One of the most exciting matchups that UFC Vegas 102 has to offer is indeed the one between Calvin Kattar and Youssef Zalal in the co-main event. The world has been waiting for Kattar to come out of his 3-fight losing streak and redeem his honor against Zalal. However, ‘The Moroccan Devil’ has more on the line. If he manages to defeat the #10 featherweight contender, he can get a chance to land in the top 15 list. 

As the anticipation around the bout began to rise, we decided to ask ChatGPT to predict the outcome of the UFC Vegas 102 co-main event. But before getting to the climax, we need to take a look at the stylistic comparison between Kattar and Zalal. After all, it’s the fighting style and stats that usually decide how the fight would proceed. So, without any further ado, let’s get right into it!

How do Calvin Kattar and Youssef Zalal look against each other?

The artificial intelligence chatbot gave ‘The Boston Finisher’ all the hype he could get. He is indeed a great striker, with 10 out of 23 wins coming from KO/TKO. His knockout power is indeed something that his opponents need to be wary of. He has already faced fighters like Dan Ige, Max Holloway, and Aljamain Sterling. Even though he was unable to win against Sterling and Holloway, the experience still matters. However, there was a problem in his fighting style, and the AI pointed that out. The response was, “While he is a strong striker, Kattar has sometimes struggled against opponents who utilize a high-volume striking approach or effective movement to disrupt his rhythm.”

On the other hand, Zalal is a more balanced fighter, with his versatility shining through his previous bouts. With a professional MMA record of 16-5-1, ‘The Moroccan Devil’ has won 4 fights by KO/TKO, and 9 by submissions. All of his 5 losses came from the judges’ decisions. Although he is fairly new to the UFC, with UFC Vegas 102 being his 4th fight in the Octagon, he’s on a 6-fight win streak. All of his UFC wins came via submissions. And that was all in 2024. Needless to say, Zalal carries a power that has the potential to take him to great heights in the MMA realm. 

But every single fighter has some lacunas. For Zalal, he has to improve his pressure-handling capacity. Well, that’s what the AI chatbot had to say. The AI wrote, “Zalal has faced challenges against more experienced and physically stronger opponents, and he may need to improve his ability to handle pressure from high-level strikers.”

While both Kattar and Zalal stand strong with their strengths and weaknesses, it’s high time to talk about the fighter who has the chance to win the bout. Let’s see who was selected as the possible winner by the artificial intelligence, shall we?

AI’s prediction for Kattar vs. Zalal at UFC Vegas 102

The AI claimed that if the bout remains a battle of strikes, Kattar will likely have the edge. He does have an advantage given his experience against elite mixed martial artists. On top of that, ‘The Boston Finisher’ has the power it takes to knock out fighters. But ‘The Moroccan Devil’ has a faster pace. His agility and mix of grappling can certainly disrupt the #10 featherweight contender’s striking. The bout might end with Zalal outpointing Kattar by the end of the bout. 

But the chances of the bout ending in a finish were also high. Nevertheless, the artificial intelligence concluded, “One might lean towards Calvin Kattar as the potential winner due to his striking prowess and experience. Nonetheless, Youssef Zalal’s versatility and movement could make it a competitive fight.” Well, things were still pretty uncertain. Both the fighters had almost equal strength, even though the fighting community had the major support for Zalal’s victory.

But one can never be certain when it comes to mixed martial arts. Anything can happen at any moment of the fight. And that’s what makes the battles inside the Octagon so interesting, don’t you agree? While Kattar has a lot to lose in the fight, Zalal has much to gain. With the stakes high, we can definitely expect a war on 15 February.

Who do you think would win the bout at UFC Apex? Will the AI chatbot stand corrected at UFC Vegas 102? Let us know what you think in the comments down below.