MMA
UFC 320: Youssef Zalal feels a UFC title shot is on the horizon
Watch UFC 320 live on DAZN PPV (Canada only)
The featherweight division has become perhaps the most stacked in the UFC.
Led by champion Alexander Volkanovski, the division features Movsar Evloev, Diego Lopes, Yair Rodriguez, Lerone Murphy, and former bantamweight champion. Right at the beginning of the second tier is No. 9-ranked Youssef Zalal as he battles the guy one spot above him in No. 8-ranked Josh Emmett on Saturday's main card of UFC 320, which can be seen live on DAZN PPV (Canada only, buy here).
Zalal (17-5-1) is currently on a good run, unbeaten in his last five fights (4-0-1) with three of those victories coming via submission. In his time out back in February, Zalal beat perennial contender Calvin Kattar to score the biggest win of his career. Zalal feels that moment with Kattar helps him for what will be the biggest fight of his career.
"Just to have that name under my resume, it was definitely a great thing to have in my pocket," Zalal admits to DAZN News. "That's why I'm really glad I got to learn that experience."
Emmett (19-5) is 9-6 inside the Octagon and has faced the likes of former featherweight and current lightweight titlist Illa Topuria, Rodriguez, and Murphy. Although the division is structured, it remains in a state of flux. There's been no news on when Volkanovski will make his next title defense, and no one's really broken out of the pack to state their case on why they should be the one to get a chance at the throne. Zalal sees the opportunity that's presented in front of him. He thinks an impressive performance against the gritty Emmett could allow him to jump the line and be the guy to get a crack at Volkanovski.
"A hundred percent, Zalal admits. "I do believe that. Especially after an impressive performance against Josh Emmett. You go out there and finish Josh Emmett, and it will set you up for either one more fight or a title shot. Especially now these days, we don't know what's going on with the featherweight division. There is not a really confirmed contender that's fighting for the belt, which is crazy to me. For me, if I get to jump on that opportunity, I'm going to jump on that opportunity. So it definitely just gets me in the conversation that's a hundred percent after this fight."
