Farès Ziam
French mixed martial artist (born 1997)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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).
Vénissieux, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France
| Farès Ziam | |
|---|---|
| Born | March 21, 1997 Vénissieux, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France |
| Other names | Smile Killer |
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (183 cm) |
| 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 | 23 |
| Wins | 18 |
| By knockout | 7 |
| By submission | 4 |
| By decision | 7 |
| Losses | 5 |
| By submission | 3 |
| By decision | 2 |
| Other information | |
| Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog | |
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 practicing 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 three 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 UFC Fight Night 180 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][17] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[22]
Ziam faced Jai Herbert on July 22, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 224.[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]
Ziam faced Mike Davis on February 1, 2025 at UFC Fight Night 250.[31] He won the fight by unanimous decision.[32]
Ziam was scheduled to face Kauê Fernandes on September 6, 2025, at UFC Fight Night 258.[33] However, he withdrew from the bout for personal reasons following the death of his grandmother.[34]
Ziam faced Nazim Sadykhov on December 6, 2025 at UFC 323.[35] He won the fight by technical knockout via punches and elbows in the second round.[36]
Ziam faced Tom Nolan on June 6, 2026 at UFC Fight Night 278.[37] He lost the fight by unanimous decision.[38]
Personal life
Ziam and his wife have a son (born 2024).[39]
Championships and accomplishments
Mixed martial arts
- Ultimate Fighting Championship
- Performance of the Night (One time) vs. Matt Frevola[30]
- 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[40]
Kickboxing
- International Sport Kickboxing Association
- 2015 ISKA K-1 European Light-middleweight (-72.5kg) Champion
Mixed martial arts record
| 23 matches | 18 wins | 5 losses |
| By knockout | 7 | 0 |
| By submission | 4 | 3 |
| By decision | 7 | 2 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 18–5 | Tom Nolan | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Muhammad vs. Bonfim | June 6, 2026 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 18–4 | Nazim Sadykhov | TKO (elbows and punches) | UFC 323 | December 6, 2025 | 2 | 4:59 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 17–4 | Mike Davis | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Adesanya vs. Imavov | February 1, 2025 | 3 | 5:00 | Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | |
| 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-FC 5 | March 10, 2018 | 2 | 0:24 | Zürich, Switzerland | Won the HIT Lightweight Championship. |
| Win | 7–2 | Alexey Valivakhin | TKO (punches and elbows) | World Warriors FC 8 | September 27, 2017 | 1 | 3:01 | Kyiv, Ukraine | |
| Win | 6–2 | Artem Tanshyn | TKO (elbows) | Road to World Warriors FC 4 | April 29, 2017 | 1 | 3:18 | Kyiv, Ukraine | |
| Loss | 5–2 | Wu Haotian | 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 FC 7 | November 19, 2016 | 1 | N/A | Lyon, France | Lightweight debut. Won the Lyon FC 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 | Return to Welterweight. |
| Win | 2–0 | Dominic Yeo | TKO (punches) | Westside Fighting Challenge 3 | November 28, 2015 | 2 | 4:58 | Dornbirn, Austria | Middleweight debut. |
| Win | 1–0 | Guerra Mathias | Submission (armbar) | Lyon FC 4 | November 22, 2014 | 1 | 4:12 | Lyon, France | Welterweight debut. |
Kickboxing record
| Date | Result | Opponent | Event | Location | Method | Round | Time | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017-10-28 | Draw |  Mohamed Souane | Glory 47: Lyon | Lyon, France | Decision | 3 | 3:00 | |
| 2017-05-06 | Win | Yoan Benbedra | Takedown FC 1 | Tarare, France | TKO (retirement) | 3 | ||
| 2016-04-08 | Win |  Igor Kozak | Fight Night 1 | Saint-Étienne, France | TKO (Doctor stoppage) | 2 | ||
| 2015-10-03 | Win | Yazid Boussaha | Boxe | Calvi, France | Decision (Unanimous) | 5 | 3:00 | |
| Wins the vacant ISKA K-1 European 72.5kg title. | ||||||||
| 2015 | Win | Tom Pedreno | Sanda Pro Fight Tour | Tarare, France | TKO | |||
| Legend: Win Loss Draw/No contest Notes | ||||||||