UFC 323 · Dec 06, 2025 · Lightweight · Completed
Age 32
Height 5' 10"
Reach 69.0"
Weight 155 lbs.
Stance Southpaw
Age 29
Height 6' 1"
Reach 75"
Weight 155 lbs.
Stance Orthodox
Career Averages - Nazim Sadykhov
4.79 SLpM
49.0% Str. Acc.
5.49 SApM
49.0% Str. Def.
1.1 TD Avg
45.0% TD Acc.
72.0% TD Def.
0.2 Sub. Avg
Career Averages - Farès Ziam
2.87 SLpM
52.0% Str. Acc.
1.53 SApM
65.0% Str. Def.
1.73 TD Avg
40.0% TD Acc.
71.0% TD Def.
0.5 Sub. Avg
Nazim Sadykhov - Fight History
SCHED vs Matheus Camilo
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Matheus Camilo vs. Nazim Sadykhov
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Sadykhov (-250); Camilo (+200)

Round 1
Long Island, New York’s favorite Azerbaijani, Sadykhov, faces off against Camilo in this lightweight feature, with Rich Mitchell set to officiate. Sadykhov comes out southpaw, Camilo orthodox, but Sadykhov is switching stances constantly in the opening exchanges. Sadykhov is coming forward, maneuvering Camilo around the cage, herding him with half-speed kicks, trying to walk him into the fence.
Camilo catches Sadykhov coming in with a brutal right hand that drops him in a heap. Sadykhov covers up as Camilo pounces and drops three or four big hammerfists onto his raised arm and glove, at which point Mitchell dives in for the rescue.
The Baku crowd erupts in boos and Sadykhov springs up to protest, but he had taken several flush shots while doing nothing but shell up. Debate will ensue, but it goes down as a TKO win for Camilo, who climbs the Octagon fence and lets out a jubilant roar that echoes in the suddenly hushed arena.

The Official Result
Matheus Camilo def. Nazim Sadykhov R1 1:31 via TKO (Punches)
AJ
AJ DeVito Expert Confident picked Jun 25, 2026 (2 days before fight)
Nazim Sadykhov

AJ picks Sadykhov by knockout in round 3, believing Camilo's cardio is suspect and that Sadykhov's boxing power will prevail late. He notes Camilo may have early success with grappling but will fade. Sadykhov is fighting in Azerbaijan, adding motivation.

Sadykhov by KO +185; Sadykhov over 1.5 KO +550; Sadykhov round 3 +1000; Camilo round 1 or 2 +425.
"I think Sadikov by finish in round three. I think he gets a third round KO."
AJ
AJ DeVito Expert Confident picked Jun 23, 2026 (4 days before fight)
Nazim Sadykhov

AJ picks Sadykhov by third-round knockout, citing his better boxing, power, and durability. He thinks Camilo's jiu-jitsu is a threat but that Sadykhov can defend and outwork him. AJ expects Camilo to fade and Sadykhov to light him up late.

"I'm going to pick Nazim Sadikov by third round knockout. I think he's going to get a later stage KO of Matus Camilo."
AJ
AJ DeVito Expert Lean picked Jun 24, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Nazim Sadykhov

AJ DeVito suggests Nazim Sadykhov is live for a later-stage knockout, possibly in round three. He thinks Camilo may wrestle early but Sadykhov's toughness and power will prevail. He mentions props for Sadykhov to win by KO over 1.5 rounds at +550 and win in round 3 at +1000.

Sadykhov by KO over 1.5 rounds at +550; Sadykhov win round 3 at +1000.
"Nazim Sadikov to win by KO over one and a half rounds is plus 550. I do think he's live for a later stage finish."
AJ
AJ DeVito Expert Lean picked Jun 22, 2026 (5 days before fight)
Nazim Sadykhov

AJ picks Sadykhov by late knockout, citing his hand speed and power advantage. He worries about Camilo's grappling but believes Sadykhov's dog mentality and home crowd will carry him. Expects Sadykhov to land combinations and finish a fatigued Camilo in the third round.

Sadykhov by KO in round 3. Sadykhov -230 favorite.
"I think I gotta go Nazim Sadikov. But like I think Camilo's live as [ __ ] dude."
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Hesitant picked Jun 21, 2026 (6 days before fight)
Nazim Sadykhov

Angelo picks Nazim due to his technical striking and toughness, but is hesitant because Nazim has been dropped in almost every fight and is a slow starter. He notes that Nazim's chin is a major concern and that he cannot bet on him at -220 odds, though he will root for him.

won't bet at -220 odds
"I am going to pick Nazim here, but only because of how technical he is, how tough he is, and his ability to sneak in wrestling if he needs to. But, I don't think I can pull the trigger at …"
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Lean picked Jun 24, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Nazim Sadykhov

Angelo includes Nazim Sadykhov in a parlay but admits he is not that confident in him, calling him his least confident leg. He suggests removing Nazim from the parlay.

"Nazim Sadykhov. I'm not that confident in Nazim, frankly, but I threw him in there anyway."
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jun 23, 2026 (4 days before fight)
Nazim Sadykhov

Angelo picks Sadykhov as the better striker, but warns he is chinny and has been dropped in recent fights. He thinks Sadykhov should win but is not worth the -240 price. He expects Sadykhov to win a decision.

"I think Nazim Sadikov is the better striker. Therefore, I am picking him to win and he's at home. But I'm not spending minus 240. 94% of people picking a man that was dropped in his last couple of fights …"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Jun 21, 2026 (6 days before fight)
Nazim Sadykhov

Big Brady picks Nazim Sadykhov to knock out Matheus Camilo in the second round. He notes Sadykhov has heart, cardio, and a never-quit attitude, while Camilo has poor cardio and has quit before. Sadykhov is hittable and has been dropped, but Brady expects him to push the pace and break Camilo in the second round, similar to his comeback win over Nicholas Motta.

win by knockout in the second round
"Give me Nazim Satakov to put up a fight of the night type performance and knock out Camello in the second round."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert picked Jun 24, 2026 (3 days before fight)

Cody passes on this fight, seeing no edge. He thinks the moneyline is about right and doesn't want to lay -220 on Sadykhov. He notes slight edge to the under but overall passes.

"I'm going to be completely completely honest, I don't really see an edge on this fight whatsoever."
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Jun 23, 2026 (4 days before fight)
Nazim Sadykhov

Daniel Levi confidently picks Nazim Sadykhov to win by late finish, citing Matheus Camilo's history of quitting when pressured. He notes Camilo was tapped out by a 'weed dealer' and broke against the ghost of Slava Claus. Levi expects a rocky first round for Sadykhov but predicts he will take over in the second or third round and finish Camilo emphatically in his home country.

finish in round 2 or 3
"I think late second round, early third round, Nazim's going to take over this fight and I think he's going to finish this guy in emphatic fashion."
JA
Jacob Lines Expert Confident picked Jun 23, 2026 (4 days before fight)
Matheus Camilo

Jacob picks Camilo by submission at huge odds, noting that Sadykhov is vulnerable to grappling and has been outgrappled before. He thinks the submission prop at 11/1 is worth a shot, though he admits it's a value play rather than a strong conviction.

Matheus Camilo wins by submission
"Mat Camo by submission. It's like 11 to one. 11 to one, right? That's [ __ ] crazy work, right? You're telling me that Nazim Sadikov can get outgrappled 108 basically round against FCM, but a Brazilian can't find a …"
LU
Lucrative James Expert Confident picked Jun 21, 2026 (6 days before fight)
Nazim Sadykhov

Lucrative James picks Sadykhov because of his proven comeback ability, durability, cardio, and power. He notes that Sadykhov often starts slow but takes over in later rounds, while Camilo tends to fade after starting well. He highlights Camilo's questionable cardio and quitting in the Gabe Green fight, and believes Sadykhov's pressure and will to win will be decisive. He predicts a round three knockout for Sadykhov.

"I'm picking the Saddakov in this fight. I'll pick him for a round three knockout."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jun 24, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Nazim Sadykhov

The host is not big on either fighter but believes Sadykhov will wear down Camilo, thwart his grappling, and eventually find a big knockout in front of his home country.

Sadykhov wins by knockout
"I believe Sadykhov will eventually be able to wear down Camilo, thwart the grappling of the Brazilian, and eventually find a big knockout for himself in front of his home country."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Hesitant picked Jun 23, 2026 (4 days before fight)
Nazim Sadykhov

Sadykhov is the better wrestler and has power, but his fights are volatile and he often wins on thin margins. Camilo prefers grappling but Sadykhov's defensive grappling should hold. Sadykhov will find big shots in round 2 or 3 for a knockout, but the line is too wide.

Sadykhov wins in round 2 or 3, by knockout
"I think that'll eventually lead to Sadikov finding big shots to put Camilo away in round two or round three."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Hesitant picked Jun 24, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Nazim Sadykhov

Paul picks Sadykhov but expects a close, contentious decision. He notes Sadykhov's history of struggling in fights and getting knocked down, but believes hometown advantage and judges favoring damage over control time will edge him past Camilo. He is worried about Camilo's wrestling and control time.

"Honestly, this is another fight that I think by the end of the 15 minutes, I'm going to be like, why did I take Satikov at minus 220 and that he's he he's going to win a very close and …"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jun 26, 2026 (1 day before fight)
Nazim Sadykhov

The Guru picks Sadykhov via KO, citing his superior footwork, defense, calf kicks, and counter punching. He believes Camilo is not experienced enough and will leave openings. He expects Sadykhov to land accurately and finish, possibly by knockout.

Parlay of the week with Daniil Donchenko
"Nazim Sadykhov via KO is my prediction."
LOSS vs Farès Ziam
KO R2 4:59 · UFC 323 · Dec 06, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Nazim Sadykhov 0 4 of 16 25% 7 of 21 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:39
Farès Ziam 1 31 of 49 63% 76 of 96 2 of 5 40% 2 0 5:58
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Nazim Sadykhov 0 0 of 1 0% 3 of 6 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:22
Farès Ziam 0 8 of 10 80% 49 of 53 1 of 2 50% 1 0 4:22
2 Nazim Sadykhov 0 4 of 15 26% 4 of 15 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:17
Farès Ziam 1 23 of 39 58% 27 of 43 1 of 3 33% 1 0 1:36
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Nazim Sadykhov 4 of 16 25% 1 of 11 0 of 0 3 of 5 4 of 16 0 of 0 0 of 0
Farès Ziam 31 of 49 63% 21 of 36 2 of 3 8 of 10 18 of 31 4 of 5 9 of 13
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Nazim Sadykhov 0 of 1 0% 0 of 1 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 1 0 of 0 0 of 0
Farès Ziam 8 of 10 80% 3 of 4 2 of 2 3 of 4 2 of 2 3 of 4 3 of 4
2 Nazim Sadykhov 4 of 15 26% 1 of 10 0 of 0 3 of 5 4 of 15 0 of 0 0 of 0
Farès Ziam 23 of 39 58% 18 of 32 0 of 1 5 of 6 16 of 29 1 of 1 6 of 9
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Nazim Sadykhov vs. Fares Ziam
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Ziam (-135), Sadykhov (+114)

Round 1
Jason Herzog is the referee. Ziam follows a leg kick with a body kick, and Sadykhov ties him up and pushes his foe to the fence. Ziam reverses the position and lands some knees to the thighs. Ziam lifs his foe and briefly dumps him on the mat. The Frenchman continues to control the clinch, punching the body. Ziam lifts Sadykhov, pulls him away from the fence and taked him down. Ziam transitions nicely to an arm-triangle choke attempt before moving to the back as Sadykhov attempts to scramble to his feet. Ziam is on Sadykhov’s back, and he drags him down to a seated position. “Smile Killer” has his hooks in, and he switches to a body triangle as he peppers Sadykhov with short shots. Ziam is looking to create opening for a rear-naked choke, but Sadykhov is defending well. Ziam elbows the shoulder of his opponent while still attached to the back. Sadykhov continues to fight the hands of his opponent as time ticks down, and he’ll survive to see another five minutes.

Sherdog Scores
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Ziam
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Ziam
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Ziam

Round 2
Sadykhov looks to find punching range and Ziam backs him up with a high kick. The Frenchman lands some long punches, taking advantage of his reach. A jab from Ziam appears to briefly stun Sadykhov. Ziam moves in and lands a jab. A front kick makes Sadykhov stumble backwards momentarily. Ziam targets the lead leg of Sadykhov. Sadykhov is strugglling to find openings on the feet. Ziam lands a long right hand before changing levels against the fence. Sadykhov reverses the position and presses his foe into the fence. Ziam reverses and works for a high crotch takedown, punishing the leg of his opponent with a kick. Moments later, Ziam pulls Sadykhov off the fence and lands a takedown. The Frenchman is quickly working to take the back while hunting for a choke. Sadykhov scrambles but he can’t free himself from Ziam’s clutches. Sadykhov gets to a knee and then attempts to stand. But with time winding down in the frame,
Ziam creates some space and rocks Sadykhov with a pair of nasty elbows behind the ear. Sadykhov tumbles to the floor and covers up as Ziam unloads with unanswered ground-and-pound before the horn sounds.
Herzog has been taking a close look at the final salvo, and he elects to wave off the fight. It appears to be the right call because Sadykhov is on wobbly legs as he protests the stoppage. That's six straight victories for Ziam.

The Official Result
Fares Ziam def. Nazim Sadykhov via TKO (Elbows and Punches) R2 4:59
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Nov 30, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Nazim Sadykhov

Angelo picks Nazim Sadykhov, acknowledging he has never correctly picked a Farès Ziam fight. He describes Ziam as a technical but boring fighter who sneaks out wins, while Sadykhov is a solid kickboxer with speed, power, and the ability to mix in wrestling. Angelo notes Sadykhov's comeback win over Nicholas Motta and believes his skills will overcome Ziam's style. He bet on Sadykhov at better odds earlier.

bet placed earlier at better odds
"Nazim's the pick. I bet on him. We got him at much better odds than this."
BI
Big Brady Expert Lean picked Nov 26, 2025 (10 days before fight)
Nazim Sadykhov

Big Brady picks Nazim Sadykhov as a dog, calling him a 'madman' with a dog in him. He acknowledges Ziam is more technical and has improved his grappling, but expects Sadykhov to push a pace and make it a dog fight. He predicts Sadykhov wins by decision.

Sadykhov by decision
"I'm going to take the dog and in what I think is going to be a dog fight, I'm going to say Nazim Satakov wins this fight and wins it by decision."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Dec 3, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Farès Ziam

Cody picks Ziam, noting his improved takedown defense and technical striking. He believes Ziam's length and Muay Thai will be effective against Sadykhov, who is prone to being outworked. He mentions that Ziam has shown durability and has never been knocked down. He thinks Ziam will win a decision.

"For me, I just feel like Zam's the guy that's making a little more progress in his overall career that you see an improved version of him fight to fight."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Dec 5, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Farès Ziam

Connor picks Farès Ziam, noting that Ziam has improved his striking and wrestling, becoming a more aggressive and dangerous fighter. He believes Ziam's well-rounded game and ability to control range will be too much for Sadykhov, who is a brute but has blank spaces in his game. Connor warns that Sadykhov is dangerous and can turn a fight around.

"My instinct is to say that Farah Ziyam's game makes too much sense for Sadikov to beat him."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked Nov 27, 2025 (9 days before fight)
Farès Ziam

Daniel picks Ziam, citing his technical striking, reach advantage, and maturity. He expects Ziam to stay disciplined at range and outpoint Sadykhov, though he acknowledges Sadykhov's durability and power. He predicts a unanimous decision for Ziam.

"Ultimately, I think that Farzam is going to hand Nazim Sadikov his first UFCL."
LU
Lucrative James Expert Lean picked Nov 29, 2025 (7 days before fight)
Farès Ziam

Lucrative James finds this a tough fight to call. He notes that Nazim Sadykhov often gets outmaneuvered early but lands comeback finishes, while Ziam is more technical and durable. He thinks Ziam's fight IQ and ability to avoid big moments will allow him to win a decision. However, he is not confident and would not bet on either fighter at close odds.

"I'm going to end up picking Fesam here."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Dec 5, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Farès Ziam

The host believes Sadykhov's reliance on power will be exposed. He views Ziam as the superior technical striker who can handle Sadykhov's big shots and nullify his grappling, leading to a decision win.

win by decision
"I think ZM is the superior technical striker. He should be able to roll with the big shots of Sadikov and I think he should be able to nullify most of Sadikov's grappling game. That should lead to ZM outstriking …"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Dec 3, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Farès Ziam

Paul agrees, citing Ziam's reach advantage and technical striking. He notes that Sadykhov loses chunks of fights and relies on one big shot. He believes Ziam's durability and improved grappling will allow him to outpoint Sadykhov. He picks Ziam by decision.

