UFC 247 rookie report: Grading the newcomers in Houston

Fighters from around the globe dream of the day they’ll step into the octagon the first time – so how did the newcomers perform on Saturday?

Youssef Zalal

Division: Featherweight
Result: Youssef Zalal def. Austin Lingo via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Record: (8-2 MMA, 1-0 UFC)
Grade: B

[autotag]Youssef Zalal[/autotag] didn’t seem overly impressed with his performance on his UFC debut, but his display on short notice at UFC 247 showed a great deal of promise as he handed fellow debutant Lingo the first defeat of his MMA career.

Lingo brought a lot of pressure to Zalal throughout the matchup, but the 23-year-old dealt with it like a seasoned veteran as he fought smartly off the back foot, countering well with slick, fluid strikes and halting Lingo’s forward momentum with well-timed takedown attempts.

When the fight went to the mat, Zalal was in complete control as he dominated top position and twice threatened with D’Arce chokes. Only imperfect positioning and a gritty opponent prevented him from scoring the submission finish he clearly wanted.

After the fight, he embraced his post-fight interview with Joe Rogan, paid tribute to his coaches and gave a shout out to some of his teammates who haven’t yet made it to the big show. With a promising set of skills during the fight and an infectious personality after it, “The Moroccan Devil” could turn out to be an entertaining presence on fight cards through 2020 and beyond.

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