Wikipedia

Farès Ziam

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).

Farès Ziam
Born (1997-03-21) March 21, 1997 (age 27)
Vénissieux, France
Other namesSmile Killer
Height6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight155 lb (70 kg; 11 st 1 lb)
DivisionLightweight (2016–present)
Welterweight (2014–2016)
Reach75 in (191 cm)[1]
Fighting out ofLyon, France
TeamTeam Ezbiri (2014–2021)
Sanford MMA (2021–present)[2]
Years active2014–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total20
Wins16
By knockout6
By submission4
By decision6
Losses4
By submission3
By decision1
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Background

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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

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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

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Early career

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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

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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: Ortega vs. The Korean Zombie 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 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

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

Championships and accomplishments

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Mixed martial arts

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Kickboxing

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Mixed martial arts record

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Professional record breakdown
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.

[33]

Kickboxing record

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Professional 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.
2016-06-13 Win   Tom Pedreno Sanda Pro Fight Tour Tarare, France TKO
Legend:   Win   Loss   Draw/No contest   Notes

See also

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References

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