French fighter Fares Ziam once again proved his worth in the world of mixed martial arts by securing a unanimous decision victory (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) over American Mike Davis in the opening bout of the main card at UFC Saudi Arabia.
Mike Davis started strong, attempting to take Ziam to the ground multiple times by pulling his guard. However, Ziam displayed solid defense, quickly turning the tables by pressing his opponent against the cage and landing powerful knee strikes to the body, followed by sharp boxing combinations. Although Davis managed to take Ziam’s back in a critical moment, the Frenchman remained calm, minimized the damage, and secured the round in his favor.
Davis opened the second round with a heavy hook that momentarily rocked Ziam, but the latter’s strong defense prevented further damage. Ziam responded with a clean strike that cut Davis open before successfully taking him down. Despite Davis’ attempt at a calf slicer submission, “The Smile Killer” stayed composed, maintained dominance, and closed the round strong with sharp elbows.
The third round saw intense exchanges between both fighters, with Ziam continuing to fight smart. He executed another well-timed takedown and delivered effective body shots. Davis made a strong push in the final moments, but Ziam wisely controlled the clock, took his opponent down again, imposed his ground dominance, and inflicted further damage to secure the last round.
🔥 Fares Ziam secures a well-deserved unanimous decision victory after an incredible battle from both sides against Mike Davis! 👊💥
🔥 فارس زيام يحقق فوزًا مستحقًا بقرار إجماع الحكام بعد قتال رائع من الطرفين على حساب مايك ديفز! 👊💥 pic.twitter.com/kLyDGQjMoH
— mmamag.ma (@jamalsoussi10) February 1, 2025
Speaking after the fight, Fares Ziam expressed his respect for his opponent, saying: “I knew Mike Davis was a tough fighter, but I didn’t realize how strong he truly was until I stepped in there with him. This was my first big opportunity, and I will never forget it. I know he holds a black belt in BJJ, but I still managed to take him down. He tried attacking my leg, but I’m all good!”
With this victory, Fares Ziam extends his winning streak to five fights, making him a strong candidate to break into the lightweight division’s top 15 rankings soon. Will this win open the door for bigger matchups and high-profile opponents in the UFC? The coming days will tell.
