore (November 2024) and Josh Emmett (October 2025), as well as a unanimous decision win over Calvin Kattar in February 2025.

His takedown defense sits at 55%, suggesting vulnerability to pressure wrestlers, a liability demonstrated in his split-decision loss to Sean Woodson in 2021. Zalal remains an active threat in the featherweight division, particularly against strikers and grapplers willing to engage on the ground, though his modest takedown accuracy limits his offensive wrestling as a strategic weapon.