Idman.biz
A few days ago, the next opponent of Azerbaijani MMA fighter Nazim Sadykhov was determined. He will face Frenchman Fares Ziam in Las Vegas on December 6.
Idman.biz has tried this time to get to know Nazim Sadykhov's opponent closely and assess the Azerbaijani athlete's chances of winning the upcoming fight.
First of all, it should be noted that two lightweight fighters with different styles will enter the ring: a Frenchman who prefers a technical and cautious fighting style at a distance, and an Azerbaijani who likes to push his opponent and squeeze him into the corner of the cage.
Fares Ziam has a height advantage - 185 centimeters against Sadykhov's 178 centimeters. The Frenchman enters the fight with a five-game winning streak. His overall record is 17 wins and four losses. Nazim has 11 wins, one loss and one draw. He won his last fight by knockout in Baku in the summer. At first glance, Ziam has the advantage in terms of anthropometric indicators and stable performance, but this is only part of the picture.
Fares is a typical "distance controller." He builds his fight mainly on quick and direct strikes, keeps his opponent at a safe distance and punishes those who try to get close suddenly. His arsenal includes accurate leg strikes and correct timing. He is especially dangerous in counter-attacks: one wrong step and the oncoming knee strike can decide the fate of the fight. In 2024, he impressively knocked out Mett Frevola, and in February 2025, he defeated Mike Davis by judges' decision.
But he also has weaknesses. Ziam loses his comfort when he is squeezed into the cage and the opponent starts working on his body. In such situations, he has difficulty defending himself, especially if the opponent alternates strikes with takedown attempts. Sometimes Ziam takes a break and loses the initiative, which can turn into an advantage for a more aggressive opponent.
In this landscape, Nazim Sadykhov's style is the complete opposite. He is a southpaw, has a strong left punch, is constantly putting pressure, occupies the center of the cage and forces his opponents to make mistakes. Sadykhov likes to work on the body, tries to cut off the opponent's breath and takes the fight to the ground if necessary.
This kind of pressure does not allow fighters like Ziam to perform comfortably at a distance. Nazim's main goal is not to chase after the opponent, but to block his retreat routes, squeeze him into the corner of the cage and exhaust him with body strikes. Even the rare display of the danger of taking the fight to the ground can make the Frenchman more cautious.
Sadykhov's last fight against Nikolas Motta in Baku in June proved how confident he is at close range. He knocked out the Brazilian in the second round with constant pressure and body strikes. But such a scenario may not work with Ziam. The Frenchman does not take risks, does not enter into open exchanges and collects points from a distance. This time, Nazim must fight more subtly, carefully and patiently, step by step pushing his opponent into the cage and forcing him to make a mistake.
The fate of the fight will largely depend on who imposes their style on the opponent. If Sadykhov takes control of the center of the cage and disrupts Ziam's rhythm, puts pressure with body strikes and does not allow him to retreat, the Azerbaijani's chances will increase significantly. But if the Frenchman manages to maintain his distance and disrupt the tempo with accurate counter-strikes, the outcome may be determined by the judges' decision.
This fight will be a clash of character and tactics - a duel of distance technique versus pressure and inner fire. Whichever fighter breaks the opponent's rhythm first will most likely leave Las Vegas as the winner.
Teymur Tushiyev
