Farès Ziam
Farès Ziam | |
---|---|
Born | Vénissieux, France | March 21, 1997
Other names | Smile Killer |
Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) |
Weight | 155 lb (70 kg; 11 st 1 lb) |
Division | Lightweight (2016–present) Welterweight (2014–2016) |
Reach | 75 in (191 cm)[1] |
Fighting out of | Lyon, France |
Team | Team Ezbiri (2014–2021) Sanford MMA (2021–present)[2] |
Years active | 2014–present |
Mixed martial arts record | |
Total | 20 |
Wins | 16 |
By knockout | 6 |
By submission | 4 |
By decision | 6 |
Losses | 4 |
By submission | 3 |
By decision | 1 |
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog |
Farès Ziam (born March 21, 1997) is a French professional mixed martial artist who competes in the Lightweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).
Background
[edit]Born into a Franco-Algerian family in 1997, he was a fan of mixed martial arts and Brazilian jiu-jitsu. It was a family affair, with everyone involved in combat sports. His father, Taïeb, who was a former pro boxer that hung up his gloves in the 2000s, has of course had something to do with it. His stepfather did Brazilian jiu-jitsu while his two brothers did Muay Thai. At 12, Ziam began practising combat sports with full contact. At 13, he began doing Brazilian jiu-jitsu, kickboxing and MMA once or twice a week. Starting at 14, he did judo, BJJ and kickboxing for 3 years, he then joined the Ezbiri team in Villeurbanne to do MMA professionally.[3][4]
Mixed martial arts career
[edit]Early career
[edit]Starting his professional MMA career in 2014, Ziam compiled a 10–2 record fighting mostly in the regional European scene, winning the HIT and LFC lightweight championships in the process.[5]
Ultimate Fighting Championship
[edit]Ziam, as a replacement for Magomed Mustafaev, made his promotional debut against Don Madge on September 7, 2019, at UFC 242 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.[6] Ziam lost the fight by unanimous decision.[7]
Ziam faced Jamie Mullarkey at UFC Fight Night: Ortega vs. The Korean Zombie on October 18, 2020.[8] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[9]
Ziam faced Luigi Vendramini on June 12, 2021, at UFC 263.[10] He won the fight via majority decision.[11]
As the last fight of his prevailing contract, Ziam was scheduled to face Terrance McKinney on November 20, 2021, at UFC Fight Night 198.[12][13] However, one of McKinney's cornermen got COVID-19 the day of the bout and it was scrapped.[14] The pairing was rescheduled and eventually took place at UFC Fight Night 202 on February 26, 2022.[15] Ziam lost the bout via first round rear-naked choke.[16]
UFC opted not to renew his contract for a while, but eventually Ziam faced Michal Figlak on September 3, 2022, at UFC Fight Night 209 as the first bout of his new contract.[17][13] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[18]
Ziam faced Jai Herbert on July 22, 2023, at UFC on ESPN+ 82.[19] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[20]
Ziam faced Claudio Puelles on February 24, 2024, at UFC Fight Night 237.[21] Despite being taken down seven times, Ziam won the bout by split decision after landing more strikes.[22]
As the first bout of his new four-fight contract, Ziam faced Matt Frevola on September 28, 2024, at UFC Fight Night 243.[23][24] He won the fight by knockout in the third round after delivering a knee to the face of his opponent.[25] This fight earned him his first Performance of the Night award.[26]
Personal life
[edit]Ziam and his wife have a son (born 2024).[27]
Championships and accomplishments
[edit]- Ultimate Fighting Championship
- Performance of the Night (One time) vs. Matt Frevola[26]
- HIT Fighting Championship
- HIT Lightweight Championship (one time)
- Lyon Fighting Championship
- LFC Lightweight Championship (one time)
- MMAjunkie.com
- 2024 September Knockout of the Month vs. Matt Frevola[28]
Mixed martial arts record
