Two top 10 Featherweight contenders, No. 8 Josh Emmett and No. 9 Youssef Zalal, will face off in a three-round fight at UFC 320. This is the second bout on the UFC 320 Main Card. Emmett, 40, is coming off a loss against Lerone Murphy and has lost three of his previous four contests. On the other hand, Zalal is riding a seven-fight win streak with four of them coming in the UFC.
Here is my prediction and best bet for Josh Emmett vs. Youssef Zalal at UFC 320.
Youssef Zalal to Win by KO/TKO/DQ or Submission (+300)
From 2020 to 2021, Zalal competed in the UFC, having a 3-3-1 record. Zalal left the promotion and went on to pick up three consecutive first-round finishes, which ultimately led to the UFC giving him a second chance in 2024. Zalal has returned to the UFC and has quickly risen in the rankings, appearing to be a legitimate future title contender.
Even though Emmett is ranked higher in the rankings, Zalal is the favorite at -470 in this contest on DraftKings Sportsbook, with Emmett being a +360 underdog. This fight has an over/under of 2.5 rounds, with the over being -315.
Zalal has defeated six of his previous seven opponents via KO/TKO or submission, with his last two victories coming against Calvin Kattar and Jack Shore. In this matchup, Zalal has a significant four-inch height advantage (5’10” vs. 5’6″) and a two-inch edge in reach (72″ vs. 70″). Although Emmett is nearing the end of his career, he remains a talented striker and one of the most powerful fighters in this division. But Zalal has shown a more aggressive side of himself in his second tenure in the UFC. Zalal has won six of his previous fights by finish, and you can get him to finish Emmett at +300, which is excellent value since he is such a heavy favorite.
