Youssef Zalal promised a better version of himself for his second stint under the UFC banner, and things got off to a promising start Saturday at UFC on ESPN 53 when he submitted Billy Quarantillo.
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.
Check out the replay of Zalal’s handiwork below (via X):
An impressive return to the Octagon for Youssef Zalal 💪 #UFCVegas89 pic.twitter.com/pgK1JHAlxQ
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) March 24, 2024
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.”
Up-to-the-minute UFC on ESPN 53 results include:
- Youssef Zalal def. Billy Quarantillo via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 1:50
- Fernando Padilla def. Luis Pajuelo via submission (D’Arce choke) – Round 1, 2:45
- Trey Ogden def. Kurt Holobaugh via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Julian Erosa def. Ricardo Ramos via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 1, 2:15
- Miles Johns def. Cody Gibson via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Jarno Errens def. Steven Nguyen via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Darya Zheleznyakova def. Montserrat Rendon via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Andre Lima def. Igor Severino via disqualification (biting) – Round 2, 2:52
- Mick Parkin def. Mohammed Usman via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 53.