"Zion for me and it kind of comes down to the same intangibles as well with just the length reach probably making it more of an ugly fight than what Nazam Sadakov wants."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Dec 3, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Farès Ziam

The Guru picks Farès Ziam over Nazim Sadykhov, citing Ziam's reach advantage and slick striking. He notes Sadykhov's wins have asterisks and he struggled against lower-level opponents. The Guru predicts a clean 30-27 decision for Ziam.

"I think Zam's going to win a clean slick 30-27 clear decision shutting down Sadikov."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Dec 5, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Farès Ziam

Zane picks Farès Ziam, agreeing that Ziam's game is more coherent and that he has improved significantly. He notes that Sadykhov is a strange fighter who can make bad decisions but turn fights around with athleticism. Zane believes Ziam can stay ahead and control the fight, but must be careful throughout.

"I think you're right. I think that Ziyam has built enough of a solid, well-rounded competitive game everywhere to win this and to stay ahead of Sadikov all the way through."
WIN vs Nikolas Motta
KO R2 4:17 · UFC on ABC: Hill vs. Rountree Jr. · Jun 21, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Nazim Sadykhov 1 93 of 150 62% 102 of 161 0 of 1 0% 0 0 1:29
Nikolas Motta 1 66 of 157 42% 76 of 168 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:16
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Nazim Sadykhov 0 39 of 63 61% 45 of 70 0 of 1 0% 0 0 1:05
Nikolas Motta 1 36 of 82 43% 44 of 91 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:06
2 Nazim Sadykhov 1 54 of 87 62% 57 of 91 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:24
Nikolas Motta 0 30 of 75 40% 32 of 77 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:10
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Nazim Sadykhov 93 of 150 62% 60 of 114 25 of 27 8 of 9 58 of 109 33 of 38 2 of 3
Nikolas Motta 66 of 157 42% 46 of 136 16 of 16 4 of 5 54 of 135 12 of 22 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Nazim Sadykhov 39 of 63 61% 21 of 43 12 of 13 6 of 7 25 of 46 14 of 17 0 of 0
Nikolas Motta 36 of 82 43% 23 of 68 9 of 9 4 of 5 28 of 72 8 of 10 0 of 0
2 Nazim Sadykhov 54 of 87 62% 39 of 71 13 of 14 2 of 2 33 of 63 19 of 21 2 of 3
Nikolas Motta 30 of 75 40% 23 of 68 7 of 7 0 of 0 26 of 63 4 of 12 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Nikolas Motta vs. Nazim Sadykhov
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Sadykhov (-470), Motta (+360)

Round 1
In one of the wider betting lines on the billing, local finisher Sadykhov (10-1-1, 3-0-1 UFC) is a massive favorite upwards of -500 ahead of his match with “Iron” Motta (15-5, 1 NC; 3-2, 1 NC UFC). It is not to say there is a setup being planned, but it just so happens that Motta has lost all of his bouts by stoppage, and this pairing is on the ABC-based main card for a reason. Motta also hits like a 155-pound truck, and in this sport, there is no such thing as a sure thing. The two combatants touch gloves before the eyes of referee Lukasz Bosacki, and Sadykhov starts off with several low kicks. Motta comes back firing with punches up high, and Sadykhov parries them and pulls off a reverse crescent kick with his lead leg. Motta answers strong with a body kick and a few punches, and Sadykhov hops around to find a better way in. Sadykhov walks face-first into a left hand, and he allows Motta to kick him so he can blast him with a left hook. The crowd is going wild for their home country fighter, who surges forward with two hooks. Motta splits the guard with a few straight punches, and he eats a right hand and is able to block a head kick in time. Sadykhov chips at the front leg, and Motta rushes at him with a left to the body. Motta lets his hands go, catching Sadykhov with fiery fists, backing Sadykhov to the wall and hurting him badly. Motta unloads with everything he has, putting Sadykhov down thanks to his body shots. Sadykhov shells up against the wall, swaying and dodging but not doing anything else, Motta keeps bludgeoning him, until he suddenly stops and backs off, possibly low on steam. Sadykhov surges into action, booting Motta upside the head and chaining several mighty fists behind it. Sadykhov’s momentum and offense pushes Motta to the wall, and Bosacki warns him for grabbing the fence to keep him there. The two break, and Sadykhov lays into his foe with an elbow. Motta still has the energy to lace a flurry together, and Sadykhov gives him plenty to think about including a head kick at the end. Sadykhov backs Motta up and starts doing damage, only to get clipped on the way. Sadykhov kicks high, and Motta kicks him back harder. Sadykhov shoots in low for a double, and Motta stops him but has his back against the wall. Sadykhov leans on him, and both fighters take some time to catch their wind. Right before the bell, Sadykhov drives a knee to the gut and lets go with two elbows. Motta smiles at him.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Motta
Christian Laporte scores the round: 10-9 Motta
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Motta

Round 2
The fighters touch gloves, and Sadykhov is the initial aggressor but is pushed back thanks to a Motta right hand. Motta blocks a kick and responds with his own head kick, and the two both share single punches. Sadykhov lets loose with a spinning wheel kick that glances off the guard, but his straight left hand finds the market. Motta sticks his tongue out, but Sadykhov rails him in the face with a head-splitting combination. Blood streams down the Brazilian’s face, who nevertheless marches forward to strike. Sadykhov backs him off briefly with a combination, keeping his guard up to defend the head kick. Motta’s wound is leaking all over, and Sadykhov jabs him to the body with his foot. Sadykhov lands first, but Motta lands last and harder with an elbow that staggers the local. Sadykhov strings three punches together with a head kick at the end, and “Iron Motta” shows his durability as he remains in the slugfest. Sadykhov shrugs the worst of the blows off to give them back with a vengeance, and Motta attacks the body and rips punches around the guard. The two fight in a phone booth, slashing one another with elbows before Motta clinches up to take a moment. Sadykhov shoves him back and has his guard up to block punches, and then they let loose with a fierce exchange. Sadykhov further busts up Motta, but Motta will not go down and is hitting him back just as hard. They elbow one another, the crowd is exploding, and the fighters are giving it everything they have. Motta unloads with a series of uppercuts as Sadykhov comes towards him, and it is Sadykhov who leans on his opponent to catch his breath. Motta bleeds all over him, similarly glad to have the brief respite.
Sadykhov flips the switch, obliterating the current decision streak by letting loose with a hellacious flurry of body shots and punches up top. As “Black Wolf” delivers the payload of a destructive right hand square on the chin, Motta’s knees finally give way beneath him. Motta crumples to his seat, and Sadykhov demolishes him with a few more right hands until Bosacki waves things off.
The audience goes ballistic as the Azerbaijani secures the dramatic victory in a bloody battle that will reach year-end consideration for sure. The barn was burned, the slobber was knocked and the fists resulted in fireworks after nearly two rounds of terrific action. Both fighters should take a bow for that performance.

The Official Result
Nazim Sadykhov def. Nikolas Motta R2 4:17 via TKO (Punches)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jun 20, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Nazim Sadykhov

Angelo picks Nazim Sadykhov, praising his striking and footwork. He notes that Nazim is a very good striker and has looked fantastic since his only loss. He acknowledges that Nikolas Motta is a good fighter with fast hands and power, but thinks Nazim is the slightly better striker and can win by finish. He warns that Motta is dangerous and the fight could get weird.

Mentions Nazim can win by finish; considers him for lineups but notes Motta's danger.
"I'm going to pick Nazim. I'm probably going to put him in a lineup or two, but we can't just ignore that Nicholas Ma is actually a good fighter."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Jun 18, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Nazim Sadykhov

Big Brady is a big fan of Sadykhov in this matchup, citing durability as the key factor. He notes Sadykhov has never been knocked out, while Motta has been finished in all five losses. Brady thinks Sadykhov is more well-rounded, has better cardio, and a good ground game. He predicts Sadykhov will knock out Motta, possibly in the second round, but wouldn't be surprised by a submission.

second round knockout
"I like Satakov. I think he can knock out Moda."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Jun 19, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Nazim Sadykhov

Connor picks Sadykhov, agreeing that Motta's tendency to jump in with combinations and lack of distance management will be exploited by Sadykhov's countering and physicality. He notes that Sadykhov is not shallow in any area and is a tough, durable fighter who can take a shot and keep coming. He believes Motta's confidence issues, as seen against Ogden, will resurface against a strong opponent like Sadykhov.

"Mata coming at him chin first. And it's going to be able to walk him into something. And Sadokob has really proven to be a brute."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jun 19, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Nikolas Motta

The host is surprised Sadykhov is such a big favorite. He acknowledges Sadykhov's knockout power but thinks Motta has rounded out his game enough to eat big shots and put together a better body of work. He expects Motta to touch up Sadykhov, mix in takedowns, and win on the scorecards, noting Motta is live as a +340 underdog.

underdog at +340
"Another fight where I'm very surprised at Sadikov being such a big favorite. Sure, he has the knockout power to potentially cause MO some problems, but I think MOT has really rounded out his game well enough to be effective …"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jun 20, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Nazim Sadykhov

The MMA Guru picks Nazim Sadykhov, calling him 'really, really good'. He acknowledges Nikolas Motta's underrated skills and dangerous hooks but believes Sadykhov's defensive striking and pressure will prevail. He warns about Motta's lunging hooks but expects Sadykhov to adjust and finish late second or third round via TKO.

Sadykhov wins by TKO in round 2 or 3
"I'm gonna go with Nazim Sadikov. I think he's really good. I think Nazim Sadikov is really, really good."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Jun 19, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Nazim Sadykhov

Zane picks Sadykhov, noting that Motta's recklessness and chin-first approach will play into Sadykhov's power and physicality. He points out that Motta has been broken by lesser fighters like Trey Ogden, and that Sadykhov is a brute who is physical in all areas and has proven durability against Bonfim. He believes Sadykhov will survive Motta's early aggression and catch him with a fight-ending shot.

"I think this is a really, unfortunately, easy pick for Sadokob for me. Yeah, I tend to agree."
WIN vs Ismael Bonfim
KO R1 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Cannonier vs. Rodrigues · Feb 15, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Ismael Bonfim 0 26 of 42 61% 26 of 43 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Nazim Sadykhov 0 13 of 46 28% 14 of 49 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:35
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Ismael Bonfim 0 26 of 42 61% 26 of 43 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Nazim Sadykhov 0 13 of 46 28% 14 of 49 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:35
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Ismael Bonfim 26 of 42 61% 14 of 29 5 of 5 7 of 8 24 of 39 2 of 3 0 of 0
Nazim Sadykhov 13 of 46 28% 9 of 35 2 of 7 2 of 4 12 of 44 1 of 2 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Ismael Bonfim 26 of 42 61% 14 of 29 5 of 5 7 of 8 24 of 39 2 of 3 0 of 0
Nazim Sadykhov 13 of 46 28% 9 of 35 2 of 7 2 of 4 12 of 44 1 of 2 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Ismael Bonfim vs. Nazim Sadykhov
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Bonfim (-198), Sadykhov (+164)

Round 1
Hoping to making tonight a winning night for the family, the elder yet lighter Bonfim (20-4, 2-1 UFC) hits the cage. In a class battle of Brazil vs. Azerbaijan, “Marreta” squares off with Sadykhov (9-1-1, 2-0-1 UFC) in what could be a fascinating 155-pound affair. The styles presented by both men could result in some mighty, thrilling clashes before the dust settles, and referee Mark Smith has the best seat in the house. Doing his duties, Smith clocks the fighters in who are already mid-fist bump. They switch stances while looking for range, and Bonfim strikes first with a few punches and a low kick. Sadykhov has a head kick pound into the guard, and he kicks a few times and spins with a failed back fist. Bonfim loops a right hand around the raised block, and he lets Sadykhov wind up so he can blast him with a right hand and let Sadykhov go whizzing past him. Bonfim just misses with a speedy one-two, and he has a second impact off the shoulder. A third gets through, forcing Sadykhov to swing hard at him. Bonfim gets away with an eye poke, and Sadykhov whips a hook kick at him. Bonfim raps two right hands on the side of the melon, and Sadykhov takes them cleanly without overly seeming concerned. Bonfim lunges to connect with two punches, dancing away from a head kick. Bonfim’s one-two is money in the bank as he keeps drilling “Black Wolf” with it, and Sadykhov is tough but under serious fire. Sadykhov swing back with a vengeance, but his hurled strikes are largely coming up short. Bonfim surges forward with punches, bouncing Sadykhov off the wall and back. When Bonfim wraps a kick under the guard, he is able to slide away before Sadykhov can wind up with his own left hand response. Two kicks from Sadykhov are blocked, and a third hits Bonfim right in the eye and messes him up. Bonfim escapes, and Sadykhov rushes after him hitting him with hammers. A few big left hands from Sadykhov bust a cut open under his right eye, and Sadykhov uses the clinch to hang on to the bell.
Between rounds, Bonfim is appearing severely compromised from the head kick. Smith brings in the doctor after letting the corner and cutman do their business. Bonfim claims that he cannot see, and that is all a physician needs to hear to suggest a fight getting called off.
Bonfim is upset, as he says that he both can and can't see, with the ringside doctor saying it can't be both ways. Any complaints no longer matter, as Smith waves the fight off due to the advice of the physician.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Sadykhov
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Sadykhov
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Sadykhov

The Official Result
Nazim Sadykhov def. Ismael Bonfim R1 5:00 via TKO (Doctor Stoppage)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Feb 9, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Ismael Bonfim

Angelo picks Ismael Bonfim over Nazim Sadykhov, noting that while Sadykhov is talented, his wins have caveats (e.g., Evan Elder was beating him before a cut, Terrence McKinney was beating him before gassing). He believes Bonfim will stay busy with striking and may mix in takedowns, and that Bonfim won't gas or get cut like Sadykhov's previous opponents.

"I think Ishmael stays busy with the Striking may or may not work in his own takedown I am going to pick Ishmael bonfim here"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Feb 12, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Ismael Bonfim

Big Brady picks Bonfim by decision, noting he is the better striker with good boxing and defensive responsibility. Sadykhov has volume issues and was outlanded by Evan Elder. Bonfim has takedown defense to keep it standing and a good chin. Sadykhov may land a big shot but Bonfim has never been knocked out.

"I got Bon here I think he wins this fight and wins it by decision"
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Feb 13, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Ismael Bonfim

Connor picks Ismael Bonfim, agreeing with Zane that Bonfim is more technical. He notes that Sadykhov is a brute with a shallow game who breaks down when out-techniqued. Connor highlights Bonfim's arrogance as a potential weakness but believes Sadykhov's lack of horsepower means Bonfim can successfully pressure and break him. He also notes that Sadykhov will give up the initiative if pressured, unlike Santini, which favors Bonfim.

Connor notes the odds: Bonfim opened at -153 and is now -192, Sadykhov opened at +117 and is now +172. He says the odds make sense but wouldn't get them much wider, as Bonfim has lost a fight like this before.
"I think Bonfiniem is really good, but I, you know, it's all, I guess it's all going off of, well, it's not all going off that one fight."
LU
Lucrative James Expert Lean picked Feb 13, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Ismael Bonfim

Lucrative James picks Ismael Bonfim to win by decision, but admits he does not have a strong read on this fight and needs to do more tape study. He sees Bonfim as the more technical striker with better leg kicks and a well-rounded game, while Sadykhov is a brawler with power and durability. He thinks Bonfim's experience and technicality will allow him to outpoint Sadykhov over three rounds, but acknowledges Sadykhov could land a big shot or win a war. He is not confident enough to recommend a bet.

"I'm going to pick bom them in this fight I think that he's going to win a decision"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Feb 15, 2025 (fight day)
Ismael Bonfim

Bonfim has the experience advantage and more to bring to the table. As long as Sadykhov doesn't land a big power shot, Bonfim dictates pace and pressure and wins on the scorecards.

"I believe that Bonfim will showcase that experience advantage here against Nazim Sadykhov... Bonfim should be able to dictate the pace and pressure of this fight and end up winning it on the scorecards."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Feb 13, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Ismael Bonfim

The MMA Guru picks Ismael Bonfim over Nazim Sadykhov, noting Bonfim's slickness and more options. He criticizes Sadykhov for letting fights get scrappy and lacking ability to force things. He believes Bonfim's time off has allowed improvement and he will deliver, though he jokes about Bonfim's reaction to his brother's potential loss.

