Youssef Zalal’s first-round submission of Josh Emmett at UFC 320 in Las Vegas solidified his standing as an up-and-coming featherweight contender and set the stage for a daring proposition: a UFC occasion in Morocco with a customized Venum struggle equipment.
In a post-fight interview with MMA Junkie, Zalal outlined his dream setup. The crimson and inexperienced shorts characteristic an Atlas lion emblem and Berber mountain motifs, celebrating Moroccan heritage.
Dana White and UFC leaders have lengthy eyed Africa as the following frontier. A debut occasion in Dakar, Senegal, has been cited as “prime of the listing” to take the game to the continent, however the present has but to materialize on African soil. UFC executives have cited logistical hurdles comparable to area dimension, local weather management and broadcast slots as components delaying an African card, and till lately the main focus remained on venues in Senegal or South Africa.
Youssef Zalal talks about UFC Morocco and the Moroccan struggle equipment
Morocco presents an alternative choice. Cities like Casablanca and Rabat have trendy arenas with a capability of over 10,000 and huge native fan bases for martial arts.
The nationwide soccer workforce, affectionately generally known as the Atlas Lions, has fostered satisfaction within the nation’s combating spirit, however Zalal proposes changing that identification with the extravaganza of Battle Week. “Add the Atlas Lions. The well-known Lions…Moroccans, they’re well-known for the Lions, the Atlas Lions.” And that is what they’re – the Moroccan workforce, the soccer workforce, the Atlas Lions. So, yeah, man. Undoubtedly, it also needs to be crimson. We’d like a crimson tradition and, as you stated, a inexperienced tradition, just like the Berber tradition, the mountain tradition. ”
Since 2021, Venum has changed Reebok because the UFC’s unique costume companion, extending its settlement to provide struggle shorts, walk-out gear and attire by means of 2029. This transfer permits chosen athletes to co-design customized kits that mirror their private and nationwide symbolism. At UFC 300, Alex Pereira, Justin Gaethje, Max Holloway and Weili Zhang every unveiled customized shorts and bras that includes patterns drawn from tribal artwork, nationwide flags and regional imagery.
The UFC Morocco card will align with the group’s technique of world growth and supply a platform for native stars like Zalal to headline of their residence turf. Morocco’s mixture of coastal tourism infrastructure and established sports activities venues might handle issues raised by UFC executives concerning climate and logistics. The nation’s various inhabitants and media market promise ticket gross sales and broadcast viewership that meet the UFC’s requirements for profitable worldwide occasions.