[edit]20 matches | 16 wins | 4 losses |
By knockout | 6 | 0 |
By submission | 4 | 3 |
By decision | 6 | 1 |
Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Win | 16–4 | Matt Frevola | KO (knee) | UFC Fight Night: Moicano vs. Saint Denis | September 28, 2024 | 3 | 2:59 | Paris, France | Performance of the Night. |
Win | 15–4 | Claudio Puelles | Decision (split) | UFC Fight Night: Moreno vs. Royval 2 | February 24, 2024 | 3 | 5:00 | Mexico City, Mexico | |
Win | 14–4 | Jai Herbert | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Aspinall vs. Tybura | July 22, 2023 | 3 | 5:00 | London, England | |
Win | 13–4 | Michal Figlak | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Gane vs. Tuivasa | September 3, 2022 | 3 | 5:00 | Paris, France | |
Loss | 12–4 | Terrance McKinney | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC Fight Night: Makhachev vs. Green | February 26, 2022 | 1 | 2:11 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
Win | 12–3 | Luigi Vendramini | Decision (majority) | UFC 263 | June 12, 2021 | 3 | 5:00 | Glendale, Arizona, United States | |
Win | 11–3 | Jamie Mullarkey | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Ortega vs. The Korean Zombie | October 18, 2020 | 3 | 5:00 | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | |
Loss | 10–3 | Don Madge | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 242 | September 7, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | |
Win | 10–2 | Yassine Belhadj | Submission (guillotine choke) | European Beatdown 5 | February 2, 2019 | 3 | 1:05 | La Louvière, Belgium | |
Win | 9–2 | Julio Matos | Decision (unanimous) | European Beatdown 4 | October 13, 2018 | 3 | 5:00 | Mons, Belgium | |
Win | 8–2 | Abner Lloveras | KO (punch) | HIT Fighting Championship 5 | March 10, 2018 | 2 | 0:24 | Zürich, Switzerland | Won the HIT Lightweight Championship. |
Win | 7–2 | Alexey Valivakhin | TKO (punches and elbows) | WWFC 8 | September 27, 2017 | 1 | 3:01 | Kyiv, Ukraine | |
Win | 6–2 | Artem Tanshyn | TKO (elbows) | Road To WWFC 4 | April 29, 2017 | 1 | 3:18 | Kyiv, Ukraine | |
Loss | 5–2 | Haotian Wu | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Kunlun Fight MMA 7 | December 15, 2016 | 1 | 3:41 | Beijing, China | |
Win | 5–1 | Damien Lapilus | KO (head kick) | Lyon Fighting Championship 7 | November 19, 2016 | 1 | N/A | Lyon, France | Lightweight debut. Won the LFC Lightweight Championship. |
Loss | 4–1 | Viskhan Magomadov | Submission (rear-naked choke) | ACB 46 | September 24, 2016 | 1 | 3:58 | Olsztyn, Poland | Catchweight (159 lb) bout. |
Win | 4–0 | Laïd Zerhouni | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Gladiator Fighting Arena 3 | March 5, 2016 | 3 | 2:32 | Nîmes, France | |
Win | 3–0 | Jean Dutriaux | Submission (arm-triangle choke) | 100% Fight 27 | February 4, 2016 | 1 | 1:50 | Paris, France | Welterweight debut. |
Win | 2–0 | Dominic Yeo | TKO (punches) | WSFC 3: The Third Strike | November 28, 2015 | 2 | 4:58 | Dornbirn, Austria | |
Win | 1–0 | Guerra Mathias | Submission (armbar) | Lyon Fighting Championship 4 | November 22, 2014 | 1 | 4:12 | Lyon, France | Welterweight debut. |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Stats | UFC". ufcstats.com. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
- ^ Farah Hannoun (November 29, 2021). Fares Ziam wants Paddy Pimblett at UFC London in March. MMAjunkie.com – via YouTube.
- ^ "Interview Fares Ziam : mon 1er combat à l'UFC | Arts Martiaux Mixtes". ActuMMA (in French). 2019-09-06. Retrieved 2021-06-11.
- ^ Younsi, Djamel (2020-01-17). "Farès Ziam, Smile Killer du MMA". Expressions (in French). Retrieved 2021-06-11.
- ^ Sherdog.com. "Fares". Sherdog. Retrieved 2021-06-11.
- ^ "Magomed Mustafaev out, Don Madge now meets Fares Ziam at UFC 242". MMA Junkie. 2019-08-22. Retrieved 2019-11-29.
- ^ Fortune, Ryan (September 7, 2019). "UFC 242 Results: Don Madge Grinds to Decision Victory Against Fares Ziam".
