Youssef Zalal Levies Serious Accusation On Calvin Kattar Despite Winning At UFC Fight Night 251

Youssef Zalal claims Calvin Kattar engaged in controversial tactics, even after his own victory at UFC Fight Night 251!

Youssef Zalal Levies Serious Accusation On Calvin Kattar Despite Winning At UFC Fight Night 251

MMA fighters are no strangers to controversy. From weight-cutting issues to questionable judging, the sport has seen it all. But sometimes, an accusation comes out of nowhere that raises eyebrows across the fighting community. That is exactly what happened this past weekend at UFC Fight Night 251, when Youssef Zalal dropped a bombshell in his post-fight interview. Zalal, who has been on an impressive win streak since returning to the UFC, pointed fingers at his opponent, claiming something fishy was going on.

It all went down at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, where Zalal faced veteran fighter Calvin Kattar in the co-main event. The Moroccan fighter secured a solid unanimous decision victory, clearly winning the first two rounds before Kattar made a comeback in the third. But what caught everyone’s attention wasn’t the fight itself – it was what Zalal said afterward.

“This is the crazy part: We worked a lot of grappling, and I sh*t you not, I felt like there’s Vaseline all over his legs. I swear to God, he was the most slipperiest guy I’ve ever seen in my life, and I felt like I’m not trying to be that guy with this and that (excuse). But man, that was suspicious, bro.”

According to him, Kattar was “the most slipperiest guy” he had ever faced, and he suspected there was Vaseline involved. Zalal tried eight takedowns during the fight and failed on every single one, which isn’t typical for a fighter with his grappling skills. This led him to believe that Kattar might have greased up before the bout – a serious accusation in the world of mixed martial arts.

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What is Greasing In MMA?

For those new to MMA, “greasing” refers to the illegal practice of applying slippery substances to the body to make it harder for opponents to maintain holds or secure takedowns. It’s been a controversial issue throughout combat sports history, with notable cases including Georges St-Pierre’s infamous “Greasegate” against BJ Penn back in 2009.

The UFC has strict rules against this practice, with fighters being checked by officials before entering the cage. That’s what makes Zalal’s accusation particularly bold. He is essentially suggesting that Kattar found a way to cheat the system.

What Is Next For The Fighters?

Despite his suspicions, Zalal didn’t let the situation dampen his victory celebration. At 28 years old, he’s on a four-fight win streak and climbing the featherweight rankings. This win over Kattar represents his biggest career victory to date, and he’s already setting his sights on bigger names in the division.

On the other side of this controversy, Calvin Kattar hasn’t publicly responded to these accusations yet. The 36-year-old Boston native has been a staple in the featherweight division for years, known for his boxing skills and toughness. This loss drops his UFC record to an even 7-7, putting him in a difficult position in the competitive 145-pound weight class. Whether or not there’s truth to Zalal’s claims, this kind of accusation can leave a stain on a fighter’s reputation that’s hard to wash away!

(Image Credit: ilanmerhaba – Imagn Images)

Calvin Kattar

UFC Fight Night 251

Youssef Zalal

Zaid Quraishi

mma

I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!