"I'm gonna go with ishmail bum furm here over nazim sadikov"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Feb 13, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Ismael Bonfim

Zane picks Ismael Bonfim, citing Bonfim's superior technical skills in striking, wrestling, and grappling compared to Sadykhov. He notes that Sadykhov's game breaks down when faced with better technique, as he only wants to fight one way. Zane acknowledges Bonfim's tendency to make arrogant decisions and give up positions, but believes Sadykhov lacks the horsepower to capitalize like Santini did. He also points out that Sadykhov is more of an opportunist on the ground, not a constrictor, reducing the risk of Bonfim getting caught.

Zane notes the odds: Bonfim opened at -153 and is now -192, Sadykhov opened at +117 and is now +172. He says the odds make sense but wouldn't get them much wider, as Bonfim has lost a fight like this before.
"I think I'll take Bonfiniem too, but yeah, and that is different between him."
Draw (majority) (28–29, 28–28, 28–28) R3 5:00 · UFC 295: Prochazka vs. Pereira · Nov 11, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Nazim Sadykhov 1 91 of 207 43% 109 of 228 4 of 7 57% 0 0 3:32
Viacheslav Borshchev 0 143 of 241 59% 144 of 242 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:10
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Nazim Sadykhov 0 23 of 68 33% 23 of 68 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:02
Viacheslav Borshchev 0 58 of 79 73% 58 of 79 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Nazim Sadykhov 1 39 of 77 50% 51 of 91 1 of 1 100% 0 0 2:06
Viacheslav Borshchev 0 29 of 60 48% 30 of 61 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:10
3 Nazim Sadykhov 0 29 of 62 46% 35 of 69 3 of 4 75% 0 0 1:24
Viacheslav Borshchev 0 56 of 102 54% 56 of 102 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Nazim Sadykhov 91 of 207 43% 65 of 172 19 of 26 7 of 9 66 of 175 5 of 8 20 of 24
Viacheslav Borshchev 143 of 241 59% 87 of 178 30 of 34 26 of 29 141 of 239 2 of 2 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Nazim Sadykhov 23 of 68 33% 12 of 52 8 of 11 3 of 5 22 of 67 1 of 1 0 of 0
Viacheslav Borshchev 58 of 79 73% 27 of 46 14 of 15 17 of 18 58 of 79 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Nazim Sadykhov 39 of 77 50% 35 of 72 3 of 4 1 of 1 19 of 53 2 of 2 18 of 22
Viacheslav Borshchev 29 of 60 48% 16 of 46 7 of 7 6 of 7 27 of 58 2 of 2 0 of 0
3 Nazim Sadykhov 29 of 62 46% 18 of 48 8 of 11 3 of 3 25 of 55 2 of 5 2 of 2
Viacheslav Borshchev 56 of 102 54% 44 of 86 9 of 12 3 of 4 56 of 102 0 of 0 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Viacheslav Borshchev vs. Nazim Sadykhov
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Sadykhov (-135), Borshchev (+114)

Round 1
Two strikers from Asia that relocated to America to train with prominent MMA gyms will do battle in this next lightweight affair. Winner of nine straight since dropping his pro debut, Azerbaijan-born Longo/Weidman MMA product Sadykhov (9-1, 2-0 UFC) will step into the Octagon to throw hands with Russia’s Borshchev (7-3, 2-2 UFC) out of the Team Alpha Male Stable. Bragging rights for the camps and a step up the pecking order will be in store for the winner, and before that happens, the lightweights clap hands. Referee Keith Peterson dons his proverbial hard hat and boots nonsense to the curb as these two flamethrowers with 89% and 86% stoppage rates, respectively, are about to go at it. Sadykhov strikes first with a low kick, and Borshchev responds with a side kick to the lead leg as well. The two trade kicks to the same targets, and Sadykhov gets off a jab to the body and has a head kick glance off the guard. “Slava” steps back and goes low with a kick, before going high with his shin. Sadykhov guards them both and knees the body, and he considers a level change but lets it go. A powerful kick from the Team Alpha Male forces Sadykhov to spin all the way around to recover, and when he resets, he lines up a right hand down Broadway. Sadykhov takes a few more thudding leg kicks, and Borshchev strings together punches up high and trips Sadykhov up with a kick on the way out. Sadykhov gathers himself and keeps his guard high to block the oncoming fire, and he checks a kick and backs Borshchev off before shooting in on the hips. Borshchev shuts it down and blasts Sadykhov to the body with a right hand, and Sadykhov retaliates with counters. Borshchev hammers the leg with a kick and strings four punches together to immediately follow it, and then retreats to sneak an inside leg kick in after. Sadykhov comes up short with a one-two, and he pops Borshchev with a leg and eats a right hand. Sadykhov continues barreling forward, letting loose with fists and a body kick. Borshchev reels and kicks the leg to spin Sadykhov around again, and he jackhammers the front leg to make Sadykhov stumble. A powerful left hand from Sadykhov rattles “Slava,” forcing the Russian-born fighter to backpedal. Sadykhov marches him down, but Borshchev has recovered in time and is ready to throw hands. Borshchev lambastes Sadykhov with another vicious kick, and Sadykhov tries to spin through it with a back fist. Borshchev blocks and connects with a right hand, and the horn sounds.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Borshchev
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Borshchev
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Borshchev

Round 2
The fighters clap hands again to lead off the round, and Sadykhov advances to load up on four punches, then goes after a high kick at the conclusion of a combination. Borshchev counters and drills Sadykhov’s lead wheel with a kick, and Sadykhov raises it gingerly and hops around before changing stances. Borshchev strides forward, brimming with confidence, and he puts seven or eight punches on his opponent before spinning Sadykhov all the way around with a devastating leg kick. Sadykhov absorbs two punches flush on the chin and is ready to lash out, only for Borshchev to duck and spin with a back fist that smacks him upside the noggin. Sadykhov shakes it off and walks through a calf kick to pat out jabs, and he ducks under a looping left hand. Sadykhov fakes with a kick and rifles two punches up top, and Borshchev retaliates immediately with a body kick. Sadykhov unloads with a left hand, and Borshchev is rocked badly. Sadykhov releases a high kick that knocks Borshchev to his seat, and he leaps on top to strike. Borshchev gathers his thoughts while on his back, but Sadykhov is not about to let him off the hook as he slashes down with an elbow that splits Borshchev’s head wide open. Borshchev looks to scramble, and he manages to get back to his feet out of sheer force of will. Sadykhov cracks his foe with a few punches, and a big one-two knocks Borshchev back. Sadykhov times his strikes to attempt a takedown, and he puts “Slava” on his back. Borshchev defends and even trips Sadykhov, but Sadykhov steps over to claim full mount, all while blood pours in Borshchev’s eyes. Sadykhov gets dragged to half guard and considers an arm-triangle choke, and he drops down a few elbows. Borshchev turns to his stomach and powers his way back up, and he lands once but gets knocked back. Sadykhov hurts him again, and he tanks an elbow on the chin right at the bell to make him raise his arms in the air in celebration.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-8 Sadykhov
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-8 Sadykhov
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-8 Sadykhov

Round 3
After a little examination, Borshchev is cleared to continue, and he is grinning as he is ready to start off the last round. Sadykhov races towards him throwing punches, and he slips a strike and marks the body. Borshchev kicks the leg to spin Sadykhov around, and Sadykhov tackles him down courtesy of a single. Borshchev bucks and twists to try to kick Sadykhov off of him, and Sadykhov frustrates him with a few strikes but cannot keep him there. Borshchev turns over and pops back to his feet, where he is ready to throw hands. Borshchev works the body, and Sadykhov responds with a knee that splits the guard. They trade right hands at the same time, and Borshchev slams his fist into Sadykhov’s midsection and measures a high kick that is barely blocked. Borshchev continues investing in body work, and he lines up a few punches that ring Sadykhov’s bell. Sadykhov tries to recover and takes a left to the body and a right to the head. Borshchev leans back to dodge a strike and snipes Sadykhov with a right hand, and he strings four and then two punches together in rapid succession before kicking out Sadykhov’s leg. Borshchev rips the body and goes up top, and he completely ignores a head kick. Borshchev kicks him back with a heavier blow, leading Sadykhov to crash the pocket and take him to the mat. Borshchev uses his legs and an active butterfly guard to keep Sadykhov from advancing, and Sadykhov jumps over to take a dominant position but only holds it for a second before Borshchev is flipped over and turned to his knees. Borshchev climbs back up and works the body, and a knee bounces off his head that makes Sadykhov tumble to the mat. Borshchev kicks the leg and trades punches, and he evades a head kick and counters with a left hook. Borshchev connects with a partial Superman punch, and he boxes Sadykhov up with punches in bunches. Sadykhov is relegated to single strikes, and he rushes forward to take Borshchev down. Borshchev stands with a second to go, and he blocks a high knee to conclude the fight. Depending on how judges scored the second round, this blood-and-guts thriller could end up as a draw.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Borshchev (28-28)
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Borshchev (28-28)
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Borshchev (28-28)

The Official Result
Viacheslav Borshchev vs. Nazim Sadykhov is Scored a Majority Draw (29-28, 28-28, 28-28)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Nov 5, 2023 (6 days before fight)
Viacheslav Borshchev

Angelo picks Borshchev, trusting his striking pressure and ability to defend takedowns. He notes Sadykhov is not a grappler and will likely strike, which favors Borshchev. He acknowledges Sadykhov could win a decision but leans on Borshchev's power and volume.

"I like viav to win this fight... I'm going to trust the absolute nonstop striking pressure."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Nov 6, 2023 (5 days before fight)
Viacheslav Borshchev

Big Brady picks Viacheslav Borshchev to win by first-round knockout. He praises Borshchev's incredible striking and notes that opponents constantly try to take him down because they want nothing to do with his striking. He worries that Sadykhov doesn't wrestle enough to exploit Borshchev's poor takedown defense, and that Sadykhov was outstruck by Evan Elder. Brady expects a striking battle and favors Borshchev's power.

Borshchev by first-round knockout
"I'm going to take another dog here, I'm gonna take Slava Borshchev to win this fight by knockout... give me Slava by first round knockout."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked Nov 8, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Viacheslav Borshchev

Cody leans Borshchev, expecting a striking match where Borshchev's volume and durability give him an edge. He notes Sadykhov hasn't shown wrestling in the UFC, and Borshchev's takedown defense and ability to get up are solid. He's not confident but sees value.

"borchev will be the official pick just on the fact that I feel like this is going to be a 15-minute striking Affair"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Nov 7, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Viacheslav Borshchev

Borshchev is more tested against better competition and his defensive grappling is improving. He should be able to keep the fight in the striking realm where he has a decided advantage. Expects Borshchev to batter Sadykhov and eventually finish him by knockout in the second or third round. Surprised to see Borshchev as the underdog and happy to take a shot on him.

finish by knockout in round 2 or 3
"I was kind of surprised to see borchev as the underdog here and I was more than happy to take a shot on him"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Nov 8, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Viacheslav Borshchev

Paul picks Borshchev, citing Sadykhov's lack of wrestling and questionable takedown defense. He thinks Borshchev's striking and cardio will be too much, and that Sadykhov hasn't shown enough to warrant being a favorite. He calls Borshchev a dog play.

"borchev KO official pick for me it's plus 250 at like the only book that has the prop on that right now"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Nov 6, 2023 (5 days before fight)
Nazim Sadykhov

The MMA Guru picks Nazim Sadykhov, highlighting his grappling as the X-factor. He notes that Sadykhov showed composure against Terrance McKinney's early danger and that his team knows when to use takedowns. He predicts a late second-round submission, as Borshchev is a great striker but has takedown defense issues.

submission in round 2
"I'm going to go of nazim sadikov getting a late second round submission is what I'm going to go for there"
Submission (rear-naked choke) R2 1:07 · UFC on ESPN: Holm vs. Bueno Silva · Jul 15, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Nazim Sadykhov 0 8 of 15 53% 20 of 27 0 of 0 --- 1 1 0:55
Terrance McKinney 0 6 of 14 42% 21 of 34 2 of 5 40% 0 0 4:16
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Nazim Sadykhov 0 5 of 8 62% 16 of 19 0 of 0 --- 0 1 0:20
Terrance McKinney 0 5 of 8 62% 20 of 28 2 of 3 66% 0 0 4:12
2 Nazim Sadykhov 0 3 of 7 42% 4 of 8 0 of 0 --- 1 0 0:35
Terrance McKinney 0 1 of 6 16% 1 of 6 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:04
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Nazim Sadykhov 8 of 15 53% 6 of 11 0 of 1 2 of 3 6 of 13 0 of 0 2 of 2
Terrance McKinney 6 of 14 42% 3 of 10 3 of 3 0 of 1 4 of 12 2 of 2 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Nazim Sadykhov 5 of 8 62% 4 of 7 0 of 0 1 of 1 3 of 6 0 of 0 2 of 2
Terrance McKinney 5 of 8 62% 2 of 5 3 of 3 0 of 0 3 of 6 2 of 2 0 of 0
2 Nazim Sadykhov 3 of 7 42% 2 of 4 0 of 1 1 of 2 3 of 7 0 of 0 0 of 0
Terrance McKinney 1 of 6 16% 1 of 5 0 of 0 0 of 1 1 of 6 0 of 0 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Terrance McKinney vs. Nazim Sadykhov
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Sadykhov (-150), McKinney (+130)

Round 1
The UFC chose wisely when it matched up this lightweight main card opener. Ferocious attacker McKinney (13-5; 3-2 UFC) will trade leather and more with Sadykhov (8-1, 1-0 UFC), and combined they hold 20 finishes across their 21 wins. The judges may not be required, but it is an almost certainty that referee Keith Peterson will be called on before it is all said and done. Before the nonsense-free violence ensues, the two clap hands. McKinney darts forward with a jab outstretched, and he counters a leg kick with a left hand. McKinney drops down suddenly in pursuit of a takedown, but the fighter from Azerbaijan shuts him down and gets shoved to the wall. McKinney doggedly pursues the body lock and trip, and he dumps Sadykhov down to his seat. McKinney quickly circles around to take the back, and he locks up the body triangle around the waist as he hunts for a choke. Sadykhov hand-fights well to break up an attempt, so McKinney slams his elbow in to the side of the head to soften him up. Sadykhov keeps his arms up high above his head to prevent any submission from getting close, and the two hand-fight as McKinney looks for a better grip. McKinney smacks the side, and Sadykhov effectively protects himself from anything worse. McKinney alternates one arm or the other to sneak in a rear-naked choke, but Sadykhov is wise to each and every move even though he is getting his midsection crushed with the body lock. McKinney thumps the temple and then side with his left hand, and Sadykhov wall-walks in hopes of breaking up the posture or getting some space. McKinney fishes his right arm around the head to try to secure something, and when he does, Sadykhov turns to his side and breaks up the body lock. Sadykhov spins rapidly to take top position, and he stands himself up. McKinney dives after him for a takedown, but when that fails, they both get back up. Sadykhov charges at his opponent, and McKinney eats two left hands and clinches up. The round ends in this position, with many likely surprised it reached the horn.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 McKinney
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 McKinney
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 McKinney

Round 2
Sadykhov races out of his corner to start the second round, backing McKinney right up to the wall. They both sling right hooks, and McKinney hops to the side as he avoids a knee. Sadykhov unloads with a few punches, and McKinney shoots in for a takedown. Sadykhov grabs the fence multiple times to stop it, and Peterson slaps his hand on two separate occasions. This allows Sadykhov to climb on top, and McKinney rolls over to his belly.
McKinney has his left arm trapped in the exchange, and he gets flattened out by the man from Azerbaijan. The rear-naked choke is sunk in with ease, as McKinney is unable to defend it with just one arm in play. After just a second or two, McKinney taps out, and Sadykhov has completely turned the tables after handily dropping the first round.
The victorious Serra-Longo product notches just his second submission as a pro, and he declares that the “world is a boomerang” in his post-fight interview, having avenged the past loss for teammate Matt Frevola.

The Official Result
Nazim Sadykhov def. Terrance McKinney R2 1:07 via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Lean picked Jul 9, 2023 (6 days before fight)
Terrance McKinney

Angelo gives a slight lean to Terrance McKinney, calling it a 50.5 to 49.5 pick in his favor. He thinks McKinney is the better fighter overall, with solid striking and wrestling credentials, but his chin is questionable. He is swayed by a conversation with McKinney's coach about improved training partners. However, he hesitates because McKinney was recently knocked out and Sadykhov carries power late. He would only bet if the line moves to make McKinney a bigger underdog.

"I'm gonna give the slightest lean towards Terence McKinney because I do think he's the better fighter all in all but when I say slightest lean like 50 50 means there's no pick I'm going 49 and a half to …"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Jul 13, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Terrance McKinney

Big Brady picks Terrance McKinney, expecting him to revert to his aggressive style and finish Sadykhov early. He notes Sadykhov is a slow starter who has been hurt early in fights, which plays into McKinney's strengths. However, he warns that if McKinney doesn't finish in the first few minutes, his poor cardio will be a problem. He calls it a great live betting spot if Sadykhov survives the first round.

