Zalal fires back at Vallejos after 'runs away' jibe, demands UFC matchup

Youssef Zalal has issued a direct challenge to Kevin Vallejos after the undefeated Argentinian prospect publicly dismissed him as a fighter who “runs” and is “not fun to fight”, with the Moroccan featherweight demanding the UFC make the bout.

“Let that guy talk, I hope they give me his name,” Zalal told Home of Fight. “I want to see that contract. I’ll show him the ‘kid that runs, the kid that circles, and is not fun to fight’… I can’t wait to give him a reality check and show him there’s levels to this.”

The bad blood stems from Vallejos openly backing Aljamain Sterling to beat Zalal in their April meeting, citing Sterling’s more aggressive, forward-pressing style as preferable to Zalal’s movement-heavy approach. Sterling did win by a lopsided decision, handing Zalal his first defeat in what had been a remarkable second UFC run.

Zalal’s UFC career has followed an unusual arc. His first stint ended in 2022 after four consecutive losses, leading to his release. He rebuilt his reputation on the regional circuit with three straight first-round finishes before earning a return to the promotion in 2024. Back inside the Octagon, Zalal went on a five-fight unbeaten run that included four finishes, before the Sterling defeat in April brought that momentum to a halt. He now holds an overall record of 18-6.

Vallejos, by contrast, has yet to taste defeat in UFC competition. The 18-1 fighter has gone four for four since joining the roster, finishing three of those opponents. His only professional loss came against Jean Silva via decision in his first Dana White’s Contender Series appearance in 2023. Now ranked among the division’s more exciting prospects, Vallejos has made clear he sees himself above Zalal in the pecking order.

No fight between the two has been announced, but Zalal’s public callout adds pressure on the UFC to book what would be a high-stakes featherweight clash between two fighters with contrasting styles and a genuine personal edge.