Jordan Griffin vs. Youssef Zalal

Round 1
For this final card on a five-event stop at the UFC Apex, we will be on ESPN and ESPN+ all the way through. We kick things off in the featherweight division, when Roufusport’s Griffin (18-7, 1-2 UFC) takes on Factory X representative Zalal (8-2, 1-0 UFC) in a clash of high-level teams. Referee Herb Dean will oversee the action in this card-opening contest, and with a touch of gloves, away we go! Zalal takes the center of the cage, but it is Griffin that comes out swinging with a looping right hand. Zalal dances away, and Griffin chases him down with a string of reaching punches. Zalal lands a low kick to the calf, and then another as Griffin charges in. Griffin ducks down with his hands low, and is content to swarm Zalal. “The Moroccan Devil” evades most of the strikes, and calmly works the other leg with a slapping kick. Griffin rushes forward to swing wildly, and Zalal blocks the strikes, so Griffin changes levels to shoot in for a double. Zalal is able to keep his balance, but Griffin grabs hold of his back to try to muscle him down. Zalal fights off one wrist with both his hands to try to break the grip, and slowly and methodically turns his way out and gains separation. Griffin puts together a combination with a head kick to punctuate it, and when he closes in, Zalal grabs him to turn him against the fence. With Griffin’s back to the cage, Zalal leaps up with a flying knee that partially connects, and he is attempting to set up a body lock to possibly take the fight down. Zalal nearly hits a trip to wrench Griffin down, but “The Native Psycho” stays upright and turns him about. Griffin lifts him in the air, slams him down, and takes Zalal’s back with seconds to go in the round. Griffin looks to fish for a choke attempt, but with only one arm in, there is nothing there. The horn sounds to end the round.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Griffin
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Griffin
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Griffin

Round 2
They touch gloves again to begin the second frame, and Zalal presses forward and fires off a head kick. Using the kick as a way to close distance, Zalal pursues a flying knee that Griffin blocks. Griffin wings a high kick that is a little too high, and he falls to his back, but Zalal is too far away to capitalize on it. In an attempt to catch Griffin standing, he leaps forward with another flying knee, but nothing doing. Zalal nails Griffin to the body with a reaching right hand, and we can hear an audible exhale as Griffin is hurt. Zalal chases him down, and the two scramble around on the ground while Zalal tries to land ground-and-pound. Griffin continues to keep moving, and circles around to take Zalal’s back. He hops on like a backpack, but he does not the energy to stay on or get a choke, so Zalal pushes him off. Zalal breaks, and targets the body with a long right hand. Griffin appears to be heavily fatigued, so while he catches his breath, Zalal tags him up top with a stiff jab and a significant one-two. Zalal tries to hit another flying knee, but Griffin collides with him in midair and forces Zalal to his back. Having avoided upkicks, Griffin hops on top to try to rain down punches, but Zalal is crafty and spins out to stand back up. Griffin holds on tight to try to get him back down, and Zalal is out of submission danger while trying to get back up. When he stands, Zalal is immediately pursuing his own single leg takedown, and with it he has Griffin pressed against the wall. Griffin defends against it, so Zalal knees him in the gut for good measure. The two continue to jockey for position to the end of the round.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Zalal
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Zalal
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Zalal

Round 3
Griffin kicks off the final round aggressively, with long punches as he tries to bull rush his opponent. Zalal takes everything he has, and gives it right back to him. Griffin drops his hands as if to say his opponent’s strikes don’t hurt, so Zalal obliges him by teeing off on him until Griffin realizes he should probably stop allowing these free shots. Zalal pushes a little too aggressively, and Griffin manages to stave off a takedown to try to take Zalal’s back. As they both scramble at the same time, Zalal turns to allow Griffin on top, but only for a moment. “The Moroccan Devil” spins with a fury, and forces his way up before marking up Griffin with crisp punches. Griffin allows them to happen, trying to throw back with labored punches and a head kick that gets blocked. Griffin changes levels while Zalal is trying to hit him with a flying knee, and pursues a double leg takedown but Zalal stuffs it and separates. A string of jabs from Zalal is followed by a knee that lands right on the solar plexus, and Griffin visibly reacts, shooting low for a desperation takedown. Zalal stands him up, and after they go back and forth against the fence, Zalal drops down for a single. He transitions to a double while Griffin is fighting him off, but again “The Native Psycho” stays upright. When they break, Zalal knees him on the jaw, and rushes after him to land another and then a stern elbow. Griffin practically laughs them off, but Zalal presses him heavily against the cage. This featherweight match ends in the clinch, and Griffin raises his hands in the air to signal to the judges that he thinks he has done enough.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Zalal (29-28 Zalal)
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Zalal (29-28 Zalal)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Zalal (29-28 Zalal)

The Official Result
Youssef Zalal def. Jordan Griffin via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)