Yusef Zalal sees Ilia Topuria's win against Max Holloway as 'problematic'

Yousef Zalal knows just how good UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria is.

Zalal (14-5-1 MMA, 4-3-1 UFC) brought Topuria (15-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) to the UFC in October 2020 after his original opponent, Choi Seung-Woo, was forced to withdraw. Zalal was able to keep Topuria on the fight until the end, but ultimately lost via unanimous decision, a setback that ended his four-fight win streak.

But Zalal's defeat stands the test of time, as Topuria reeled off five straight wins before knocking out Alexander Volkanovski to capture the featherweight title at UFC 298. Now Topuria will make his first title defense against Max Holloway (26-7 MMA, 22-7 UFC), who is coming off his legendary knockout of Justin Gaethje at UFC 300.

Despite Holloway’s momentum, Zalal believes Topuria will retain the title.

“I just got this question yesterday. I love Max Holloway. I think they're saying Max Holloway vs. Ilia, and I think Ilia is going to be the issue,” Zalal told MMA Junkie Radio. “I still think he'll be the champion next year. 100 percent.”

Zalal's loss to Topuria, followed by two more losses and a majority decision draw, led to his departure from UFC, but three consecutive wins on the regional stage earned him a summons back to the Octagon, where he submitted Billy Quarantillo in March and is currently scheduled to face Jarno Erens at UFC Fight Night 242 on August 10.

So what helped the 27-year-old Zalal make the career switch?

“It's a lot of things, but I think the biggest thing is experience and doing what you love,” Zalal said. “I feel like sometimes you go out in life and you don't appreciate what you're doing. I'm not good with that. I feel like I'm not very patient. I want everything. I want this and that. So early on in my UFC career, I was fighting non-stop.”

“I didn't have the patience. Why take a risk that I can't even do? Obviously, that's just who I am. Just focusing on enjoying life and living in the moment and experiencing the journey. That was a shift for me, where I knew what I wanted to do and what I wanted to be.”