First round knockout; great live betting spot if Sadykhov survives first half of round
"I'm gonna say McKenney knocks out satikov in the first round great live betting spot if Santa Claus survives the first half of a round probably live at him here because I just don't think McKinney has more than a …"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked Jul 12, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Terrance McKinney

Cody picks McKinney at plus money, citing his explosiveness, power, and wrestling advantage. He thinks McKinney will go back to his aggressive style after pacing himself poorly against Bomfim. He notes Sadykhov's takedown defense issues and that McKinney has speed and power advantages. He acknowledges McKinney's cardio is a concern but thinks he can finish early.

under 1.5 rounds
"I gotta go with Terence McKinney... he's likely gonna go for it and he's got an ability to potentially knock out or submit most guys in this division very early"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jul 11, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Terrance McKinney

The host highlights McKinney's 17 of 18 fights finishing under 1.5 rounds and 15 first-round finishes. He thinks Sadykhov is hittable and lacks durability, and McKinney's explosivity and power will be too much. He picks McKinney to win in round one, either by KO or submission.

McKinney wins in round 1; under 1.5 rounds
"give me round one McKinney I'm gonna just go round one McKinney you know I mean he can pull off the sub where he can pull off The Knockout I think he's capable of both but I'm gonna go round …"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Jul 12, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Nazim Sadykhov

Paul picks Sadykhov, citing his ability to fight 15 full minutes and survive early pressure. He notes McKinney's cardio fades after 5-6 minutes and that Sadykhov can take damage and come back. He mentions Sadykhov's cut stoppage win over Elder was competitive, not one-sided. He thinks a live bet on Sadykhov after the first round is a good strategy.

live bet on Sadykhov after first round
"I got a side with them at minus 135... buyer beware he was down two rounds on all all judges scorecards against Evan Elder and then the you know Landing Landing a perfect what elbow to to cut open Elder"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jul 11, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Terrance McKinney

The MMA Guru picks Terrance McKinney over Nazim Sadykhov, citing McKinney's KO power and ability to catch opponents, as seen against Matt Frevola. He worries about McKinney's KO loss but notes his youth and six-month layoff. He sees Sadykhov as a forward-momentum scrapper who could run into a big shot, predicting a McKinney KO.

"I'm gonna go with Terence McKinney here I I do worry that maybe he'll be exposed again but I'm gonna have to go with him to win this one"
WIN vs Evan Elder
TKO (doctor stoppage) R3 0:38 · UFC Fight Night: Andrade vs. Blanchfield · Feb 18, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Nazim Sadykhov 0 64 of 132 48% 71 of 141 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:19
Evan Elder 1 70 of 142 49% 84 of 158 1 of 6 16% 0 0 1:33
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Nazim Sadykhov 0 28 of 74 37% 28 of 74 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Evan Elder 1 35 of 78 44% 36 of 79 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:00
2 Nazim Sadykhov 0 29 of 45 64% 36 of 54 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:19
Evan Elder 0 32 of 53 60% 45 of 68 1 of 3 33% 0 0 1:33
3 Nazim Sadykhov 0 7 of 13 53% 7 of 13 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Evan Elder 0 3 of 11 27% 3 of 11 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Nazim Sadykhov 64 of 132 48% 38 of 103 19 of 20 7 of 9 54 of 118 10 of 14 0 of 0
Evan Elder 70 of 142 49% 25 of 87 36 of 46 9 of 9 60 of 129 10 of 13 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Nazim Sadykhov 28 of 74 37% 15 of 58 8 of 9 5 of 7 26 of 68 2 of 6 0 of 0
Evan Elder 35 of 78 44% 16 of 55 15 of 19 4 of 4 34 of 75 1 of 3 0 of 0
2 Nazim Sadykhov 29 of 45 64% 20 of 36 7 of 7 2 of 2 23 of 39 6 of 6 0 of 0
Evan Elder 32 of 53 60% 8 of 25 20 of 24 4 of 4 24 of 44 8 of 9 0 of 0
3 Nazim Sadykhov 7 of 13 53% 3 of 9 4 of 4 0 of 0 5 of 11 2 of 2 0 of 0
Evan Elder 3 of 11 27% 1 of 7 1 of 3 1 of 1 2 of 10 1 of 1 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Evan Elder vs. Nazim Sadykhov
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Sadykhov (-170), Elder (+145)

Round 1
The two lightweights about to take the stage share a fair amount of similarities. Well-schooled Americans with equal records and fairly close knockout and finish rates toe the line as Longo and Weidman product Sadykhov (7-1, 0-0 UFC) squares off with Nick Diaz Academy pupil Elder (7-1, 0-1 UFC). Something’s got to give in this matchup, and referee Mark Smith will know first what that could be. The youthful athletes with plenty to prove touch ‘em up and come out frenetically. Sadykhov slaps a kick low on the calf to introduce himself, and Elder responds with a booming kick to the ribs. They trade body kicks, and Elder goes up high with the instep of his foot to just get blocked. He backs off and reaches with a straight right hand, and Sadykhov walks him down and scores a few punches and a kick. Elder backs him off with his own kicking arsenal, with a front kick to the solar plexus driving Sadykhov back momentarily. Elder swings hard, and Sadykhov catches him with a right hand and drops Elder to his knees. Elder springs back up and a high kick zooms across his dome, and he escapes no worse for wear. Sadykhov gives chase and has his lead leg kicked, but this does not slow him down into a combination of punches to the face. Sadykhov eats a clean kick to the body so that he can bully Elder around, ignoring the kicks and throwing heavy punches in response. Elder shoots in suddenly for a takedown, and the maneuver is stuffed in a hurry. As Sadykhov pops back up, Elder drills him with a right hand that sends Sadykhov flying to the mat. Somehow, Sadykhov springs right back up, with blood streaming from his mouth, and he begins to strike back. The two swing on one another with bad intentions, and both land flush with Elder taking the worse of it as he escapes. Elder plants a left hand on the temple, and he dips away with an elbow to the sternum as he escapes the counters. Sadykhov kicks low and high in rapid succession, and he continues to walk Elder down. Elder sticks him with a left hand, and he rips a kick to the other side. Sadykhov meets him with a left on the chin, and Elder slips away and lands one of his own. Sadykhov knees his man in the chin, and Elder backs off and chains a few punches together. As he pushes off, his finger swipes into Sadykhov’s right eye, and Smith calls time. Sadykhov needs less than 30 seconds to recover before getting right back to business, and he stalks Elder down like a Terminator. Sadykhov scores, Elder fires back, and the two throw down right to the bell to end a terrific round that may be a real handful to score.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Elder
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Elder
Jack Dankoff scores the round: 10-9 Elder

Round 2
The lightweights rush out of their corners, eager to pick up right where they left off. They re-engage with punches and kicks in rapid succession, with targets to the head and body indiscriminate. Elder loads up on a hefty right hand that knocks Sadykhov back, and Sadykhov eats it like a plate of plov and wades back in the fire to throw haymakers. Elder punches into a takedown, and he successfully trips the fighter from Azerbaijan down to the mat to land in his foe’s guard. Sadykhov scrambles and scoots his way back to the wall, and he posts off his right arm to fight his way back up despite getting kneed in the ribs on the way. Elder squeezes his man on the wire, slowing the fight down and softening the ribs up with knees. Sadykhov explodes out of the clinch and throws back, and the two move together and clack heads to open a cut on corner of his eye. Sadykhov paws at it and gets shoved back, but the two are far from done throwing caution to the wind. Elder strings a few punches together to stun Sadykhov, and Sadykhov swings back and tackles Elder to the mat. Elder climbs back to the wire and stands up, with Sadykhov landing a single left hand before disengaging. Elder walks him down, and the two trade knees and uppercuts on the inside. Sadykhov boots Elder upside the head with his shin, and Elder absorbs it without batting an eye before pushing Sadykhov back to the fencing. Elder scores a few knees before the horn blares, and once the round was ultra-close.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Elder
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Elder
Jack Dankoff scores the round: 10-9 Elder

Round 3
There is a final clap of hands to start off the last round, but it is contentious and they go right to hand-fighting before pulling their extended limbs back. They immediately trade leather, and they go all-out throwing punches and kicks in an early exchange. Sadykhov whips a kick up high, and they get up close and knee one another. During the firefight, a Sadykhov knee slams into Elder’s eyebrow and splits it open from one end to the other. Before Smith can see the wound, Sadykhov strikes a few more times, and Smith pauses the fight and calls in the doctor. As soon as the medical professional observes the gash, he tells Smith that it is way too severe to keep going, and the fight is waved off. Elder protests the ruling, but the damage has been done and he can live to fight another day. What a fight for as long as it lasts, and in a few years, it might be worthwhile to see these up-and-comers share the cage again.

The Official Result
Nazim Sadykhov def. Evan Elder R3 0:38 via TKO (Doctor Stoppage)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Feb 14, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Evan Elder

Angelo likes Evan Elder's well-rounded skills, loose striking, heavy kicks, and composure on the ground. He notes Elder's short-notice loss at welterweight should be discounted as he's a natural lightweight. Angelo is concerned about Sadykhov's tendency to throw unnecessary spinning attacks, which led to his only loss. He wishes he got Elder at +220 and notes the line is tightening, recommending to bet now.

Angelo said he would bet Elder if the line goes below +145, and after the stream he plans to place a bet.
"I like Evan here... I wish I got him at plus 220 I would have bet him at the plus 220."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Feb 13, 2023 (5 days before fight)
Nazim Sadykhov

Big Brady is impressed with Sadykhov's striking and ability to battle through adversity, noting he fights out of bad positions. He thinks Elder's takedown defense is poor based on his debut, and Sadykhov has wrestling of his own. He predicts a decision win, as Elder is tough and has a chin.

Sadykhov by decision
"I like sadikov fear I like staticon by decision I think Evan Elder's tough as Nails"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Hesitant picked Feb 15, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Nazim Sadykhov

Cody picks Sadykhov, noting he has more firepower, hits harder, and has 15-minute cardio. He says Sadykhov trains at a good gym with Aljamain Sterling and others. He acknowledges Evan Elder is better than his UFC debut showed (short notice, up a weight class) but notes Elder gets hit a lot and is defensively poor. He thinks Sadykhov will have forward pressure and either catch him with something or mix in takedowns for a decision win. He says the line is repetitive on this card and he doesn't love it.

Cody mentions Sadykhov has a slight wrestling advantage. He says he'll take Sadykhov but doesn't love the -190.
"I will take nazim sadakov but what you're seeing is a repetitive seam on this card guys that are struggling to make weight guys that are fighting for the UFC for the very first time."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Feb 16, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Nazim Sadykhov

Connor agrees with Zane, emphasizing that Sadykhov is a much better puncher and counter puncher than anyone Elder has faced. He notes Elder's vulnerability when stepping in without landing, and that Sadykhov can pressure through Elder's kicks and remain balanced to throw. Connor also points out that Elder's striking is entirely dependent on scaring opponents with kicks, but his punching form is wild and leaves him out of position. He concludes that Sadykhov is a reliable pick to win.

Sadykhov TKO +225, straight line -185 to -200, parlay potential
"So you got to take Sotikov here."
JA
Jacob Lines Expert Confident picked Feb 14, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Evan Elder

Jacob is high on Evan Elder, calling him an absolute dog after his short-notice performance. He believes Elder is the better technical striker and has shown he can work through adversity. Jacob thinks Sadykhov will look good early but slow down, and Elder's pressure and wrestling will take over. He compares it to the Blake Bilder fight from last week where the odds tightened similarly.

"I got to go uh with Evan Elder as well I actually love him in this matchup."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean picked Feb 14, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Evan Elder

Elder is the better striker with more power and forward pressure, and his training at Kill Cliff FC should improve his cardio and takedown defense. Sadykhov's level of competition is weak, and his takedowns may not work against Elder's strength. Expect Elder to land a knockout in the second round.

Elder wins by KO in round 2
"I lean Elder ever so slightly... I think he comes through with a knockout Victory probably in the second round."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Hesitant picked Feb 15, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Nazim Sadykhov

Paul picks Sadykhov but is not willing to lay -200. He thought Sadykhov showed flashy striking on Contender Series and has promise, but he's not confident enough to parlay him. He notes there was steam on Elder earlier in the week but the line has corrected. He says Sadykhov is someone to keep an eye on but not someone to lay heavy chalk on in his UFC debut.

Paul mentions the line moved back toward -200 after early steam on Elder. He says he's not willing to parlay Sadykhov.
"I like satakov I was considering playing him because there was a bit of steam that came in on on Evan Elder a little bit earlier in the week and then now that's kind of like corrected itself."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Feb 14, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Nazim Sadykhov

The MMA Guru picks Nazim Sadykhov, highlighting his training at Longo and Weidman's gym and his impressive win on the Contender Series against a 9-1 opponent. He contrasts that with Evan Elder's less dominant wins, including a third-round TKO of a 9-16 short-notice opponent. He believes Sadykhov has more talent and skill, predicting a TKO in the later rounds.

TKO in later rounds
"I've got to go with sadiekov not just because of his name however that is kind of a decent indication of how this fight's gonna go in my opinion"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Feb 16, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Nazim Sadykhov

Zane sees Sadykhov as a solid, raw prospect with good fundamental power punching and well-roundedness, including top position grappling. He notes Sadykhov's ability to scramble and his innovative striking, like the spinning back kick. Zane contrasts this with Elder, who he describes as a formless regional fighter dependent on heavy kicks to keep opponents at bay, with poor punching form and wrestling defense. He believes Sadykhov's camp (Serra-Longo) instills good technique, and that Sadykhov will be able to push through Elder's kicks and find success in the pocket.

Sadykhov TKO +225, straight line -185 to -200, parlay potential
"I think he's going to kind of paste Evan Elder."
Farès Ziam - Fight History
SCHED vs Tom Nolan
13
138 MMA Expert Confident picked May 30, 2026 (7 days before fight)
Farès Ziam

The host picks Ziam, stating that he is the more technical striker and expects the fight to stay on the feet. He believes Ziam will land the better shots and be able to stay safe from Nolan's offense. He notes that Ziam has good takedown defense and uses his long limbs well defensively.

"I'm going to take Aziam to get the win."
AJ
AJ DeVito Expert Confident picked Jun 3, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Farès Ziam

AJ picks Farès Ziam as a level above Tom Nolan, citing Ziam's superior footwork, technical kickboxing, and double the pro experience. He believes Ziam can win by finish, possibly a counter shot KO, or outwork Nolan on the mat. AJ notes Nolan gets hit a lot and Ziam is surgical.

Farès Ziam by finish (implied), -300 favorite mentioned
"I think Zam is going to look very good. And I think Zam is a level above."
AJ
AJ DeVito Expert Confident picked Jun 1, 2026 (5 days before fight)
Farès Ziam

AJ picks Ziam by KO, citing his surgical kickboxing, improved Muay Thai, and veteran savvy. He views Nolan as a step behind in technical striking and believes Ziam's precision and counter-punching will be too much. AJ expects a finish, possibly by KO or club-and-sub, and notes Ziam's experience advantage.

under 2.5 rounds plus 15; Ziam by KO
"I got Farezam over the big train. I think Ferez Zam is fantastic. He's a surgical kickboxer."
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked May 31, 2026 (6 days before fight)
Farès Ziam

Angelo picks Farès Ziam despite being a self-proclaimed hater. He acknowledges Ziam has evolved, becoming more aggressive and technical. He believes Ziam is cleaner and can fight at range or in the pocket, taking advantage of Tom Nolan's recklessness. He notes the fight is closer than the -300 odds suggest.

Odds too wide, thinks fight is closer than -300
"I'm going to pick Vas though because I think he's a little cleaner. I think he can fight at range if he wants to or as we've seen as of late, he can jump into the pocket and fight there …"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Jun 3, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Farès Ziam

Big Brady picks Farès Ziam to win by decision. He notes that Ziam has improved rapidly, showing finishing ability and better grappling. He is not impressed with Tom Nolan, who got knocked out quickly and has been dropped. He thinks Ziam is the better fighter overall but doesn't love the price.

by decision
"I'll go far as I'm to win and win by decision."
BU
Bum MMA Expert Confident picked May 30, 2026 (7 days before fight)
Tom Nolan

Tom Nolan is a young, maturing fighter with good takedown defense and volume. He will outwork Farès Ziam over three rounds, pushing the pace and landing more strikes. Nolan is likely a slight underdog but has a bright future.

decision win; likely underdog
"Give me Tom Nolan by decision."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Jun 3, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Farès Ziam

Cody is confident in Ziam, citing his technical striking, improved wrestling, and Tom Nolan's poor durability. He notes Nolan has been hurt by lesser fighters and has weak takedown attempts. Ziam's growth and Nolan's chin issues make Ziam a strong pick.

