Billy Quarantillo says Youssef Zalal is figured out

LAS VEGAS – Billy Quarantillo has visions. He’s in them. He’s trying into the mirror to see just a little bit clearer … and he thinks he has his subsequent opponent discovered.

Quarantillo (18-5 MMA, 6-3 UFC) takes on Youssef Zalal (13-5-1 MMA, 3-3-1 UFC) in a featherweight struggle on the UFC on ESPN 53 important card Saturday on the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

Quarantillo was scheduled to struggle Gabriel Miranda till he pulled out, so Zalal answering the decision stored him on the cardboard.

“I appeared up his report. I watched a few of his fights again. He was somebody that I remembered in 2019, 2020, that I assumed we had been going to get matched up,” Quarantillo mentioned at Wednesday’s media day.
I believe we had been each 3-0 at one level. Then I forgot about him as a result of he wasn’t within the league (but).”

They didn’t cross paths in Zalal’s first stint within the promotion, which included seven fights – however a four-fight winless skid to shut it out. However he’s again within the UFC after three straight first-round finishes exterior the group.

Quarantillo mentioned he doesn’t see any areas he’ll be missing come struggle night time.

“As an opponent, I believe he’s acquired numerous expertise. I don’t suppose this can be a nice matchup for him, although,” Quarantillo mentioned. “He was speaking about how he felt like he beat (new featherweight champion) Ilia Topuria (in 2020). I didn’t rating it for him in any respect. He acquired taken down 5 occasions. He hasn’t crushed anybody with a successful report within the UFC. I believe he’s 0-3-1 in his final 4 UFC fights. I do respect his ability set and I do know he’s getting into his prime. He’s solely 27. I’ve numerous respect for him and everybody at his gymnasium, however I see it just a little extra clear than different folks see it, and I believe I see it extra clear than he sees how his profession’s gone up to now.”

Take a look at Quarantillo’s full media day interview within the video above.

For extra on the cardboard, go to MMA Junkie’s occasion hub for UFC on ESPN 53.