UFC Fight Night Calvin Kattar vs Youssef Zalal Predictions, Picks & Odds

Calvin Kattar squares off against the surging Youssef Zalal as the veteran hopes to avoid being taken out and stay relevant in the featherweight division. Zalal has greatly improved in his second UFC run, and he’s primed to push the struggling Kattar further down the ladder at UFC Fight Night.

UFC odds have Zalal as a -500 favorite and Kattar is the +400 underdog.

Here are my best free UFC Fight Night: Kattar vs. Zalal predictions from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

Kattar vs Zalal prediction and best bet

• My fight prediction
  Zalal moneyline (-500 at BET99)
  
  
• My best bet
  Over 2.5 rounds (-260 at BET99)

Fight analysis
Youssef Zalal’s first run in the UFC saw him go 3-3-1 and was released in 2022 with nobody thinking he was going to be missed. After refining his skills on the regional scene, he returned to the promotion last year and has never looked better. He’s won his last three fights by submission against Billy Quarantillo, Jarno Errens, and Jack Shore showing a heavily improved defense and takedown game.   

It’s safe to say that Kattar is his best opponent to date, but Kattar is 1-4 over his last five and is clearly on the back nine of his career. He’s three years removed from his last win, and he’s shown a declining defense in both striking and takedowns, and his overall activity is lacking with his 2024 loss to Aljamain Sterling being his first fight in two years. He isn’t taking long to get back into action, but at 36 with some rough performances behind him, there’s not a lot to like from the veteran.

Kattar walks forward and tries to walk his opponents down with crisp strikes, relying on his chin to take the shots and get busy when he’s on the inside. That used to work when he was faster and had his agility, but marching forward on Zelal isn’t going to work out too well as Zelal’s striking defense is on point and Kattar is getting easier to take down. While I don’t expect Zelal to match Sterling’s eight takedowns of Kattar, he’s more likely to get Kattar on the mat than he is to be hypnotized into a brawl.

This version of Kattar is going to give up takedowns, be too slow to generate any meaningful offense, and Zalal’s momentum suggests he’s built for bigger things in the division. I’m taking Zalal to take the win over the veteran.

Best bet analysis
Kattar is remarkably difficult to finish. While Zelal is going to score the takedowns and avoid the heavy strikes when they are standing, I don’t see a finish happening for either fighter. Kattar’s cardio and endurance will carry the fight into the later rounds, even if it isn’t competitive, and Zelal’s takedowns and ground control ensure this fight goes Over 2.5 rounds.

Calvin Kattar vs Youssef Zalal odds

Method of Victory	Kattar	Zalal
To win outright	+400	-500
To win by KO/TKO	+675	+1150
To win by decision	+675	-135
To win by submission	+2250	+310
Draw	+2500	+2500

Odds as of 2-15.

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Calvin Kattar vs Youssef Zalal tale of the tape

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