"Zian's going to touch him at some point. He's going to hurt him at some point. He's going to knock him out at some point. I'm rolling with Fro Xian."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Jun 4, 2026 (2 days before fight)
Farès Ziam

Connor picks Farès Ziam, agreeing that Nolan is a violent but flawed fighter who is hittable and hurtable. He notes that Ziam is like a better version of Nolan, with a more technical and diverse wrestling game. Connor expects Ziam to handle Nolan easily, calling it a squash match.

Same odds commentary as Zane.
"I honestly if Tom Nolan won this I Would be shocked. Yeah, I absolutely shocked."
FI
Fight Night Picks Expert Confident picked May 31, 2026 (6 days before fight)
Farès Ziam

Farès Ziam is picked to win inside the distance because he is the better MMA fighter with improved takedown defense and striking. Tom Nolan is hittable, has poor takedown accuracy (22%), and struggled against Charlie Campbell. Ziam's calculated striking and grappling upgrades make a finish likely, possibly by knockout or submission. The host agrees with the line.

Farès Ziam wins inside the distance (knockout or submission)
"I like FZM to win inside the distance and I actually agree uh with the line. So, give me FZM to finish this fight."
GR
Greedo Plays MMA Expert Confident picked May 30, 2026 (7 days before fight)
Farès Ziam

Ziam is on a six-fight win streak against better competition, including wins over Mike Davis and Nazim Sadykhov. Nolan has been fed weaker opponents and hasn't faced anyone of Ziam's caliber. Ziam should outpoint him on the feet and win a decision.

"I'm going to go Zam here. I think Zam wins. The question is, does he get the finish? I'm going to go no. I'm going go decision when for Zion."
LU
Lucrative James Expert Confident picked May 30, 2026 (7 days before fight)
Farès Ziam

Lucrative James picks Farès Ziam, citing his well-rounded skill set, improved fight IQ, and experience. He believes Ziam is one level above Tom Nolan in MMA and will win via decision, as Nolan is durable but likely outclassed over 15 minutes. He notes Nolan's X-factor finishing ability but thinks Ziam's technical striking and clinch game will be too much.

"I'm picking for SCM here. I'm picking him to win this fight via decision."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jun 1, 2026 (5 days before fight)
Farès Ziam

Ziam has improved takedown defense and a sniper-like striking game. Nolan has poor striking defense and cardio issues. Ziam should pick Nolan apart and finish him in the third round as Nolan slows down. Ziam by third round TKO.

Ziam by TKO in round 3
"I think for the most part, we're going to see ZM pick Nolan apart. I think it'll stop most of the grappling exchanges of Nolan."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Jun 3, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Farès Ziam

Paul picks Ziam by knockout, noting Ziam's well-rounded skills and Nolan's questionable durability. He likes Ziam's sneaky strikes and in-between fighting, and sees Nolan's chin as a major liability. He plans to bet Ziam by KO at +290.

Ziam by knockout at +290
"I like him to win by knockout by like it's like plus 290 out on the market. Um I'll be having a little bit of little bit of fun with that one."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Jun 4, 2026 (2 days before fight)
Farès Ziam

Zane picks Farès Ziam confidently, stating that Tom Nolan is not a good athlete and is very hurtable, and that his wins have come against terrible fighters. He notes that Ziam has become a potent, aggressive space-controlling fighter with good takedowns, and that he should blow Nolan out of the water. Zane is surprised the odds are not wider, saying it should be a -500 to -600 fight.

Ziam opened at -185, currently -300; Nolan opened at +160, currently +250. Zane says the odds are too small a favorite and should be much wider.
"I don't Really see any way Tom Nolan doesn't get wrecked. Nope."
KO R2 4:59 · UFC 323 · Dec 06, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Nazim Sadykhov 0 4 of 16 25% 7 of 21 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:39
Farès Ziam 1 31 of 49 63% 76 of 96 2 of 5 40% 2 0 5:58
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Nazim Sadykhov 0 0 of 1 0% 3 of 6 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:22
Farès Ziam 0 8 of 10 80% 49 of 53 1 of 2 50% 1 0 4:22
2 Nazim Sadykhov 0 4 of 15 26% 4 of 15 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:17
Farès Ziam 1 23 of 39 58% 27 of 43 1 of 3 33% 1 0 1:36
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Nazim Sadykhov 4 of 16 25% 1 of 11 0 of 0 3 of 5 4 of 16 0 of 0 0 of 0
Farès Ziam 31 of 49 63% 21 of 36 2 of 3 8 of 10 18 of 31 4 of 5 9 of 13
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Nazim Sadykhov 0 of 1 0% 0 of 1 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 1 0 of 0 0 of 0
Farès Ziam 8 of 10 80% 3 of 4 2 of 2 3 of 4 2 of 2 3 of 4 3 of 4
2 Nazim Sadykhov 4 of 15 26% 1 of 10 0 of 0 3 of 5 4 of 15 0 of 0 0 of 0
Farès Ziam 23 of 39 58% 18 of 32 0 of 1 5 of 6 16 of 29 1 of 1 6 of 9
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Nazim Sadykhov vs. Fares Ziam
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Ziam (-135), Sadykhov (+114)

Round 1
Jason Herzog is the referee. Ziam follows a leg kick with a body kick, and Sadykhov ties him up and pushes his foe to the fence. Ziam reverses the position and lands some knees to the thighs. Ziam lifs his foe and briefly dumps him on the mat. The Frenchman continues to control the clinch, punching the body. Ziam lifts Sadykhov, pulls him away from the fence and taked him down. Ziam transitions nicely to an arm-triangle choke attempt before moving to the back as Sadykhov attempts to scramble to his feet. Ziam is on Sadykhov’s back, and he drags him down to a seated position. “Smile Killer” has his hooks in, and he switches to a body triangle as he peppers Sadykhov with short shots. Ziam is looking to create opening for a rear-naked choke, but Sadykhov is defending well. Ziam elbows the shoulder of his opponent while still attached to the back. Sadykhov continues to fight the hands of his opponent as time ticks down, and he’ll survive to see another five minutes.

Sherdog Scores
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Ziam
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Ziam
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Ziam

Round 2
Sadykhov looks to find punching range and Ziam backs him up with a high kick. The Frenchman lands some long punches, taking advantage of his reach. A jab from Ziam appears to briefly stun Sadykhov. Ziam moves in and lands a jab. A front kick makes Sadykhov stumble backwards momentarily. Ziam targets the lead leg of Sadykhov. Sadykhov is strugglling to find openings on the feet. Ziam lands a long right hand before changing levels against the fence. Sadykhov reverses the position and presses his foe into the fence. Ziam reverses and works for a high crotch takedown, punishing the leg of his opponent with a kick. Moments later, Ziam pulls Sadykhov off the fence and lands a takedown. The Frenchman is quickly working to take the back while hunting for a choke. Sadykhov scrambles but he can’t free himself from Ziam’s clutches. Sadykhov gets to a knee and then attempts to stand. But with time winding down in the frame,
Ziam creates some space and rocks Sadykhov with a pair of nasty elbows behind the ear. Sadykhov tumbles to the floor and covers up as Ziam unloads with unanswered ground-and-pound before the horn sounds.
Herzog has been taking a close look at the final salvo, and he elects to wave off the fight. It appears to be the right call because Sadykhov is on wobbly legs as he protests the stoppage. That's six straight victories for Ziam.

The Official Result
Fares Ziam def. Nazim Sadykhov via TKO (Elbows and Punches) R2 4:59
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Nov 30, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Nazim Sadykhov

Angelo picks Nazim Sadykhov, acknowledging he has never correctly picked a Farès Ziam fight. He describes Ziam as a technical but boring fighter who sneaks out wins, while Sadykhov is a solid kickboxer with speed, power, and the ability to mix in wrestling. Angelo notes Sadykhov's comeback win over Nicholas Motta and believes his skills will overcome Ziam's style. He bet on Sadykhov at better odds earlier.

bet placed earlier at better odds
"Nazim's the pick. I bet on him. We got him at much better odds than this."
BI
Big Brady Expert Lean picked Nov 26, 2025 (10 days before fight)
Nazim Sadykhov

Big Brady picks Nazim Sadykhov as a dog, calling him a 'madman' with a dog in him. He acknowledges Ziam is more technical and has improved his grappling, but expects Sadykhov to push a pace and make it a dog fight. He predicts Sadykhov wins by decision.

Sadykhov by decision
"I'm going to take the dog and in what I think is going to be a dog fight, I'm going to say Nazim Satakov wins this fight and wins it by decision."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Dec 3, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Farès Ziam

Cody picks Ziam, noting his improved takedown defense and technical striking. He believes Ziam's length and Muay Thai will be effective against Sadykhov, who is prone to being outworked. He mentions that Ziam has shown durability and has never been knocked down. He thinks Ziam will win a decision.

"For me, I just feel like Zam's the guy that's making a little more progress in his overall career that you see an improved version of him fight to fight."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Dec 5, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Farès Ziam

Connor picks Farès Ziam, noting that Ziam has improved his striking and wrestling, becoming a more aggressive and dangerous fighter. He believes Ziam's well-rounded game and ability to control range will be too much for Sadykhov, who is a brute but has blank spaces in his game. Connor warns that Sadykhov is dangerous and can turn a fight around.

"My instinct is to say that Farah Ziyam's game makes too much sense for Sadikov to beat him."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked Nov 27, 2025 (9 days before fight)
Farès Ziam

Daniel picks Ziam, citing his technical striking, reach advantage, and maturity. He expects Ziam to stay disciplined at range and outpoint Sadykhov, though he acknowledges Sadykhov's durability and power. He predicts a unanimous decision for Ziam.

"Ultimately, I think that Farzam is going to hand Nazim Sadikov his first UFCL."
LU
Lucrative James Expert Lean picked Nov 29, 2025 (7 days before fight)
Farès Ziam

Lucrative James finds this a tough fight to call. He notes that Nazim Sadykhov often gets outmaneuvered early but lands comeback finishes, while Ziam is more technical and durable. He thinks Ziam's fight IQ and ability to avoid big moments will allow him to win a decision. However, he is not confident and would not bet on either fighter at close odds.

"I'm going to end up picking Fesam here."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Dec 5, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Farès Ziam

The host believes Sadykhov's reliance on power will be exposed. He views Ziam as the superior technical striker who can handle Sadykhov's big shots and nullify his grappling, leading to a decision win.

win by decision
"I think ZM is the superior technical striker. He should be able to roll with the big shots of Sadikov and I think he should be able to nullify most of Sadikov's grappling game. That should lead to ZM outstriking …"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Dec 3, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Farès Ziam

Paul agrees, citing Ziam's reach advantage and technical striking. He notes that Sadykhov loses chunks of fights and relies on one big shot. He believes Ziam's durability and improved grappling will allow him to outpoint Sadykhov. He picks Ziam by decision.

"Zion for me and it kind of comes down to the same intangibles as well with just the length reach probably making it more of an ugly fight than what Nazam Sadakov wants."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Dec 3, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Farès Ziam

The Guru picks Farès Ziam over Nazim Sadykhov, citing Ziam's reach advantage and slick striking. He notes Sadykhov's wins have asterisks and he struggled against lower-level opponents. The Guru predicts a clean 30-27 decision for Ziam.

"I think Zam's going to win a clean slick 30-27 clear decision shutting down Sadikov."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Dec 5, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Farès Ziam

Zane picks Farès Ziam, agreeing that Ziam's game is more coherent and that he has improved significantly. He notes that Sadykhov is a strange fighter who can make bad decisions but turn fights around with athleticism. Zane believes Ziam can stay ahead and control the fight, but must be careful throughout.

"I think you're right. I think that Ziyam has built enough of a solid, well-rounded competitive game everywhere to win this and to stay ahead of Sadikov all the way through."
CANCEL vs Kauê Fernandes
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Aug 31, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Kauê Fernandes

Angelo picks Kauê Fernandes confidently, criticizing the hype around Ziam. He believes Fernandes' aggression, grappling, and well-rounded skills will be too much for Ziam's point-fighting style. He notes that Ziam's wins are not as impressive as they seem. He plans to bet on Fernandes via a +3.5 round handicap when available, as he only needs Fernandes to win one round for that bet to cash.

plus 3.5 round handicap at plus 110
"I'm going to bet the [ __ ] out of Caillou Fernandez."
WIN vs Mike Davis
Decision R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Adesanya vs. Imavov · Feb 01, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Farès Ziam 0 35 of 56 62% 58 of 83 4 of 7 57% 0 2 7:11
Mike Davis 0 20 of 35 57% 30 of 49 1 of 8 12% 1 3 3:59
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Farès Ziam 0 16 of 24 66% 20 of 29 1 of 1 100% 0 0 1:23
Mike Davis 0 8 of 15 53% 10 of 18 1 of 5 20% 0 0 1:34
2 Farès Ziam 0 10 of 18 55% 23 of 33 1 of 2 50% 0 2 2:31
Mike Davis 0 6 of 8 75% 8 of 10 0 of 3 0% 1 2 1:38
3 Farès Ziam 0 9 of 14 64% 15 of 21 2 of 4 50% 0 0 3:17
Mike Davis 0 6 of 12 50% 12 of 21 0 of 0 --- 0 1 0:47
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Farès Ziam 35 of 56 62% 29 of 50 5 of 5 1 of 1 20 of 33 5 of 6 10 of 17
Mike Davis 20 of 35 57% 13 of 26 5 of 6 2 of 3 13 of 24 2 of 2 5 of 9
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Farès Ziam 16 of 24 66% 12 of 20 3 of 3 1 of 1 14 of 21 2 of 3 0 of 0
Mike Davis 8 of 15 53% 3 of 8 4 of 5 1 of 2 6 of 13 0 of 0 2 of 2
2 Farès Ziam 10 of 18 55% 8 of 16 2 of 2 0 of 0 0 of 2 3 of 3 7 of 13
Mike Davis 6 of 8 75% 5 of 7 1 of 1 0 of 0 4 of 6 2 of 2 0 of 0
3 Farès Ziam 9 of 14 64% 9 of 14 0 of 0 0 of 0 6 of 10 0 of 0 3 of 4
Mike Davis 6 of 12 50% 5 of 11 0 of 0 1 of 1 3 of 5 0 of 0 3 of 7
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Mike Davis vs. Fares Ziam

Round 1
Lightweights are first up on the main card, where Davis (11-2, 4-1 UFC) tackles Ziam (16-4, 6-2 UFC) in an under-the-radar 155-pound appetizer. Tognoni serves as the third man in the cage. They touch gloves and get started. Davis follows a leg kick to the body with a left hook to the body, then shoots on a takedown and pulls guard. He scrambles to his feet and backs Ziam to the fence. They separate. Ziam fires a two-piece combo and again pulls guard. He stands behind an upkick. Ziam backs him to the cage with punches and scores with knees to the body. Jab to the head and another to the body from Ziam. The Frenchman rips a left hook to the body and a right hand over the top. Davis looks out of sorts. Ziam sticks him with a left uppercut, resets and then slams home jab. Davis shoots on a takedown but goes nowhere. He resets, scrambles behind Ziam and slams him to the mat. Davis climbs to full mount with 50 seconds to go. Ziam reclaims half guard. Davis feeds him an elbow and a knee to the body, then another. Strong close for Davis.

Sherdog Scores
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Ziam
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Ziam
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Ziam

Round 2
They greet each other in the center. Jabs from Ziam. Davis plows forward behind a burst of power punches and connects with a left hook. Ziam clinches to protect himself, and they jockey for position along the fence. Ziam lands a knee with Davis crouched and opens a cut. Ziam scoops up the American and dumps him to the floor in the center of the cage. Blood streaming from the wound. Davis threatens with a heel hook, then positions himself for a calf slicer and uses it to take top position. He scrambles into a bid for an arm-triangle but loses position. Ziam scores with standing-to-ground punches. He flirts with an anaconda choke after sprawling on a takedown attempt, then frames an arm-triangle. Too much blood, and Davis slips free. Ziam closes on top with punches and elbows.

