Youssef Zalal confirms Factory X exit, talks with Trevor Wittman

Youssef Zalal has departed Factory X, the Colorado-based gym where he trained throughout most of his professional career, as he seeks fresh coaching and continued development. "The Moroccan Devil" confirmed the split while revealing he is in talks with Trevor Wittman, the renowned coach of UFC lightweight champion Justin Gaethje.

Zalal (18-6-1) spent years under Factory X head coach Marc Montoya, whom he credits as a father figure and mentor since his youth. However, the fighter determined that staying at the gym would not serve his current objectives. "I had my little situations with my team," Zalal told MMA Junkie. "Few changes happened. It's a lot crazier on my side. I'm definitely no longer fighting from Factory X. Marc Montoya has obviously been nothing but a father figure, a mentor, for almost all my life… As a kid, I've grown in the program and that kind of changed. Where I'm at in my life, I still need growth. Trevor is the guy I'm talking to right now."

Zalal's first UFC stint from the early 2020s through 2022 yielded a modest 3-3-1 record. His return to the organization in 2024 proved significantly more successful: he won five consecutive fights with four finishes before suffering a loss to Aljamain Sterling in April. The move to train with Wittman at ONX represents a strategic attempt to accelerate his progress and compete at the highest level under one of MMA's most respected coaches.