French fighter Fares Ziam, nicknamed the “Smiling Killer,” has declared his intention to knock out Azerbaijani athlete Nazim Sadygov.
According to Idman.biz, the two fighters will face each other during the “UFC 323” event on the night of December 6–7 in Las Vegas, USA.
Ahead of the fight, Ziam gave a strong statement to the French media:
“I have to knock him out. There’s no other option. I’ll show him boxing techniques that he may have never seen,” Ziam said.
French media outlets also highlight the significant threat posed by Sadygov. In particular, La Sueur notes that the Azerbaijani fighter has a record of 11 wins and 1 loss, and his fights rarely go to a judge’s decision — he usually finishes opponents early.
UFC Fans characterizes the bout as a clash between Ziam’s methodical pace control and Sadygov’s aggressive style. They report that the French fighter’s main task will be to control distance, manage rhythm, and prevent the opponent from launching attacks that could end the fight prematurely.
It should be noted that Fares Ziam last competed in the octagon in February 2025. Nazim Sadygov has fought twice this year — knocking out Brazilian Ismael Bonfimi in February and defeating another Brazilian, Nikolos Mota, early in June in Baku.
Teymur Tushiyev
