Youssef Zalal Leaves Factory X

Youssef Zalal has confirmed that he is no longer fighting out of Factory X, ending a longstanding connection with the gym that had been part of his entire professional career. The featherweight also said he is talking with Trevor Wittman after spending extended time training at Onx in Denver. Zalal’s comments establish a significant change in his preparation, but they do not confirm that he has joined Wittman’s team or finalized a new camp arrangement. For now, the firm developments are his exit from Factory X and his ongoing conversations with Wittman.

The change arrives after Zalal’s decision loss to Aljamain Sterling, his first UFC defeat since returning to the promotion. Zalal said the move was not caused by that result. Instead, he described it as a decision connected to his own development and the need for continued growth at his current level. That distinction is important: Zalal did not portray the departure as a reaction to one fight, nor did he criticize Factory X head coach Marc Montoya. He called Montoya a father figure and mentor, while acknowledging that this would be the first time in his professional career that Montoya likely would not be present when he fights, though not in the corner.

How Zalal’s Training Change Took Shape

Zalal explained that his trip to Denver initially had a practical purpose. After returning from his fight and a vacation, he wanted to train at Onx with Wittman and the surrounding group while a possible fight was being discussed. He also wanted to remain ready and experience something different in training. What began as a short-term plan grew into roughly a month and a half of training together nonstop, and Zalal said he then got a fight. That sequence provides context for why Wittman has become part of the discussion around Zalal’s next phase.

The reporting stops short of announcing a completed coaching move. Zalal said, “Trevor is the guy I’m talking to right now,” which confirms discussions rather than a formal partnership. He also said he was still trying to figure out the changes on his side fully. That leaves the situation open as Zalal prepares for whatever comes next, especially because his next UFC booking had not been set in the report. The practical takeaway is that Zalal has made one decision public—he is no longer fighting out of Factory X—while the longer-term shape of his training remains unresolved.

What Zalal Has Made Clear

Zalal’s account separates the known facts from the unanswered questions. He has made clear that Factory X is no longer his fighting base, and he has identified Wittman as the person he is currently talking with. He has also explained that his work at Onx was substantial rather than a single visit. At the same time, he did not announce a new team deal, a permanent camp, or a next opponent. His comments about Montoya further show that the departure should not be read as a public personal dispute based on the material available.

The eventual coaching choice will shape more than the name in Zalal’s corner. A new team can change the rhythm of camp, the mix of training partners and the way a fighter prepares for specific opponents. That is why Zalal is taking time to define the arrangement instead of presenting his Denver sessions as a finished decision.

• Zalal confirmed that he is definitely no longer fighting out of Factory X, despite describing Marc Montoya as a father figure and mentor.
• Zalal said he has been talking with Trevor Wittman after training at Onx, but he did not confirm a finalized new team arrangement.

For Youssef Zalal, the news is a confirmed break from the gym that accompanied his professional career and an active dialogue with Trevor Wittman. His explanation frames the decision around continued growth, not his loss to Sterling, and preserves respect for Montoya’s role in his career. Until Zalal announces a completed training arrangement or his next UFC booking, the most accurate reading is that his camp transition is underway rather than finished.