“Smile Killer” Fares Ziam looked to build on an impressive five-fight win streak when he took on Nazim Sadykhov as part of Saturday’s UFC 323 prelims.
Sadykhov was undefeated since arriving in the UFC in 2023 off a Contender Series win the previous year. He’d posted a record of four wins and a draw inside the octagon leading up to Saturday’s lightweight fight.
Ziam fired a kick as the pair opened hot; a second kick by Ziam was caught, with Sadykhov driving him to the fence, only for Ziam to reverse. Ziam landed a hammerfist to the thigh as the pair jockeyed for position; Sadykhov threated with a trip even with his back on the fence.
When they eventually did go down, a scramble saw Ziam briefly on top, threatening with a choke. That led to him on the back and Sadykhov scrambling to the fence, on a knee with Ziam behind him. Soon, Ziam had the back, Sadykhov seated in front of him. Hooks went in, and Ziam had just under two minutes to work. The body triangle followed, and Sadykhov answered the phone to keep the rear-naked choke from being applied.
Sadykhov survived the round, but would be looking for a better result in the second frame. Instead, Ziam came out and put the pressure on early, backing Sadykhov up. He stormed back moments later however, with Ziam then firing an uppercut and low kick on his next attack. Sadykhov was working the low kicks as well, in a very back-and-forth first two minutes of round two.
With just over two minutes left in the round, a clinch led to the pair briefly going back to the ground, Ziam arguably having the upper hand. They scrambled right back up, however, ending up in another clinch, this time with Sadykhov pressing Ziam into the fence. A reversal later, and Zian was back in control. He would try kicking Sadykhov’s leg out from under him, but Sadykhov was a tough nut to crack, or take down. A throw would finally get the job done.
Just when it seemed like the round would close out with Sadykhov back on his feet, Ziam sealed the deal. A pair of crushing elbows smashed into Sadykhov as he worked his way up. He then covered up as Fares Ziam rained down fire in the form of some heavy hands, and rather than let him be saved by the bell, the ref waved the fight off!
That’s six straight victories for France’s Ziam, who at age 28 is hot at the right time.
Official Result: Fares Ziam def. Nazim Sadykhov by TKO (elbows and punches), Round 2, 4:59
