Farès Ziam

When and why did you start training for fighting? At the age of 12 with my brother because we loved it.

What does it mean for you to fight in the UFC? A goal of my life.

What ranks and titles have you held? French kickboxing champion, K-1, Sanda / ISKA K-1 European champion, purple belt in BJJ Pancrase World Champion, Black Belt in Judo

Who is your favorite fighter and why? Islam Makhachev. I like him because he is complete. Wrestling, grappling, striking — he is dangerous everywhere. That is the type of fighter I want to be: someone who can dominate the fight wherever it goes. And he is funny too.

Do you have any heroes outside of fighting? I wouldn’t say I have heroes, but I really respect Cristiano Ronaldo because of his mentality, discipline and work ethic. And Luffy from One Piece too. They are obviously very different, but they both represent something I believe in: having a dream, believing in it even when other people don’t, and working until you make it happen.

What fight do you consider to be the key fight in your career and why? My fight against Matt Frevola. It was my first finish in the UFC and my first Performance of the Night bonus. But more importantly, I showed people another side of me that night. I showed that I’m not only a technical fighter. I can hurt people. I can finish fights. That Farès is still here. The Farès who finished Frevola, the Farès who went through a war with Mike Davis and won, and the Farès who dominated Nazim Sadykhov. That is the fighter people are going to see again.

Is there a cause that you want to use your platform for? I want to inspire people to believe in themselves and in their projects. Work hard, stay humble, disciplined and fair. I come from an environment where nothing was guaranteed for me. Everything I have today came through work. If my journey can make someone believe that they can change their own life by staying focused and disciplined, that means something to me. I also want to represent French MMA. When I started training, MMA was not even legal in France. I grew up in this sport at a time when it was still barely recognized in my country, and I am part of that generation of French fighters who carried MMA before it became legal. French MMA has grown a lot since then, and I want to contribute to that history. My goal is not only to fight in the UFC. I want to leave a mark and become part of the history of French MMA. And I will always stand against injustice.

Beyond a championship or money, what motivates you? Making my dream come true. I started MMA when I was 15 years old, and since then I have built my whole life around this sport. Today, I am even willing to leave my family and go to the other side of the world to train because I know exactly what I want. I don’t want to look back one day and think I could have done more. I want to know that I gave absolutely everything I had to reach my full potential.

Did you go to college and if so what degree did you earn? Yes

What was your job before you started fighting? Student

Favorite grappling technique: Triangle

Favorite Striking technique: Elbows

Tell us about your life outside of fighting: I’m a husband and a father to a two-year-old boy. My family is very important to me. Being away from them during training camps is probably one of the hardest sacrifices I make, so when I have free time, I try to make the most of every moment with them. I love travelling, discovering new places and sharing great experiences with my family. I also enjoy surfing and skiing. I have another passion that people probably don’t expect: beekeeping. I used to have around five hives. Because MMA takes so much of my time now, I only have one, but I still produce a little honey. I also enjoy the good things in life — discovering great places, good food, French pastries, having a good coffee. Those simple moments are something I really appreciate when I’m not in fight camp.