Farès Ziam Explained

Farès Ziam
Other Names:Smile Killer
Birth Date:21 March 1997
Birth Place:Vénissieux, France
Weight Lb:155
Weight Class:Lightweight (2016–present)
Welterweight (2014–2016)
Reach:75 in.[1]
Fighting Out Of:Lyon, France
Team:Team Ezbiri (2014–2021)
Sanford MMA (2021–present)[2]
Years Active:2014–present
Mma Kowin:6
Mma Subwin:4
Mma Decwin:6
Mma Subloss:3
Mma Decloss:1
Sherdog:184241

Farès Ziam (born March 21, 1997) is a French professional mixed martial artist and kickboxer who competes in the Lightweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).

Background

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]

Kickboxing career

On June 13, 2015, Ziam defeated Tom Pedereno by technical knockout at Sanda Pro Fight Tour #1.[5]

On October 13, 2015, Ziam faced Yazid Boussaha for the vacant ISKA K-1 European 72.5kg title. He won the fight by unanimous decision.[6]

On April 8, 2016, Ziam faced Igor Kozak at Fight Night ONE. He won the fight by second round doctor stoppage.[7]

On October 28, 2017, Ziam made his Glory promotional debut at Glory 47 against Mohamed Souane. The fight was declared a draw after three rounds.[8]

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

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.[9]

Ultimate Fighting Championship

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.[10] Ziam lost the fight by unanimous decision.[11]

Ziam faced Jamie Mullarkey at on October 18, 2020.[12] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[13]

Ziam faced Luigi Vendramini on June 12, 2021, at UFC 263.[14] He won the fight via majority decision.[15]

As the last fight of his prevailing contract, Ziam was scheduled to face Terrance McKinney on November 20, 2021, at UFC Fight Night 198.[16] [17] However, one of McKinney's cornermen got COVID-19 the day of the bout and it was scrapped.[18] The pairing was rescheduled and eventually took place at UFC Fight Night 202 on February 26, 2022.[19] Ziam lost the bout via first round rear-naked choke.[20]

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.[21] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[22]

Ziam faced Jai Herbert on July 22, 2023, at UFC on ESPN+ 82.[23] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[24]

Ziam faced Claudio Puelles on February 24, 2024, at UFC Fight Night 237.[25] Despite being taken down seven times, Ziam won the bout by split decision after landing more strikes.[26]

As the first bout of his new four-fight contract, Ziam faced Matt Frevola on September 28, 2024, at UFC Fight Night 243.[27] [28] He won the fight by knockout in the third round after delivering a knee to the face of his opponent.[29] This fight earned him his first Performance of the Night award.[30]

Personal life

Ziam and his wife have a son (born 2024).[31]