Sherdog Scores
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Ziam
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Ziam
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Ziam

Round 3
Back at it. Davis crashes forward with a right hand over the top. Ziam circles off the fence and shoots on the hips. He eventually dumps Davis to the mat. Ziam works in full guard. He stands, hovers above Davis and moves to north-south, firing punches to the body. Ziam stands again and scores with punches and an elbow. Davis gets to his knees. Ziam threatens with an anaconda choke, then settles in half guard. Davis looks spent—and understandably so. Davis gets back to his feet and presses the Frenchman into the cage. They separate. Two punch volley from Ziam, followed by an elbow over the top. He shoots on the hips and dumps Davis to the canvas yet again. Davis goes for a leg lock, but Ziam slips free. Davis gets to top position, in full guard, and opens a serious cut above Ziam’s left eye with a vicious elbow strike. Dark red blood pours from the wound as the horn sounds.

Sherdog Scores
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Ziam (30-27 Ziam)
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Ziam (30-27 Ziam)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Ziam (30-27 Ziam)

The Official Result
Fares Ziam def. Mike Davis—Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jan 26, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Mike Davis

Angelo picks Mike Davis, citing his speed, power, athleticism, and well-rounded skills. He notes that Farès Ziam has improved but Davis is a more dangerous striker with better wrestling. He expresses concern about Davis's long layoff due to a bicep injury and his age (32), but still believes Davis wins. He includes Davis in a parlay with Shamil Gaziev.

Included in a parlay with Shamil Gaziev.
"I am picking Mike Davis I think Mike Davis is far more dangerous I think he's a faster more athletic more powerful Striker"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Jan 27, 2025 (5 days before fight)
Mike Davis

Big Brady is a fan of Mike Davis but notes his inactivity and injury issues. He thinks Davis has a clear path to victory via wrestling and BJJ, as Farès Ziam has been taken down easily in the past, including seven times by Claudio Puelles. Brady predicts Davis will submit Ziam in the second round, citing Davis's black belt and Ziam's submission losses.

second round submission
"I think Mike Davis is going to tap out far as I am so give me Mike Davis to win this fight I'll take him to win this fight by second round submission"
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Jan 30, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Farès Ziam

Connor picks Ziam, believing his recent performance against Matt Frevola showed significant improvement. He notes that Ziam displayed excellent striking combinations, body work, and clinch transitions, and that he now looks like a complete fighter. Connor thinks Mike Davis, while powerful, makes poor decisions under pressure and relies on wrestling as a crutch, which Ziam can exploit.

"I got to pick Ziam here. Yeah. And the reason is is that David Davis is probably the stronger. He's probably the better athlete just all around. And yeah. Might be an equally capable technician everywhere. Honestly. But he will …"
LU
Lucrative James Expert Hesitant picked Jan 30, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Farès Ziam

James picks Ziam to win, but is not confident due to Davis's grappling upside. He notes Ziam has improved recently while Davis may have declined. He thinks Ziam can defend takedowns and win on the feet, possibly by knockout. However, he acknowledges Davis's athleticism and wrestling could be a problem, as seen in Ziam's loss to McKinney. He is undecided on betting.

"I'm going to pick ZM to win the fight I'm not confident in it"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jan 30, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Mike Davis

Davis is far superior to Ziam, with a tremendous grappling advantage that will lead to a submission. Despite Ziam's recent improvements, Davis has the striking to be competitive and will eventually get the submission. The line around -140 to -150 is surprising value.

submission, line around -140 to -150
"I'm surprised that we're getting Mike Davis around that minus 140 minus 150 line as I believe he is far superior to Farès Ziam... Davis has the striking to be competitive there but a tremendous advantage in the grappling realm …"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Hesitant picked Jan 28, 2025 (4 days before fight)
Mike Davis

The MMA Guru picks Mike Davis despite initially leaning toward Ziam. He notes Davis has good entries on takedowns and wicked stand-up, but worries about Ziam's improvements and the takedowns he gave up to Claudio Puelles. He trusts Davis's inactivity means he shows up at 100% and believes Davis is the better fighter overall.

"I'm going to go with Mike Davis... he's one of the fighters where he's so inactive as a prospect I trust he's in 100% capacity when he does actually fight"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Jan 30, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Farès Ziam

Zane picks Ziam, agreeing that his last fight showed a new level of maturity and consistency. He notes that Davis has stagnated and often makes desperate moves when uncomfortable, while Ziam now has the tools to capitalize. Zane acknowledges the risk that Ziam's performance could be a one-off, but believes the improvement is real and that Ziam's well-rounded game will be too much for Davis.

"I'm going to pick the same way. But I think for both of us, this pick is really making the assumption that it was not a one off. Yeah. What we saw from Ziam in Paris."
WIN vs Matt Frevola
KO (knee) R3 2:59 · UFC Fight Night: Moicano vs. Saint Denis · Sep 28, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Farès Ziam 1 58 of 94 61% 69 of 107 4 of 4 100% 1 1 4:43
Matt Frevola 0 16 of 59 27% 25 of 72 1 of 3 33% 1 1 2:47
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Farès Ziam 0 18 of 29 62% 24 of 35 0 of 0 --- 0 1 1:20
Matt Frevola 0 9 of 22 40% 12 of 27 1 of 3 33% 1 1 1:49
2 Farès Ziam 0 34 of 55 61% 37 of 60 1 of 1 100% 1 0 1:10
Matt Frevola 0 7 of 32 21% 12 of 38 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:58
3 Farès Ziam 1 6 of 10 60% 8 of 12 3 of 3 100% 0 0 2:13
Matt Frevola 0 0 of 5 0% 1 of 7 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Farès Ziam 58 of 94 61% 44 of 77 11 of 14 3 of 3 45 of 75 7 of 9 6 of 10
Matt Frevola 16 of 59 27% 7 of 44 7 of 12 2 of 3 9 of 49 7 of 10 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Farès Ziam 18 of 29 62% 12 of 22 5 of 6 1 of 1 13 of 21 4 of 4 1 of 4
Matt Frevola 9 of 22 40% 2 of 14 6 of 7 1 of 1 6 of 17 3 of 5 0 of 0
2 Farès Ziam 34 of 55 61% 28 of 47 4 of 6 2 of 2 30 of 48 1 of 3 3 of 4
Matt Frevola 7 of 32 21% 5 of 25 1 of 5 1 of 2 3 of 27 4 of 5 0 of 0
3 Farès Ziam 6 of 10 60% 4 of 8 2 of 2 0 of 0 2 of 6 2 of 2 2 of 2
Matt Frevola 0 of 5 0% 0 of 5 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 5 0 of 0 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Matt Frevola vs. Fares Ziam

Round 1
The UFC chose violence in practically every one of these main card tilts, and the carnage starts in the lightweight division. While he has earned all five of his UFC wins at the hands of the judges, Ziam (15-4, 5-2 UFC) is no stranger to the “just scrap” mentality. Frevola (11-4-1, 5-4-1 UFC) would love nothing more than for the two to go buckwild, attacking with everything they have to let the chips fall where they may. Referee Loic Pora steels himself for just such an encounter, as “The Steamrolla” has not left the first round in his last five trips to the Octagon. There is a speedy glove touch before fists fly. Frevola takes the center of the cage, bobbing to the side to let a front kick fly past him. Frevola swings his way into a takedown setup, and this results in a clinch with a number of knees traded on both sides. The Frenchman bails on the tie-up, avoiding two looping hooks to pay Frevola back with a hard overhand right. Frevola digs deep and shoots for a double, switching to a single and putting “Smile Killer” to his seat. Ziam stays defensive with his guard, not letting Frevola get off any offense, until he sits up. Frevola jumps into a guillotine choke, and he rolls to full mount as Ziam is briefly concerned about the submission and thinks about tapping. Instead, Ziam rides it out, and Frevola rides heavily on top while looking for offense. Ziam turns to his side, and Frevola snatches up an armbar. Ziam shifts through it, and Frevola responds with a triangle choke. Ziam lets him have it with three thunderous right hands, forcing Frevola to spin to his side and try to stand back up. Frevola gets his back to the cage, and he locks his hands around the waist to hurl Ziam to the floor. Ziam lands on his knees, stands up and tags Frevola with a right hand. A second power right hand from Ziam stings the New Yorker, and Frevola smiles and tries to go out guns blazing. “The Steamrolla” misses with a huge right hook, and he kicks his way off the fence to launch a Superman punch. Ziam dodges and counters with a right hand, and he scoops an uppercut to the body before hooking up the clinch and kneeing Frevola in the belly. Frevola gives him a pair of knees back to think about, and a third forces a break. Ziam pounds Frevola in the face with a left hand, and he digs hard to the body before the horn sounds.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Ziam
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Ziam
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Ziam

Round 2
Frevola comes out of his corner loaded for bear, and he lobs two right hands at the Frenchman to reintroduce himself. Ziam jumps back at him with a knee, and Frevola grins and waves his arms in the air. Ziam pins a one-two on the chin, and he doubles up on a jab and goes over the top with a right. Two punches from Ziam lead to a low kick, and he intercepts an advancing Frevola with a left hand. Frevola overswings with bombs, and Ziam is composed and light on his feet to dodge a spinning wheel kick. Frevola just misses with a right hand from his knees, and Ziam is there to jab him up and move well enough to not get tagged with anything of merit. Frevola slings his way into the clinch, and he drops down for a double. Ziam defends it and hacks Frevola in the face with an elbow to force a break, only for Frevola to belt him with an overhand right. Frevola backs Ziam against the wall and unloads with a few punches, and Ziam is unafraid to engage in response. Ziam hammers his man with an elbow, and he uses another to get in close and tie “The Steamrolla” up. Getting turned to the wall, Ziam stays busy with knees until he spins out and elbows Frevola. Frevola comes out swinging, but Ziam sees the strikes coming, dips and pops Frevola in the temple with a left hand. Frevola circles into a head kick and walks into a jab, and he eats three punches while missing with his own. Ziam splits the guard with a jab, and a one-two keeps Frevola guessing as Ziam closes in on him. Ziam tosses Frevola to the floor, where he gets hold of his back and fishes for a rear-naked choke with only one hook in. Frevola guts it out, fights off a subsequent neck crank and whips an elbow from behind his back. The round ends with Ziam landing shots to the side of Frevola’s dome.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Ziam
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Ziam
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Ziam

Round 3
Frevola assumes the center of the cage in the final round, likely down on the scorecards with plenty of damage on his face. He leads off with an overhand right, and when Ziam avoids it, he goes for another. Ziam sticks him with a jab, charges at him and hits him with a jump knee. Ziam rushes forward and sweeps the New Yorker off his feet, and he pushes Frevola against the wall when Frevola stands. Ziam succeeds in hitting a mat return, dragging “The Steamrolla” away from the fencing. Frevola scrambles, and Ziam follows him and keeps him stuck on his knees. Frevola bursts back to his feet, and Ziam pulls him down to the floor and briefly takes his back. Frevola spins around and works back to his feet, but Ziam lifts him in the air with a single and puts him down like a little brother. Ziam’s hands are clasped around the waist, with Frevola trying to fight the grip but getting tossed around. Frevola spins around, desperate to get out of this bad spot and gain some space.
Ziam holds on with his right hand, pulling Frevola’s head down into the meanest knee one could ever see. His mouthpiece sent flying, Frevola collapses lifelessly to the mat, out well before his head clatters off the mat. Ziam does not need to do this, but before Pora can pull him off, he hammers Frevola with a few standing-to-ground punches to further seal the deal.
The French faithful erupt in favor of their victorious fighter, who has just authored one of the most brutal knockouts of the year. It takes some time, but Frevola manages to come to, getting to his stool and eventually back to his feet, as many witnessing it breathing a sigh of relief. Ziam has the crowd in the palm of his hands, and he calmly thanks his friends and family as he drinks in what will almost certainly be a $50,000-winning performance.

The Official Result
Fares Ziam def. Matt Frevola R3 2:59 via KO (Knee)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Sep 22, 2024 (6 days before fight)
Farès Ziam

Angelo picks Farès Ziam as an underdog, surprised he is not the favorite. He believes Ziam's ability to avoid danger and fight a slow, technical fight will frustrate Frevola, who has cardio issues and is not technical enough to win a slow fight. He expects a boring fight where Ziam points his way to victory.

"I'm surprised that Farès is not the favorite... Farès Ziam wins this fight... it's going to be boring, that's how he's going to win."
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked Sep 27, 2024 (1 day before fight)
Matt Frevola

Big Brady picks Matt Frevola by decision, expecting him to use wrestling after seeing Ziam get taken down seven times by Claudio Puelles. He notes Frevola has better striking than Puelles and can mix in takedowns. He is concerned about Frevola's chin but thinks he can win a decision if he wrestles.

Frevola by decision
"give me fola fola by decision I don't think it's going to be like some of his la la like his last five fights have all finished in the first round I think he might go back to uh some …"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Sep 24, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Matt Frevola

Cody picks Frevola as an underdog, citing Ziam's poor takedown defense (67%) and Frevola's strong wrestling from a high-level camp. He notes that Ziam has been taken down repeatedly by grapplers, and Frevola's path to victory is to take him down and control him. Frevola's durability is a concern, but Ziam lacks one-punch power.

"I'll take fola because he's the underdog"
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Sep 26, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Matt Frevola

Connor picks Frevola because he believes Frevola's pressure, scrambling, and power will overwhelm Ziam, who is a cautious range striker with poor wrestling. He notes that Frevola is dangerous in the pocket and can take down opponents, while Ziam tends to struggle when crowded. Connor also points out that Ziam lacks knockout power at this level and has been submitted by grapplers. He sees Frevola winning by decision or late finish.

Odds: Frevola +112, Ziam -124. Connor expresses surprise that Frevola is an underdog, suggesting he should be a decided favorite.
"It's the right fight to bounce back for Fervola."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked Sep 24, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Matt Frevola

Daniel Vreeland picks Matt Frevola to win, believing the line should be flipped. He thinks Frevola hits harder, has better wrestling, and can finish Ziam by KO or submission. He notes Ziam's takedown defense issues and that Frevola has fought taller opponents before. He sees value in Frevola at plus odds.

"I think F win this fight I think the line should be flipped"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Sep 25, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Matt Frevola

JP picks Matt Frevola because he thinks Farès Ziam is 'cheeks' and doesn't use his reach advantage well. He notes Frevola is a dog who comes forward and throws bombs. He also mentions Frevola is 34 but still has enough left. He thinks Frevola can get inside and land big shots.

"I'm picking fola Steamroller I'm picking the steamroller I can't pick the other guy I think the other guy's cheeks"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Sep 24, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Matt Frevola

Paul agrees, emphasizing that Frevola needs to use his wrestling to win, not chase bonuses. He notes that Ziam's takedown defense is a major red flag, and Frevola's camp (Serra-Longo) has a winning blueprint. Paul predicts Frevola by decision.

"fora for vola by decision is where I'm at on this as well"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Sep 24, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Matt Frevola

The MMA Guru picks Matt Frevola over Farès Ziam, citing Frevola's takedown entries and training partners. He criticizes Ziam's losses to Terrence McKinney and lack of finishes. He predicts Frevola will set up takedowns and then catch Ziam for a late first or early second-round KO.

late first round or early second round KO
"I'm going to go Rola get this one done I'm actually going to say he puts the thought of the takedown in zam's mind a little bit by getting a few of them that Zam might get up from and …"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Sep 26, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Matt Frevola

Zane picks Frevola because he believes Frevola's pressure and grappling will be too much for Ziam, who is a cautious striker with poor wrestling defense. He notes that Frevola can start slow and warm up, then take over with his pace and power. Zane also points out that Ziam has been submitted by grapplers and lacks the power to keep Frevola off him. He sees Frevola winning a decision or possibly finishing Ziam late.

