Morocco’s Youssef Zalal faced a pivotal moment in his career during his UFC journey. In 2020, Zalal found himself up against an undefeated force, Ilia Topuria, under challenging circumstances. When Zalal’s original opponent pulled out just days before the bout, he had to quickly adapt.
Youssef Zalal vs. Ilia Topuria
“I’m in Abu Dhabi, I land, and I get a call. They’re like, ‘Yeah, your opponent pulled out,’” Zalal recalls. “I say, ‘What the fck do you mean my opponent pulled out? I’m fcking seven days away from the fight.’” The shock didn’t end there.