- ^ Farah Hannoun (September 24, 2020). "Jamie Mullarkey vs. Fares Ziam joins UFC's Oct. 17 lineup". MMAjunkie.com.
- ^ Staff, FNA (19 October 2020). "Jim Crute KO's Modestas Bakauskas; Mullarkey edged by decision at UFC Fight Night 180 – Fight News Australia". fightnewsaustralia. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
- ^ "Luigi Vendramini vs. Fares Ziam added to UFC 263 on June 12". MMA Junkie. 2021-03-12. Retrieved 2021-06-11.
- ^ Evanoff, Josh (2021-06-12). "UFC 263 Results: Fares Ziam Survives, Defeats Luigi Vendramini". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2021-06-13.
- ^ Dorff, Marcel (2021-08-24). "BREAKING: Terrance McKinney vs. Fares Ziam toegevoegd aan UFC evenement op 20 november". MMA DNA (in Dutch). Retrieved 2024-10-30.
- ^ a b E. Spencer Kyte (February 20, 2024). "Fares Ziam: Learning On The Job". Ultimate Fighting Championship.
- ^ "Terrance McKinney forced out of UFC Fight Night 198 due to COVID-19 exposure". MMA Junkie. 2021-11-20. Retrieved 2021-11-20.
- ^ Dorff, Marcel (2021-12-03). "Terrance McKinney vs. Fares Ziam opnieuw ingepland, ditmaal voor 26 februari". MMA DNA (in Dutch). Retrieved 2024-10-30.
- ^ Anderson, Jay (2022-02-26). "UFC Vegas 49: Terrance McKinney Secures Another First Round Finish, Submits Fares Ziam". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2022-02-27.
- ^ Anderson, Jay (2022-08-18). "Fares Ziam Welcomes Cage Warriors Standout Michal Figlak at UFC Paris". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2022-08-19.
- ^ Bitter, Shawn (2022-09-03). "UFC Paris: Farès Ziam Hurts Figlak Early, Out Grapples Him To Unanimous Decision". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2022-09-03.
- ^ "Fares Ziam vs Herbert". Boxe Mag (in French). 2023-05-01. Retrieved 2023-05-02.
- ^ Dewar, Val (2023-07-22). "UFC London: Fares Ziam Beats Jai Herbert In Clinch-Heavy Matchup Between Kickboxers". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2023-08-04.
- ^ "Claudio Puelles vs Fares Ziam Reported for UFC Mexico City". www.itnwwe.com. 2024-01-11. Retrieved 2024-01-11.
- ^ Dewar, Val (2024-02-24). "UFC Mexico City: Farès Ziam Wins Split Decision Over Claudio Puelles". www.cagesidepress.com. Retrieved 2024-02-24.
- ^ Farah Hannoun and Nolan King (2024-07-10). "Matt Frevola draws Fares Ziam at UFC Fight Night in Paris". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2024-07-10.
- ^ Cageside Press (September 26, 2024). Fares Ziam Considers Frevola A Top-15 Guy Even Without Ranking | UFC Paris – via YouTube.
- ^ Jay Anderson (2024-09-28). "UFC Paris: Fares Ziam Delivers Crushing Knee, Puts Matt Frevola Out Cold". cagesidepress.com. Retrieved 2024-09-28.
- ^ a b Brian Mazique (2024-09-28). "UFC Fight Night Paris Results: Bonus Winners And Highlights". forbes.com. Retrieved 2024-09-28.
- ^ E. Spencer Kyte (September 28, 2024). "Main Card Results | UFC Paris". Ultimate Fighting Championship.
- ^ "MMA Junkie's Knockout of the Month for September: Fares Ziam shuts off Matt Frevola with all-time knee". MMAjunkie.com. September 30, 2024.
- ^ "Fares "Smile Killer" Ziam". Sherdog. Retrieved March 20, 2021.
External links
[edit]- 1997 births
- Living people
- French male mixed martial artists
- Lightweight mixed martial artists
- Ultimate Fighting Championship male fighters
- French sportspeople of Algerian descent
- French practitioners of Brazilian jiu-jitsu
- Mixed martial artists utilizing kickboxing
- Mixed martial artists utilizing Brazilian jiu-jitsu
- Mixed martial artists utilizing judo
- People from Vénissieux
- Sportspeople from Lyon Metropolis
- 21st-century French sportsmen