Odds: Frevola +112, Ziam -124. Zane agrees Frevola should be a favorite.
"Feels like a fight where Fervola can start slow and be cautious and warm up and then start making Zhiyam scramble..."
Decision (split) (28–29, 30–27, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Moreno vs. Royval 2 · Feb 24, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Farès Ziam 0 4 of 9 44% 17 of 27 7 of 13 53% 0 0 7:14
Claudio Puelles 0 31 of 48 64% 58 of 82 0 of 0 --- 1 2 4:30
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Farès Ziam 0 2 of 4 50% 6 of 9 3 of 5 60% 0 0 3:21
Claudio Puelles 0 9 of 17 52% 18 of 26 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:38
2 Farès Ziam 0 0 of 3 0% 4 of 11 1 of 3 33% 0 0 1:39
Claudio Puelles 0 14 of 20 70% 23 of 32 0 of 0 --- 0 0 2:06
3 Farès Ziam 0 2 of 2 100% 7 of 7 3 of 5 60% 0 0 2:14
Claudio Puelles 0 8 of 11 72% 17 of 24 0 of 0 --- 1 2 1:46
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Farès Ziam 4 of 9 44% 1 of 5 3 of 4 0 of 0 3 of 8 1 of 1 0 of 0
Claudio Puelles 31 of 48 64% 23 of 38 6 of 7 2 of 3 5 of 15 2 of 3 24 of 30
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Farès Ziam 2 of 4 50% 1 of 2 1 of 2 0 of 0 2 of 4 0 of 0 0 of 0
Claudio Puelles 9 of 17 52% 8 of 15 0 of 1 1 of 1 3 of 8 0 of 0 6 of 9
2 Farès Ziam 0 of 3 0% 0 of 3 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 3 0 of 0 0 of 0
Claudio Puelles 14 of 20 70% 11 of 16 3 of 3 0 of 1 2 of 7 0 of 1 12 of 12
3 Farès Ziam 2 of 2 100% 0 of 0 2 of 2 0 of 0 1 of 1 1 of 1 0 of 0
Claudio Puelles 8 of 11 72% 4 of 7 3 of 3 1 of 1 0 of 0 2 of 2 6 of 9
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Claudio Puelles vs. Fares Ziam
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Ziam (-218), Puelles (+180)

Round 1
Former training partners will put any friendship they formed aside from their time under the Kill Cliff FC roof, as grappler Puelles (12-3, 5-2 UFC) reps Peru against French striker Ziam (14-4, 4-2 UFC). The former holds the record for the most kneebars performed in UFC history, while the latter’s primary method of defeat is via submission, but anything is possible in the fight game. The gloves are touched in front of referee Herb Dean, and Ziam leads off with a stern low kick. Puelles shoots in for a single-leg takedown, and although Ziam defends the first attempt, a second effort for “Prince of Peru” gingerly sets Ziam down on his back. Ziam scrambles with all his muster, ultimately getting Puelles back to his butterfly guard. Ziam continues to buck and moves, and he works his way back up as Puelles follows him and nearly takes his back. Puelles forces a mat return, where he lands hard in half guard while hanging on with heavy chest pressure. Ziam nearly kicks him off, and Puelles hooks his foe’s legs beneath his own to keep him stuck. The Frenchman moves to his knees and wall-walks his way back up, and Puelles drags him right back down with his arm interlocked around Ziam’s. Ziam explodes back upright, and Puelles stays tightly pressed to him like a cheap suit until Ziam turns the corner and throws him aside. Puelles whiffs on a pair of chasing punches, and Ziam crowds him with a right up top and a left to the body. Puelles fakes for a takedown and lands a left hand, and as he throws a high kick, Ziam jacks him in the jaw with a jab that sends Puelles down like a sack of potatoes. Ziam rains down ground-and-pound until Puelles recovers enough to start scrambling, and Ziam backs off. Puelles gives chase and shoots for a desperate single, and Ziam stuffs it and walks away. Puelles keeps going after him, and he scoops “Smile Killer” up and makes him frown by slamming him to the mat with a high-amplitude double. Puelles jumps over the top to hunt for a kimura, isolating Ziam’s left arm while sitting on Ziam’s head. Ziam sees it coming and defends it, and Puelles steps all the way over and fishes for a leg lock that does not come before time expires.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Ziam
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Ziam
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Ziam

Round 2
The fighters bump fists before getting to it, and Ziam leads the dance early with jabs while not letting Puelles get close. Ziam succeeds in fighting off takedown setups, until Puelles desperately pursues one that ultimately ends up with him landing on his back thanks to a Ziam sweep at the last second. Puelles turns over to his back and leans back to set up a leglock, and Ziam abandons ship before anything is remotely close to coming together. Both men stand up, and Puelles fires off a head kick that bounces off the raised guard. Ziam paws out a low kick, and he steps in with a knee and follows it with a second on the dome. Puelles shoots from afar, and Ziam stops the first effort and fails to halt the second. Puelles slings his man to the mat, and he sits on top in an odd position with Ziam turned partially to his side. This allows Puelles to easily moves into full mount, and Ziam bucks him back to half guard. Puelles frames off to smack Ziam with an elbow, and he smothers from on top to disallow Ziam from escaping. As Ziam turns to his side, Puelles lets him do this so he can jump on Ziam’s back like a malicious backpack. Puelles wraps up a rear-naked choke, and Ziam falls to the ground and turns over to break up the choke. Ziam slows down and tags Puelles with an elbow, and he jumps to the other side to stop Puelles from setting up some maneuver. Ziam briefly unloads with ground-and-pound, mixing in elbows and posturing up at the right moments to not expose him to submission danger. The big punches keep coming until the horn blares.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Ziam
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Ziam
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Ziam

Round 3
There is a final glove touch before engagement, and Ziam is quick to flick out his jab to get his range again. Puelles tries to punch his way into a single, and Ziam stops him in his tracks and stands him up. Puelles pushes him back to the wall and knees him in the chest, and Ziam spins around to drive in some knees of his own. Puelles shoots in low for a double, and Ziam keeps his arms locked beneath Puelles groin before snatching up a guillotine choke to threaten with his own offense. Puelles does not seem remotely flustered, turning his neck to the right way before sliding himself out and getting upright again. Puelles shoots and secures a takedown, landing in full guard and otherwise stalling out. When Puelles does try for some offense, Ziam stifles it. The crowd grows restless at Puelles’ damage-free approach, and Ziam sits up and goes for another guillotine. Puelles shakes it off and continues his smothering top control. An awkward scramble results in Puelles sitting on Ziam’s face for a moment, and Ziam keeps moving and pushes “Prince of Peru” to his back. Puelles ties up his guard, and Ziam elbows him in the ribs. Puelles sits up and attempts a reversal, and Ziam nullifies it and postures up to rain down punishment. Ziam delivers some hammering punches and elbows, and Puelles gets to his knees right before time expires. The crowd showers the fighters with boos when it is all over.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Ziam (30-27 Ziam)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Ziam (30-27 Ziam)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Ziam (30-27 Ziam)

The Official Result
Fares Ziam def. Claudio Puelles via Split Decision (28-29, 30-27, 29-28)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Feb 18, 2024 (6 days before fight)
Farès Ziam

Angelo picks Ziam, citing his range control and technical striking. He believes Puelles will struggle to get the fight to the ground and may resort to pulling guard. He expresses frustration with Puelles' style but acknowledges his danger on the ground.

may bet on Ziam out of spite
"fram's going to be the pick I think his range control is going to make claudo just frustrated"
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked Feb 19, 2024 (5 days before fight)
Claudio Puelles

Big Brady picks Claudio Puelles to win by second-round submission, but with low confidence due to Puelles' terrible performance against Dan Hooker. He notes that Ziam is the better striker but has low volume and no power, so Puelles isn't in much danger on the feet. On the mat, Puelles is an incredible grappler with a BJJ black belt, and Ziam has been submitted in three of his four losses. Brady worries about Puelles' wrestling but thinks he can find ways to get the fight down.

Puelles wins by submission in round 2
"I'm actually going to take puus here as a dog hard to have a ton of confidence in the guy after this the crazy stunt he pulled against Dan hooker but you know I think a path is definitely there …"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Feb 21, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Farès Ziam

Cody picks Ziam, noting Puelles is a one-trick pony with leg locks and hasn't evolved. Ziam has shown improvements in takedown defense and striking volume. He thinks Ziam keeps the fight upright, lands shots, and tires Puelles out. He acknowledges the leg lock threat but believes Ziam can avoid it.

"the pick is fr oziah"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Feb 22, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Farès Ziam

The host sees this as a grappler vs. striker matchup, with Puelles being a knee-bar specialist but a sitting duck on the feet. He believes Ziam has shown enough improvement to keep the fight upright and use his kickboxing advantage to outbox and outkick Puelles en route to a decision win.

"I think that we've seen enough improvements from Zam throughout his career that he should be able to keep this fight upright and utilize his kickboxing advantage to outbox out kick and eventually win this fight on the scorecards over …"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Feb 21, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Farès Ziam

Paul agrees with Cody, picking Ziam. He echoes that Puelles is a one-trick pony with no evolution in his game. Ziam has improved takedown defense and striking. He thinks Ziam will box him up on the feet and avoid the leg locks. He notes Puelles' only path is a leg lock, which is low percentage.

"I'm gonna agree so pis is a guy that was fighting in the UFC he was like 21 years old and then six years later he's now 27 there really is no evolvement to his game"
WIN vs Jai Herbert
Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 30–27) R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Aspinall vs. Tybura · Jul 22, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Farès Ziam 0 49 of 134 36% 58 of 150 0 of 6 0% 0 0 4:12
Jai Herbert 0 61 of 113 53% 96 of 153 1 of 5 20% 0 0 1:30
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Farès Ziam 0 14 of 42 33% 15 of 46 0 of 0 --- 0 0 1:08
Jai Herbert 0 20 of 32 62% 34 of 47 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:34
2 Farès Ziam 0 15 of 44 34% 22 of 53 0 of 3 0% 0 0 2:04
Jai Herbert 0 20 of 38 52% 34 of 54 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:16
3 Farès Ziam 0 20 of 48 41% 21 of 51 0 of 3 0% 0 0 1:00
Jai Herbert 0 21 of 43 48% 28 of 52 0 of 3 0% 0 0 0:40
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Farès Ziam 49 of 134 36% 7 of 79 23 of 31 19 of 24 38 of 119 11 of 15 0 of 0
Jai Herbert 61 of 113 53% 29 of 74 19 of 23 13 of 16 45 of 93 16 of 20 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Farès Ziam 14 of 42 33% 1 of 24 6 of 9 7 of 9 12 of 38 2 of 4 0 of 0
Jai Herbert 20 of 32 62% 8 of 17 8 of 9 4 of 6 13 of 24 7 of 8 0 of 0
2 Farès Ziam 15 of 44 34% 2 of 28 11 of 14 2 of 2 9 of 36 6 of 8 0 of 0
Jai Herbert 20 of 38 52% 12 of 28 6 of 8 2 of 2 14 of 30 6 of 8 0 of 0
3 Farès Ziam 20 of 48 41% 4 of 27 6 of 8 10 of 13 17 of 45 3 of 3 0 of 0
Jai Herbert 21 of 43 48% 9 of 29 5 of 6 7 of 8 18 of 39 3 of 4 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Jai Herbert vs. Fares Ziam
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Ziam (-155), Herbert (+135)

Round 1
Moving right along on this main card, two lightweights hovering around the .500 threshold in the UFC will come to blows. Looking to lift his record to that even mark, Herbert (12-4-1, 2-3-1 UFC) almost certainly wishes to turn this fight into a brawl. Kill Cliff FC rep Ziam (13-4, 3-2 UFC) should mind his P’s and Q’s in this one, as should referee Jason Herzog. Before the melee commences, the fighters touch gloves. Ziam claims the center of the cage, and he measures jabs only to get jabbed in response. Ziam plants a heavy leg kick down low early, and he sneaks out a body kick while getting countered. Herbert swipes out with a left hook, and he splits the guard with a jab. Ziam reaches his man with a body kick, and he skirts away when Herbert kicks him in the calf. Herbert chambers and fires another leg kick, and Ziam reacts poorly from it. Ziam steels himself and lunges with straight punches, and his straight left finds the target a few times. Herbert comes up short by a matter of inches with two looping hooks, but his leg kicks do hit the mark much to the dismay of the Frenchman. As they both try to swing hard at one another, their chests clap together and this results in a clinch. The corner of Herbert continues to shout “head position” like Tito Ortiz shouting for his fighter on “The Ultimate Fighter” to get up. As they jockey for position against the wall, they break off and end up clinched on the other side of the cage wall. Both men think about a potential level change, and this results in a positional stalemate of failed attempts. Herbert gets cracked with a short elbow as he tries to separate, and he walks Ziam down and puts a jab in his face. The French fighter responds in kind, and they proceed to let go with single strikes one after the other. Herbert lands a body kick, and Ziam clips him with a left hook. A front kick from Ziam punctuates the close round.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Herbert
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Herbert
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Herbert

Round 2
There is a brief fist bump to start off the round, and the two lightweights ply their trade with jabs. Herbert fires off a left hook in a series of punches, driving Ziam back to the fence. Herbert ups his output, laying into Ziam with strikes to the head and body. Herbert mixes things up with a leg kick, and he dodges a counter and plants his fist on Ziam’s forehead. The momentum from Herbert results in a clinch, but they break out of it and trade fists. Ziam lands the heavier of a strike with a right hand, but “The Black Country Banger” relishes this and wings a right hook back. Herbert again pushes into a clinch, and after a lull, Herbert pushes off and elbows Ziam in the face. Ziam pokes out several jabs, and he blocks a head kick as Herbert comes at him. Again, Herbert ties Ziam up, considering a takedown but unable to get it. Herbert knees the body several times, and Ziam decides to do the same. Ziam gains a full head of steam, and he is able to turn the tables on Herbert by taking him down with ease. Herbert hits a sweep, briefly puts Ziam on his back, and the two scramble back to their feet. Herbert returns to pressing his full weight on his opponent, and Ziam manages to eventually get out of the grip. Ziam knocks the advancing Herbert back with two punches, only to get popped by counters from the Brit. They trade punches, and Herbert jabs his way in and follows it with a head kick. When Herbert charges him, Ziam sneaks up an uppercut, and the grueling round ends in the clinch.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Herbert
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Ziam
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Herbert

Round 3
Coming into the last round, scores could be all over the map. They greet in the center of the cage spamming kicks, trading them one after the other fearlessly. Ziam throws the first punch, and Herbert leans back and kicks at him. Ziam sticks out a jab and takes one back on the chin, and he swipes out with a short hook. Ziam comes up shy of the mark with two big punches, and Herbert sits back and smacks him with a kick on either side of his calf. “Smile Killer” jabs and whips a left hook over the top, and the crowd is growing restless by the relative sparring match after a fairly lackluster event thus far. The fighters proceed to take turns striking at one another, and Ziam connects with a big leg kick that makes Herbert hobble back and shake his leg out. Ziam ends another combination with a thudding kick, and Herbert rushes towards him and ties him up before looking for a body lock takedown. The Frenchman keeps his balance and leans himself against the chain-link fencing, and he manages to turn himself around and stop Herbert from taking his back. Ziam counters with an inside trip, and they both topple to the ground for a second before jumping back up, locked together in a mean-spirited embrace. Ziam secures another trip, and once more Herbert falls over and gets back up. The two split up with 90 seconds to go in the fight, and neither man engages with anything of note. After the lull in activity, they trade leg kicks and jabs, and Ziam wipes his eye as if he was reacting from an eye poke. Herbert does not let him have a moment to take care of it, as he turns his hips into a heavy leg kick. Ziam drops to a knee in a takedown shot, and Herbert easily stands him up and bullies him towards the fence. Ziam spins him around, and he hangs on until this disappointing affair comes to a close after 15 slogging minutes pass. It’s anyone’s guess who will get the nod after this one.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Ziam (29-28 Herbert)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Ziam (29-28 Ziam)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Ziam (29-28 Herbert)

The Official Result
Fares Ziam def. Jai Herbert via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jul 16, 2023 (6 days before fight)
Jai Herbert

Angelo thinks Jai Herbert will win by out-pointing in a boring striking match, citing Herbert's power and danger. However, he is concerned about Herbert's poor takedown defense and will not bet on him because of that vulnerability.

"I think Jai Herbert's gonna get it done uh I think he'll out point in a boring striking match"
BI
Big Brady Expert Lean picked Jul 18, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Farès Ziam

Big Brady picks Farès Ziam by decision, but says it's his least favorite fight on the card. He notes Ziam is a point fighter with no power but good defense, while Herbert has power but has become tentative after being knocked out multiple times. He thinks Ziam's youth and improvements give him the edge, but expects a boring fight.

by decision
"give me Zion to win like a decision but it's not a fight I'm really looking forward to"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked Jul 19, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Jai Herbert

Cody sees the fighters as similar but notes Ziam showed improved wrestling against Figlak. However, he thinks Herbert's reach advantage and home crowd could sway a close decision. He likes Herbert at +140 as a dog or pass.

"I think a plus 140 can do a lot worse uh in and Underdog than Jai Herbert"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Jul 20, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Farès Ziam

Daniel picks Farès Ziam, citing his durability advantage over Jai Herbert, who has been dropped multiple times. He notes both are long, low-output strikers but Ziam has better defense and more impact. He has been waiting for a highlight-reel KO from Ziam and thinks this could be the fight. He also mentions Ziam's improved grappling and training in jiu-jitsu. He acknowledges Herbert's power but believes Ziam's durability and defense will be the difference.

