Youssef Zalal sees ‘problem’ with Ilia Topuria beating Max Holloway

Youssef Zalal Do you know how good the UFC featherweight champion is? Ilia Topuria It is.

Zalal (14-5-1 MMA, 4-3-1 UFC) welcomed Topuria (15-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) to the UFC in October 2020, when his original opponent, Seung Woo Choi, was forced to withdraw. Zalal was able to take Topuria the distance, but was ultimately defeated in a unanimous decision loss. The setback broke his four-game winning streak.

However, the loss of Zalal has aged well. Topuria won five straight before knocking out Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298 to win the featherweight title. Topuria is expected to make his first title defense against Max Holloway (26-7 MMA, 22-7 UFC), whose confidence is sky-high after a Justin Gaethje’s iconic knockout at UFC 300.

Despite Holloway’s momentum, Zalal sees Topuria retaining the title.

“I just asked myself that yesterday. I love Max Holloway and I think they said Max Holloway vs. Ilia – I think Ilia is going to be a problem,” Zalal told MMA Junkie Radio. “I see him still being the champion next year, 100 percent.”

Zalal’s loss to Topuria was followed by two more losses and then a majority draw, which led to his departure from the UFC. But three consecutive finishes on the regional scene earned him a call back to the octagon. He submitted Billy Quarantillo in March and is now scheduled to face Jarno Errens on August 10 at UFC Fight Night 242.

So what caught 27-year-old Zalal’s attention about his career turnaround?

“A lot of things, but the main thing is the experience and doing what I love,” Zalal said. “I feel like sometimes we come into life and we take for granted the things we do, and sometimes I’m really bad at that. I feel like I’m not patient. I want it all. I want to do this, I want to do that. That’s why at the beginning of my UFC career I fought all the time, without stopping.

“For me there was no patience. Taking risks that you are not balanced with – for example, why do you need to take that risk? Obviously, that’s who I am, just focusing on enjoying life and really being in the moment and experiencing this journey. That’s the one thing that caught my attention and changed: I know what I love to do and I know what I want to do.”

This story originally appeared on MMA Junkie