MMA Preview – Youssef Zalal vs Ilia Topuria at UFC Fight Island 5
YOUSSEF ZALAL VS ILIA TOPURIA FACTS
When is UFC Fight Island 5? Saturday 10th October, 2020 - 23:00 start (UK)
Where is UFC Fight Island 5? Flash Forum, Fight Island, Abu Dhabi (UAE)
Where can I get tickets for UFC Fight Island 5? No tickets are available as this event will take place without spectators
What channel is UFC Fight Island 5 on? BT Sport 2
Where can I stream UFC Fight Island 5? BT Sport subscribers can stream the fight online via the BT Sport website
For viewers in the United States, the event will be shown live on ESPN+ and you can sign up for access as part of a Disney Bundle here!
YOUSSEF ZALAL VS ILIA TOPURIA LOWDOWN
Youseff Zalal makes his fourth outing of 2020 and is hoping to make it four wins out of four in the UFC. The 24-year-old’s only two losses came in 2019 for LFA but has responded with four wins. He ended Jaime Hernandez with a flying knee for LFA and proceeded to pick off Austin Lingo, Jordan Griffin and Peter Barrett with unanimous decisions.
He takes on the unbeaten debutant, Ilia Topuria who has snatched the opportunity after Seung Woo Choi had to pull out. The submission ace has choked out seven of his eight victims and is coming off the first knockout of his career finishing Stephen Goncalves in the first round for Brave CF.
YOUSSEF ZALAL VS ILIA TOPURIA PREDICTION
This is far from a striker vs grappler match-up despite what it looks like on paper as they are both very well-rounded. Topuria is clearly an animal on the mat with lightening quick guillotines but his hands are also improving and Zalal has to respect that. The same can be said for Zalal’s ground game which is already at a high-level.
All in all, this fight will be thrilling wherever it goes, and we could see a bit of everything. A tangle on the ground will be a fascinating contest but if the majority of the fight takes place on the feet, the Moroccan will use his dynamism and technique, switching stances, continuously offloading to sway the judges but anything can happen here.
Prediction: Zalal via Decision
