Moroccan fighter Youssef Zalal achieved a well-deserved victory over American Billy Quarantillo by submission in the second round of their featherweight fight on the main card of the UFC FIGHT NIGHT evening held in Las Vegas, marking a strong and well-deserved comeback in the UFC.
🇲🇦 New presentation for this evening with Moroccan Youssef Dhalal winning for his return in the second round #UFCVegas89
🇲🇦تقديم جديد لهذا المساء مع المغربي يوسف ظلال يفوز لعودته في الجولة الثانية#UFCVegas89 pic.twitter.com/h3WEIhTVbP
— mmamag.ma (@jamalsoussi10) March 24, 2024
Zalal (14-5-1 MMA, 4-3-1 UFC) saw his first run with the company end in August 2022 on a four-fight winless skid. He worked his way back, then thrived with the new opportunity when he threatened Quarantillo repeatedly with submissions until he finally locked in a rear-naked choke that got the tap at the 1:50 mark of Round 2 at the UFC Apex.
Zalal, 27, was overcome with joy in the aftermath of becoming the first person to submit Quarantillo in MMA competition. He has big plans moving forward, and intends to live up to the career goals he set for himself from the outset.
“I’m really too good,” Zalal said in his post-fight interview with Paul Felder. “The first time I was in the UFC, I told you guys I would be a world champion and will be a world champion. I just didn’t have the confidence.”
