Fares Ziam to Train in U.S. With New Coach for UFC Paris
Fares Ziam is moving to the U.S. for a new coach ahead of UFC Paris on Sept. 5, aiming to bounce back from a loss to Tom Nolan.
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Fares Ziam is relocating to the United States to train ahead of his return at UFC Paris, the French lightweight says, as he looks to reset his UFC title push under a new coaching setup.
Ziam, who fights out of Lyon, has spent his career training in France, so a move stateside marks a real shift in how he prepares for fights. He is set to compete on home soil at UFC Paris on September 5, 2026, at Accor Arena, and he says the new training environment is meant to carry him past this one fight and toward another run at the top of the 155-pound division.
Why Is Fares Ziam Changing His Camp Now?
Ziam is coming off a loss to Tom Nolan in June that snapped a long winning streak, one that included a stoppage win over Nazim Sadykhov. A six-fight run like that put him firmly in the lightweight rankings, so the Nolan setback was his first real speed bump in years. Moving his training base to the U.S. to work with a well known coach is the kind of change fighters make when they want a jolt after a loss rather than a shrug-it-off approach, and Ziam is framing it as a long-term project, not just a one-fight fix.
What It Means for UFC Paris and Beyond
Fighting in front of a French crowd again adds pressure but also motivation, and a new corner and a new voice between rounds could show up quickly in how Ziam approaches pace and gameplanning. Camp changes are unpredictable bets in themselves. Sometimes a fresh set of coaches sharpens a fighter's weaknesses fast, other times the chemistry takes a fight or two to click. Bettors watching the UFC Paris lightweight bout should treat this as a variable that adds uncertainty rather than a guaranteed positive, since Ziam has not yet fought under the new setup. If he looks noticeably sharper defensively or shows a new wrinkle in his striking, that is the clearest early signal the move is paying off. If old habits that led to the Nolan loss resurface, that tells bettors the transition needs more time before backing him with confidence.
Ziam remains a name UFC matchmakers can plug into meaningful lightweight fights, and a strong showing at UFC Paris would go a long way toward putting him back in that conversation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Fares Ziam moving to the United States?
Fares Ziam says he is relocating to the U.S. to train under a new coach as he tries to restart his push toward a UFC lightweight title ahead of UFC Paris.
Who did Fares Ziam lose to before UFC Paris?
Fares Ziam lost to Tom Nolan in June 2026, a defeat that snapped a six-fight winning streak that included a stoppage win over Nazim Sadykhov.
When and where is UFC Paris?
UFC Paris takes place on September 5, 2026, at Accor Arena in Paris, France, where Fares Ziam is scheduled to compete.
