UFC Fight Night: Moroccan Youssef Zalal going from strength to strength in his rookie year

The global pandemic has restricted many international athletes from participating in competitions but that hasn’t been the case for the mixed martial art professional Youssef Zalal.

The Moroccan is back for his fourth UFC appearance in nine months when he takes on Ilia Topuria in the third of the five Fight Island events in Abu Dhabi on Saturday.

Topuria, 23, steps in to fight Zalal after Choi Seung-woo was forced to pull out of the featherweight contest.

The Georgian arrives at short notice but undefeated in eight appearances. He is also returning to the octagon since his knockout win over Steven Goncalves at Brace CF 29 in Bahrain last November.

Zalal, who turned 24 last month, is undefeated in three UFC appearances since joining them in February and has a 10-2 career record.

Zalal has had a remarkable run so far as a UFC rookie. He has won his last three fights by unanimous points decisions and is seeking a fourth success.

"It's my third fight in over three months and fourth in nine months. It's been a crazy year but I'm excited and ready," Zalal told The National in a zoom interview on Tuesday.

“It’s a big show and you got to be ready. It’s not just the fighting but holding your nerves, deal with it and the camp, and all that stuff.

“This kid is coming off a knockout from his last fight but for me it doesn’t really matter who I fight. I go out there and do my job while my coach does the game plan.”

Zalal’s journey in the MMA began in kickboxing. He was 12 when his parents moved to Colorado in the United States.

“When I was growing up a lot of people who watched me fight and my coaches encouraged me by saying I was good, this and that,” Zalal said.

“Then I started practicing other martial arts, got a few opportunities and here I am. It’s been a good journey so far. I’m not thinking too far on what is around the corner for me but glad to look forward to my next fight.”

He arrived in Abu Dhabi on Sunday and completed a 48-hour quarantine. Zalal is impressed with the capital city’s arrangements.

“Going through the safety and precautionary protocol is a new norm under the prevailing pandemic situation but we are surrounded by helpful people to get on with our work,” Zalal said of Abu Dhabi’s hospitality.

“The next few days will be work as usual. I’m relaxed and happy, and looking forward to the fight night.”

How Apple's credit card works

The Apple Card looks different from a traditional credit card — there's no number on the front and the users' name is etched in metal. The card expands the company's digital Apple Pay services, marrying the physical card to a virtual one and integrating both with the iPhone. Its attributes include quick sign-up, elimination of most fees, strong security protections and cash back.

What does it cost?

Apple says there are no fees associated with the card. That means no late fee, no annual fee, no international fee and no over-the-limit fees. It also said it aims to have among the lowest interest rates in the industry. Users must have an iPhone to use the card, which comes at a cost. But they will earn cash back on their purchases — 3 per cent on Apple purchases, 2 per cent on those with the virtual card and 1 per cent with the physical card. Apple says it is the only card to provide those rewards in real time, so that cash earned can be used immediately.

What will the interest rate be?

The card doesn't come out until summer but Apple has said that as of March, the variable annual percentage rate on the card could be anywhere from 13.24 per cent to 24.24 per cent based on creditworthiness. That's in line with the rest of the market, according to analysts

What about security?

The physical card has no numbers so purchases are made with the embedded chip and the digital version lives in your Apple Wallet on your phone, where it's protected by fingerprints or facial recognition. That means that even if someone steals your phone, they won't be able to use the card to buy things.

Is it easy to use?

Apple says users will be able to sign up for the card in the Wallet app on their iPhone and begin using it almost immediately. It also tracks spending on the phone in a more user-friendly format, eliminating some of the gibberish that fills a traditional credit card statement. Plus it includes some budgeting tools, such as tracking spending and providing estimates of how much interest could be charged on a purchase to help people make an informed decision.

* Associated Press

Set-jetting on the Emerald Isle

Other shows filmed in Ireland include: Vikings (County Wicklow), The Fall (Belfast), Line of Duty (Belfast), Penny Dreadful (Dublin), Ripper Street (Dublin), Krypton (Belfast)