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts

Kickboxing

Mixed martial arts record

|-|Win|align=center|16–4|Matt Frevola|KO (knee)|||align=center|3|align=center|2:59|Paris, France||-|Win|align=center|15–4|Claudio Puelles|Decision (split)|||align=center|3|align=center|5:00|Mexico City, Mexico||-|Win|align=center|14–4|Jai Herbert|Decision (unanimous)|||align=center|3|align=center|5:00|London, England||-|Win|align=center|13–4|Michal Figlak|Decision (unanimous)|||align=center|3|align=center|5:00|Paris, France||-|Loss|align=center|12–4|Terrance McKinney|Submission (rear-naked choke)| ||align=center|1|align=center|2:11|Las Vegas, Nevada, United States||-|Win|align=center|12–3|Luigi Vendramini|Decision (majority)|UFC 263||align=center|3|align=center|5:00|Glendale, Arizona, United States||-|Win|align=center|11–3|Jamie Mullarkey|Decision (unanimous)| ||align=center|3|align=center|5:00|Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates||-|Loss|align=center| 10–3|Don Madge|Decision (unanimous)|UFC 242 ||align=center|3|align=center|5:00|Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates||-| Win| align=center| 10–2| Yassine Belhadj| Submission (guillotine choke)| European Beatdown 5| | align=center| 3| align=center| 1:05| La Louvière, Belgium| |-|Win|align=center| 9–2|Julio Matos|Decision (unanimous)|European Beatdown 4||align=center|3|align=center|5:00|Mons, Belgium||-| Win| align=center| 8–2| Abner Lloveras|KO (punch)|HIT Fighting Championship 5||align=center|2|align=center|0:24|Zürich, Switzerland||-| Win| align=center| 7–2| Alexey Valivakhin| TKO (punches and elbows)| WWFC 8| | align=center| 1| align=center| 3:01| Kyiv, Ukraine| |-| Win| align=center| 6–2| Artem Tanshyn| TKO (elbows)| Road To WWFC 4| | align=center| 1| align=center| 3:18| Kyiv, Ukraine| |-| Loss| align=center| 5–2| Haotian Wu| Submission (rear-naked choke)| Kunlun Fight MMA 7| | align=center| 1| align=center| 3:41| Beijing, China| |-| Win| align=center| 5–1| Damien Lapilus| KO (head kick)| Lyon Fighting Championship 7| | align=center| 1| align=center| N/A| Lyon, France| |-| Loss| align=center| 4–1| Viskhan Magomadov| Submission (rear-naked choke)| ACB 46| | align=center| 1| align=center| 3:58| Olsztyn, Poland| |-| Win| align=center| 4–0| Laïd Zerhouni| Submission (rear-naked choke)| Gladiator Fighting Arena 3| | align=center| 3| align=center| 2:32| Nîmes, France| |-| Win| align=center| 3–0| Jean Dutriaux| Submission (arm-triangle choke)| 100% Fight 27| | align=center| 1| align=center| 1:50| Paris, France||-| Win| align=center| 2–0| Dominic Yeo| TKO (punches)| WSFC 3: The Third Strike| | align=center| 2| align=center| 4:58| Dornbirn, Austria||-| Win| align=center|1–0| Guerra Mathias| Submission (armbar)| Lyon Fighting Championship 4| | align=center|1| align=center|4:12| Lyon, France||-[33]

Kickboxing record

|- bgcolor="#c5d2ea"| 2017-10-28 || Draw ||align=left| Mohamed Souane || Glory 47: Lyon || Lyon, France || Decision || 3 || 3:00

|- bgcolor="#cfc"| 2017-05-06 || Win ||align=left| Yoan Benbedra || Takedown FC 1|| Tarare, France || TKO (retirement) || 3 ||

|- bgcolor="#cfc"| 2016-04-08 || Win ||align=left| Igor Kozak || Fight Night 1 || Saint-Étienne, France || TKO (Doctor stoppage) || 2 ||

|- bgcolor="#cfc"| 2015-10-03 || Win ||align=left| Yazid Boussaha || Boxe || Calvi, France || Decision (Unanimous) || 5 || 3:00 |-! style=background:white colspan=9 |

|- bgcolor="#cfc"| 2016-06-13 || Win ||align=left| Tom Pedreno || Sanda Pro Fight Tour || Tarare, France || TKO || || |-| colspan=9 | Legend:

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Stats UFC . ufcstats.com . 29 May 2021.
  2. Fares Ziam wants Paddy Pimblett at UFC London in March. MMAjunkie.com. Farah Hannoun. November 29, 2021. YouTube.
  3. Web site: 2019-09-06. Interview Fares Ziam : mon 1er combat à l'UFC Arts Martiaux Mixtes. 2021-06-11. ActuMMA. fr-FR.
  4. Web site: Younsi. Djamel. 2020-01-17. Farès Ziam, Smile Killer du MMA. 2021-06-11. Expressions. fr-FR.
  5. Web site: Le Sanda Pro Fight Tour, un superbe spectacle très impressionnant à Tarare . leprogres.fr . 12 November 2024.
  6. Web site: Lottier . Jean-Paul . Kick Boxing à Calvi : La ceinture mondiale pour le Français Tristan Benard . corsenetinfos.corsica . 12 November 2024.
  7. Web site: Fight Night One 4 : les résultats . infos378.rssing.com . 12 November 2024.
  8. Web site: GLORY 47 – LYON – DOUMBE prend sa revanche, EZBIRI prend le tournoi ! . boxemag.com . 12 November 2024.
  9. Web site: Sherdog.com. Fares. 2021-06-11. Sherdog.
  10. Web site: 2019-08-22. Magomed Mustafaev out, Don Madge now meets Fares Ziam at UFC 242. 2019-11-29. MMA Junkie. en.
  11. Web site: Fortune. Ryan. September 7, 2019. UFC 242 Results: Don Madge Grinds to Decision Victory Against Fares Ziam.
  12. Web site: Jamie Mullarkey vs. Fares Ziam joins UFC's Oct. 17 lineup. September 24, 2020. MMAjunkie.com. Farah Hannoun.
  13. Web site: Staff. FNA. Jim Crute KO's Modestas Bakauskas; Mullarkey edged by decision at UFC Fight Night 180 – Fight News Australia. 23 March 2021. fightnewsaustralia. 19 October 2020. en.
  14. Web site: 2021-03-12. Luigi Vendramini vs. Fares Ziam added to UFC 263 on June 12. 2021-06-11. MMA Junkie. en-US.
  15. Web site: Evanoff. Josh. 2021-06-12. UFC 263 Results: Fares Ziam Survives, Defeats Luigi Vendramini. 2021-06-13. Cageside Press. en-US.
  16. Web site: Dorff. Marcel. 2021-08-24. BREAKING: Terrance McKinney vs. Fares Ziam toegevoegd aan UFC evenement op 20 november. 2024-10-30. MMA DNA. nl.
  17. Web site: Fares Ziam: Learning On The Job. February 20, 2024. E. Spencer Kyte. Ultimate Fighting Championship.
  18. Web site: 2021-11-20. Terrance McKinney forced out of UFC Fight Night 198 due to COVID-19 exposure. 2021-11-20. MMA Junkie. en-US.
  19. Web site: Dorff. Marcel. 2021-12-03. Terrance McKinney vs. Fares Ziam opnieuw ingepland, ditmaal voor 26 februari. 2024-10-30. MMA DNA. nl.
  20. Web site: Anderson . Jay . 2022-02-26 . UFC Vegas 49: Terrance McKinney Secures Another First Round Finish, Submits Fares Ziam . 2022-02-27 . Cageside Press . en-US.
  21. Web site: Anderson . Jay . 2022-08-18 . Fares Ziam Welcomes Cage Warriors Standout Michal Figlak at UFC Paris . 2022-08-19 . Cageside Press . en-US.
  22. Web site: Bitter . Shawn . 2022-09-03 . UFC Paris: Farès Ziam Hurts Figlak Early, Out Grapples Him To Unanimous Decision . 2022-09-03 . Cageside Press . en-US.
  23. Web site: 2023-05-01 . Fares Ziam vs Herbert . 2023-05-02 . Boxe Mag . FR.
  24. Web site: Dewar . Val . 2023-07-22 . UFC London: Fares Ziam Beats Jai Herbert In Clinch-Heavy Matchup Between Kickboxers . 2023-08-04 . Cageside Press . en-US.
  25. Web site: 2024-01-11 . Claudio Puelles vs Fares Ziam Reported for UFC Mexico City . 2024-01-11 . www.itnwwe.com . en-US.
  26. Web site: Dewar. Val. 2024-02-24 . UFC Mexico City: Farès Ziam Wins Split Decision Over Claudio Puelles . 2024-02-24. www.cagesidepress.com . en-US.
  27. Web site: Matt Frevola draws Fares Ziam at UFC Fight Night in Paris. mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Farah Hannoun and Nolan King. 2024-07-10. 2024-07-10.
  28. Fares Ziam Considers Frevola A Top-15 Guy Even Without Ranking UFC Paris. September 26, 2024. YouTube. Cageside Press.
  29. Web site: UFC Paris: Fares Ziam Delivers Crushing Knee, Puts Matt Frevola Out Cold. cagesidepress.com. Jay Anderson. 2024-09-28. 2024-09-28.
  30. Web site: UFC Fight Night Paris Results: Bonus Winners And Highlights. forbes.com. Brian Mazique. 2024-09-28. 2024-09-28.
  31. Web site: Main Card Results UFC Paris. September 28, 2024. Ultimate Fighting Championship. E. Spencer Kyte.
  32. Web site: MMA Junkie's Knockout of the Month for September: Fares Ziam shuts off Matt Frevola with all-time knee. September 30, 2024. MMAjunkie.com.
  33. Web site: Fares "Smile Killer" Ziam. March 20, 2021. Sherdog.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Farès Ziam".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2025, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.