Zak Chelli signs multi-fight deal with Zuffa Boxing after Morrell KO

Zak Chelli has signed a multi-fight contract with Zuffa Boxing, the company announced November 4, 2026, adding the British light heavyweight to its 175-pound roster less than six months after his upset knockout of David Morrell.

The 28-year-old from Fulham, London — known as the fighting schoolteacher for his work as a supply teacher at a secondary school in Surrey — joins on the back of what Zuffa and Sky Sports both framed as one of the biggest shocks in recent boxing. His Zuffa Boxing debut will be announced shortly, and his fights are expected to air on Sky Sports.

Morrell knockout put him on the map

In May, Chelli stepped in on two weeks' notice against Morrell, a two-division world champion who had previously held WBA regular titles at 168 and 175 pounds and gone the distance with David Benavidez. Chelli overcame an early deficit, hurt Morrell in the ninth round, and finished him with a right hand with 36 seconds left in the 10th, per the official Zuffa Boxing release carried on UFC.com.

Sky Sports noted that Morrell was widely viewed as a top-class light heavyweight before that night, and that Chelli's finish immediately elevated talk of bigger assignments at 175.

Titles, setbacks, and the Zuffa light heavyweight stable

Chelli turned professional as a super middleweight in 2017 and captured English, British, and Commonwealth honors before moving up to light heavyweight last year. He won the English title in his first fight at 175 pounds before accepting the Morrell assignment. Sky Sports also listed a British and Commonwealth win over Jack Cullen, an English title win over Germaine Brown in 2022, an upset of Anthony Sims Jr., a loss to Callum Simpson in Barnsley, and a bounce-back knockout of Adam Hepple for the English light heavyweight belt.

His official record stands at 17-3-1 with 9 knockouts, according to the Zuffa announcement. At Zuffa he joins a light heavyweight group that Sky Sports said already includes Radivoje "Hot Rod" Kalajdzic, Joe Ward and others.

Ready for anyone — debut still TBA

"I'm grateful for this opportunity. Zuffa is looking for fighters that they believe in, and I'm proud to be in that category," Chelli said in the release. "I'm thrilled that my fights will once again be shown on Sky Sports. I've fought on Sky many times, and they've always treated me well.

"I want to make the fights that the fans want to see. I'm ready to fight anyone, anytime, anywhere. I've proven that throughout my career."

Neither Zuffa Boxing nor Sky Sports named an opponent, date, or venue for Chelli's promotional debut as of the November 4 announcement. Until that bout is confirmed, the story remains a roster signing tied to the momentum from the Morrell knockout rather than a booked fight.