Daniel says he has been waiting for a highlight-reel KO from Ziam and thinks this weekend might be the time. He mentions the line: Ziam -155, Herbert +135.
"I've been waiting for this highlight reel KO from ferez yam and I think this weekend might be the time he finally gets it"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jul 17, 2023 (5 days before fight)
Farès Ziam

The host picks Farès Ziam, citing his youth, improvements, and ability to mix striking with takedowns. He believes Herbert is slowing down and that Ziam will put the hurting on him. He predicts a decision win for Ziam.

"give me Mr ziam to win this fight by decision"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Jul 19, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Farès Ziam

Paul picks Ziam, citing his youth (26 vs 34), improvement, and cardio advantage. He thinks Ziam's volume and durability will overcome Herbert's power. He notes Ziam's similar reach negates Herbert's length advantage.

"I think the French kid's gonna put a beating on him"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jul 17, 2023 (5 days before fight)
Jai Herbert

The MMA Guru picks Jai Herbert as an underdog, citing his talent and training at Team Renegades with Leon Edwards. He criticizes Farès Ziam for not impressing and notes Herbert's head kick knockdown of Ilia Topuria. The Guru believes Herbert's finishing potential and momentum will lead to a TKO win on the feet, despite his chinny reputation.

TKO
"I'm going with another Underdog I'm going with dry Herbert"
Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Gane vs. Tuivasa · Sep 03, 2022
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Farès Ziam 0 60 of 108 55% 111 of 162 3 of 7 42% 0 1 6:48
Michał Figlak 0 28 of 96 29% 55 of 126 1 of 5 20% 0 0 1:35
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Farès Ziam 0 24 of 39 61% 32 of 47 1 of 2 50% 0 0 1:25
Michał Figlak 0 15 of 46 32% 25 of 56 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:41
2 Farès Ziam 0 19 of 42 45% 49 of 75 1 of 2 50% 0 0 3:23
Michał Figlak 0 5 of 20 25% 15 of 31 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:17
3 Farès Ziam 0 17 of 27 62% 30 of 40 1 of 3 33% 0 1 2:00
Michał Figlak 0 8 of 30 26% 15 of 39 1 of 2 50% 0 0 0:37
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Farès Ziam 60 of 108 55% 34 of 81 13 of 14 13 of 13 45 of 78 2 of 3 13 of 27
Michał Figlak 28 of 96 29% 13 of 74 9 of 16 6 of 6 25 of 88 0 of 1 3 of 7
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Farès Ziam 24 of 39 61% 11 of 25 7 of 8 6 of 6 21 of 34 2 of 2 1 of 3
Michał Figlak 15 of 46 32% 5 of 35 6 of 7 4 of 4 15 of 46 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Farès Ziam 19 of 42 45% 13 of 36 4 of 4 2 of 2 12 of 24 0 of 0 7 of 18
Michał Figlak 5 of 20 25% 1 of 12 2 of 6 2 of 2 5 of 20 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 Farès Ziam 17 of 27 62% 10 of 20 2 of 2 5 of 5 12 of 20 0 of 1 5 of 6
Michał Figlak 8 of 30 26% 7 of 27 1 of 3 0 of 0 5 of 22 0 of 1 3 of 7
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Michal Figlak vs. Fares Ziam
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Figlak (-195), Ziam (+165)

Round 1
For the second fight in a row, a home country fighter will be representing France against an opponent from a distant land. Unlike Brazil for Miranda, Ziam (12-4, 2-2 UFC) will take on someone from just a few countries east in Europe. Making his debut after an impressive run in Cage Warriors that ended before he could vie for the 155-pound strap, the unbeaten Figlak (8-0, 0-0 UFC), born in Poland but repping England, has been plucked out of that league and into the majors. As a result, Ziam is the only betting underdog of the five men out of France today. Ziam offers a glove touch under the watchful eye of referee Rich Mitchell, but Figlak has no interest and lets the fingers brush off his forearm. Figlak wants to fight, and he comes out pressing forward. Ziam is on his bike early, with Figlak aggressive and throwing hands at him in high intensity. Ziam manages in kickboxing range, with low kicks and jabs, trying take advantage of his range while staying on the outside. “Smile Killer” kills Figlak’s smile with a heavy low kick that bends the knee of his opponent, and Figlak crashes forward only to get popped with a left hook. Ziam follows it with another hard low kick, prompting Figlak to press in for a body lock takedown. Ziam spins him around and dumps Figlak to the mat, where he lands right in side control. The British-based fighter powers his way up to his seat and considers a counter takedown, but it is all so that he can stand back up. Ziam strikes first with his feet when the two are upright again, ripping a low kick on the calf and swinging one to the ribs. Figlak punches his way in with an overhand right, and a left to the body that makes Ziam cough. The unbeaten debutant ignores a few quick left hands so that he can rush in, and Ziam meets him with a standing elbow. Figlak spins with a back elbow that glances off his intended target, and his forward momentum pushes the two up to the wall. They jockey for position, trading knees up against the wire, and Ziam looks to change levels and lift Figlak’s right leg for a single. Figlak keeps his balance, and he stops a trip attempt from the body lock of his opponent. Mitchell tells them to keep fighting as they jockey for position, and as Ziam goes for a throw, they both land on their knees. Figlak counters, only to get tossed to his back. Figlak closes his guard, takes an elbow on the dome that cuts him open on the hairline, and he sets up an armbar with seconds to spare. Ziam rolls all the way through it, fights off a subsequent kimura try, turns to his side and stands up. He takes an upkick on the chest at the bell, and Mitchell leaps in between them so nothing more comes of it.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Ziam
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Ziam
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Ziam

Round 2
The second round opens with a brief slugfest, as Figlak hopes to start out hot, and Ziam throws cold water on him with a tie-up in the middle of the cage. As Figlak swings for the fences after the break, Ziam targets the body with a kick and a left hand over the top. Figlak responds with a pair of heavy punches that shake the Frenchman up, and Ziam responds with a takedown effort. Ziam lifts Figlak all the way up in the air and slams him down, and as soon as Figlak hits the mat, he snatches the leg and starts fishing for a leglock. The attempts force Ziam to stand back up and reconsider his posture, where he ends up lowering himself back into the guard and easily moving to half guard. Ziam starts working the body from this position, and Figlak sits up as a trickle of blood flows from the bridge of his nose into his right eye. Figlak stays active from his back, hunting for armbars or any kind of submission that keeps Ziam honest, and he manages to drag Ziam back to his guard. “Mad Dog” explodes against the wall, using it to stand back up, and he is ready to trade leather. Figlak walks forward fearlessly to throw hands, and Ziam backs up to the wall and gets clipped with a right hand. Ziam meets him with a knee up the middle, and Figlak drops down to go after a single. Ziam slides his leg out and looks for separation, only for Figlak to chase him to the wall and try to trip him. Out of nowhere, Ziam spins with a back elbow on the temple that rocks the undefeated fighter badly. Figlak wobbles back to the wall, and Ziam bowls him over and starts blasting him with ground-and-pound. Figlak uses his offensive guard to keep Ziam at bay on the mat from anything that could set up a finish, but he can only hold on so long before Ziam shifts into full mount. Time is Ziam’s enemy in this exchange, as he slides off the side and looks for a choke of some kind. There is nothing there before the round ends.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Ziam
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Ziam
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Ziam

Round 3
Ziam opens the final round with several heavy low kicks one after the other, forcing a limp out of the debuting fighter. Ziam sees this and targets it again, and the punches in response from Figlak have a lot less sting on them now. One such powerful kick forces a stance switch out of Figlak, and Ziam does not mind and he kicks the back leg multiple times. As Ziam moves forward, seeing his man is compromised, Figlak meets him in the middle and decides to grab hold of a standing guillotine choke. There is nothing to this, so he ignores a few punches to hit a double. Ziam wall-walks up to his feet before long, and the crowd is thrilled that they are back on the feet again. Figlak slips a punch and clinches up, and Ziam pushes him off and sticks out a jab. Figlak again goes for a body lock, and Ziam is having none of it. Figlak is still in the southpaw stance as a result of the damage absorbed on his left leg, and he cannot plant fully when trying to take Ziam down again. Ziam turns the tables on him, scooping the unbeaten man up and tossing him down to the canvas. Figlak tightly closes his guard, only to suddenly roll for an armbar as Ziam postures up to aim punches from above. Ziam sees it coming and pushes off, and he ends up standing back up. Figlak follows him up, and Ziam cannot take advantage of this position. Figlak shoots for a takedown, and he grounds Ziam and instantly moves to full mount. With sheer strength, the Frenchman reverses Figlak by lifting him off of him and tossing him to the back. Ziam, in half guard, uses shoulder pressure and flirts with an arm-triangle choke, but is more intent on passing to the side. Ziam tries a two-on-one wrist lock to keep him down, but elects to start pounding on Figlak instead. Figlak throws his legs up in desperation for an armbar, and he sits up and dives for a single. Time expires as Ziam is smacking Figlak upside the head, and the underdog Frenchman appears to have scored a significant upset and handed Figlak his first career defeat, all to the delight of a partisan crowd.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Ziam (30-27 Ziam)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Ziam (30-27 Ziam)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Ziam (30-27 Ziam)

The Official Result
Fares Ziam def. Michal Figlak via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Aug 27, 2022 (7 days before fight)

Angelo picks Michal Figlak because he expects Figlak to transition to wrestling after getting touched up on the feet, winning a decision. He notes Ziam is a technical striker but lacks power, so he will pot shot his way to a decision if Figlak doesn't wrestle. He thinks Figlak's wrestling will be the difference.

"i see fig lack winning a decision but if he does not transition to that wrestling he can be outstruck"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Aug 31, 2022 (3 days before fight)

Big Brady picks Michal Figlak to win by decision. He argues that Figlak's pressure and forward-moving style will give Ziam problems, as Ziam struggles when pressured and prefers to fight on the outside. He also notes Figlak can mix in takedowns. He expects a close fight on the feet but Figlak's pressure and occasional takedowns will earn him the win.

"i like fig lack here i like fig lack to win by decision"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Aug 31, 2022 (3 days before fight)

Cody picks Michal Figlak, praising his constant pressure, boxing combinations, body work, and wrestling. He notes that Figlak is a strong Polish fighter with good cardio and a dogged style. Farès Ziam, on the other hand, has low striking volume (2.06 strikes per minute), poor takedown defense, and has been cut from the UFC before. Cody believes Figlak will overwhelm Ziam with pressure and grappling, and he likes Figlak by late finish or decision. He also mentions the over 2 takedowns prop and the fantasy score over 86.5 on PrizePicks.

Figlak over 2 takedowns; Figlak over 86.5 fantasy points; Figlak wins in round 3 (+1800)
"I got fig like as well i think he goes out there and just constant pressure man... the guy's a junkyard dog for sure."
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Aug 31, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Farès Ziam

Daniel Levi picks Farès Ziam as an underdog, betting one unit at +170. He believes Ziam is underrated and that the line should be closer to pick'em. He notes Ziam's sharp kickboxing and improving takedown defense, and thinks Figlak is not a finisher on the ground. He expects Ziam to win a striking match.

"I took ZM plus one seven here one unit only one unit"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean picked Aug 31, 2022 (3 days before fight)

The host leans towards Figlak due to his grappling advantage, expecting him to close the distance and use clinch work to control Ziam. He acknowledges Ziam's striking superiority but doubts Ziam's takedown defense. However, he is not betting because the line at -200 is too high for a debutant.

"I will still lean Fig like here to win this fight."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Aug 31, 2022 (3 days before fight)

Paul also picks Michal Figlak, agreeing with Cody's assessment. He highlights Figlak's pressure, wrestling, and durability, and notes that Ziam's low output and takedown defense are major weaknesses. Paul likes Figlak to win by decision or late finish, and he has bet Figlak round 3 at +1800.

Figlak wins in round 3 (+1800)
"I got fig like as well i think he goes out there and just constant pressure man... fig lock round three my official pick for the show."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Aug 29, 2022 (5 days before fight)

The MMA Guru picks Michal Figlak over Farès Ziam, praising Figlak's pressure, power, and cardio. He notes that Figlak has been consistent and durable, while Ziam has had inconsistent performances and close decisions. He predicts Figlak will win a tough 29-28 decision, as he is always winning rounds and doesn't have to come back from adversity.

Figlak wins by decision 29-28
"i'm going to go with mikhail figlack i like mikael figlac i've been watching him a lot on cage warriors"
Expert Picks (10)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Nov 30, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Nazim Sadykhov

Angelo picks Nazim Sadykhov, acknowledging he has never correctly picked a Farès Ziam fight. He describes Ziam as a technical but boring fighter who sneaks out wins, while Sadykhov is a solid kickboxer with speed, power, and the ability to mix in wrestling. Angelo notes Sadykhov's comeback win over Nicholas Motta and believes his skills will overcome Ziam's style. He bet on Sadykhov at better odds earlier.

bet placed earlier at better odds
"Nazim's the pick. I bet on him. We got him at much better odds than this."
BI
Big Brady Expert Lean picked Nov 26, 2025 (10 days before fight)
Nazim Sadykhov

Big Brady picks Nazim Sadykhov as a dog, calling him a 'madman' with a dog in him. He acknowledges Ziam is more technical and has improved his grappling, but expects Sadykhov to push a pace and make it a dog fight. He predicts Sadykhov wins by decision.

Sadykhov by decision
"I'm going to take the dog and in what I think is going to be a dog fight, I'm going to say Nazim Satakov wins this fight and wins it by decision."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Dec 3, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Farès Ziam

Cody picks Ziam, noting his improved takedown defense and technical striking. He believes Ziam's length and Muay Thai will be effective against Sadykhov, who is prone to being outworked. He mentions that Ziam has shown durability and has never been knocked down. He thinks Ziam will win a decision.

"For me, I just feel like Zam's the guy that's making a little more progress in his overall career that you see an improved version of him fight to fight."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Dec 5, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Farès Ziam

Connor picks Farès Ziam, noting that Ziam has improved his striking and wrestling, becoming a more aggressive and dangerous fighter. He believes Ziam's well-rounded game and ability to control range will be too much for Sadykhov, who is a brute but has blank spaces in his game. Connor warns that Sadykhov is dangerous and can turn a fight around.

"My instinct is to say that Farah Ziyam's game makes too much sense for Sadikov to beat him."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked Nov 27, 2025 (9 days before fight)
Farès Ziam

Daniel picks Ziam, citing his technical striking, reach advantage, and maturity. He expects Ziam to stay disciplined at range and outpoint Sadykhov, though he acknowledges Sadykhov's durability and power. He predicts a unanimous decision for Ziam.

"Ultimately, I think that Farzam is going to hand Nazim Sadikov his first UFCL."
LU
Lucrative James Expert Lean picked Nov 29, 2025 (7 days before fight)
Farès Ziam

Lucrative James finds this a tough fight to call. He notes that Nazim Sadykhov often gets outmaneuvered early but lands comeback finishes, while Ziam is more technical and durable. He thinks Ziam's fight IQ and ability to avoid big moments will allow him to win a decision. However, he is not confident and would not bet on either fighter at close odds.

"I'm going to end up picking Fesam here."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Dec 5, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Farès Ziam

The host believes Sadykhov's reliance on power will be exposed. He views Ziam as the superior technical striker who can handle Sadykhov's big shots and nullify his grappling, leading to a decision win.

win by decision
"I think ZM is the superior technical striker. He should be able to roll with the big shots of Sadikov and I think he should be able to nullify most of Sadikov's grappling game. That should lead to ZM outstriking him and winning this fight on the scorecards."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Dec 3, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Farès Ziam

Paul agrees, citing Ziam's reach advantage and technical striking. He notes that Sadykhov loses chunks of fights and relies on one big shot. He believes Ziam's durability and improved grappling will allow him to outpoint Sadykhov. He picks Ziam by decision.

"Zion for me and it kind of comes down to the same intangibles as well with just the length reach probably making it more of an ugly fight than what Nazam Sadakov wants."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Dec 3, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Farès Ziam

The Guru picks Farès Ziam over Nazim Sadykhov, citing Ziam's reach advantage and slick striking. He notes Sadykhov's wins have asterisks and he struggled against lower-level opponents. The Guru predicts a clean 30-27 decision for Ziam.

"I think Zam's going to win a clean slick 30-27 clear decision shutting down Sadikov."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Dec 5, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Farès Ziam

Zane picks Farès Ziam, agreeing that Ziam's game is more coherent and that he has improved significantly. He notes that Sadykhov is a strange fighter who can make bad decisions but turn fights around with athleticism. Zane believes Ziam can stay ahead and control the fight, but must be careful throughout.

"I think you're right. I think that Ziyam has built enough of a solid, well-rounded competitive game everywhere to win this and to stay ahead of Sadikov all the way through."