Yusef Zalal, UFC San Diego official weigh-in Photo by Gabriel Gonzalez/Cageside Press
Yousef Zalal will face Jarno Ellens at UFC APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada on August 10. The featherweight bout is scheduled to take place somewhere on the main card of UFC Vegas 95.
The bout was first reported by Marcel Dorff (via @UFCopEurosport on Instagram) on Friday.
Yousef Zalal (14-5-1) was a former star of LFA Promotions before being welcomed into the UFC in early 2020. After rising to a 4-0 record with the promotion, Zalal was winless in his next four fights, facing such talents as future UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria, as well as Choi Seung-Woo, Sean Woodson and Damon Blackshear.
Yousef was subsequently released by UFC before recently re-signing after five combat sports victories, including three in mixed martial arts. Zalal most recently submitted Billy Quarantillo via rear-naked choke in the second round in March.
Jarno Ellens (14-5-1) is 1-2 since signing with UFC in mid-2022. Ellens lost a majority decision to William Gomis in his first bout with the promotion. Last August, Jarno lost a unanimous decision to Choi Seung-Woo. And in his most recent bout a few months ago, Jarno defeated Steven Nguyen by unanimous decision to earn his first UFC victory.
The bout is currently the first and only fight announced for UFC Vegas 95 on August 10, 2024.