Ziam has spent years climbing the UFC lightweight ladder and has earned notable wins over Mike Davis, Matt Frevola, Claudio Puelles, and Nazim Sadykhov. His striking has become increasingly polished, and he remains one of the most technically sound French fighters on the roster.
Sola, meanwhile, enters as one of the brightest prospects in French MMA. After capturing gold in ARES FC, he has already picked up UFC wins over Rhys McKee and Ismael Bonfim. His recent submission victory over Bonfim demonstrated that he is far more than just a striker.
Fares Ziam
Last 3 Bouts
Lose. Tom Nolan – Unanimous Decision
Win. Nazim Sadykhov – TKO (Round 2)
Win. Mike Davis – Unanimous Decision
Strengths
Excellent striking technique
Strong distance management
Solid takedown defense
Good fight IQ
Proven UFC experience
Dangerous knees and kicks in transition
Weaknesses
Can be outworked by relentless pressure fighters
Not a high-volume wrestler
Sometimes allows close rounds to go to the judges
Has struggled against strong grapplers in the past
Keys to Victory
Maintain range throughout the fight
Use footwork to frustrate Sola
Attack the body and legs early
Force Sola into striking exchanges
Avoid prolonged clinch and grappling situations
Utilize his UFC experience advantage
Axel Sola
Last 3 Bouts
Win. Ismael Bonfim – Submission (Brabo Choke, Round 1)
Lose. Mason Jones – Unanimous Decision
Win. Rhys McKee – TKO (Round 3)
Strengths
Athletic and explosive
Diverse finishing ability
Strong grappling and submission threat
High offensive output
Former ARES FC champion
Confidence from recent UFC success
Weaknesses
Less UFC experience than Ziam
Can absorb significant damage during exchanges
Defensive wrestling remains a work in progress
Has yet to face many ranked-caliber UFC lightweights
Keys to Victory
Pressure Ziam from the opening bell
Mix takedowns with striking attacks
Force clinch exchanges against the cage
Prevent Ziam from establishing range
Look for submission opportunities during scrambles
Turn the fight into a high-paced battle
Odds
Fares Ziam -155
Sola Axel +130
