Youssef Zalal aims to end Aljamain Sterling's 'point-proving streak'
Just days ahead of his first UFC main event, Youssef Zalal can feel he's on the verge of big things in his career.
LAS VEGAS – Youssef Zalal can sense he's on the verge of big things in the UFC's featherweight division, but he must get past a very tough test in former champion Aljamain Sterling. In the main event of UFC Fight Night 274 at the Meta APEX, Zalal (18-5-1 MMA, 8-3-1 UFC) clashes with Sterling (25-5 MMA, 17-5 UFC) in what is a very important fight for the division. Holding the No.
7 spot in the UFC's official rankings, Zalal has an opportunity to enter the division's elite by knocking off No. 5 in Sterling. "The Moroccan Devil" is expecting the best version of "The Funkmaster" we've seen, because he believes the former bantamweight champ still has something to prove, despite his accomplishments.
"This is the most dangerous Aljo, just because I think he has a point to prove, you know what I mean? " Zalal said at Wednesday's media day. "He's on a proving-point streak right now, so for me it's like, at the end of the day, stick to my gut, stick to who I am, and be ready because I want to beat the best Aljo.
You can't say you want to be a world champion and you think he's gonna slide by like some other guys. This guy fought who's whos and all that stuff. That's what I look at.