Tom Nolan Defeats Fares Ziam by Decision in Lightweight Fight
Tom Nolan earned a strong decision win over Fares Ziam in their lightweight matchup at UFC Fight Night: Muhammad vs. Bonfim. The fight went the full three rounds, ending at Round 3, 05:00, with Nolan getting his hand raised by decision.
It was a competitive fight with action in both the striking and grappling exchanges. Ziam had success with takedowns and showed strong accuracy, but Nolan’s higher output and better significant strike numbers helped him secure the win.
Tom Nolan Wins a Competitive Three-Round Battle
Tom Nolan entered the fight with an 11-1-0 record, while Fares Ziam came in at 18-5-0. Both fighters had moments, but Nolan’s activity played a major role in the final result.
Nolan landed 65 of 116 total strikes, while Ziam landed 48 of 70 total strikes. Ziam was the more accurate fighter overall, landing at 68.6%, compared to Nolan’s 56.0%. However, Nolan’s higher volume allowed him to land more total strikes across the fight.
In a close three-round decision, volume can make a big difference. Nolan stayed busy, continued throwing, and made sure he was scoring throughout the fight. Ziam was efficient, but Nolan’s pace helped him win important moments.
The significant strike numbers gave Nolan an important edge. He landed 31 of 66 significant strikes, while Ziam landed 16 of 32. That gave Nolan nearly double the significant strike total, which helped strengthen his case on the scorecards.
Ziam still showed good accuracy, landing 50.0% of his significant strikes. Nolan landed at 47.0%, but his higher output made the bigger difference. He was not just throwing more total strikes; he was also landing more meaningful shots.
There were no knockdowns from either fighter, so this fight was not decided by one huge moment. Instead, Nolan’s consistent striking and pressure helped him edge ahead over the full 15 minutes.
Ziam had success in the grappling exchanges, landing 3 of 5 takedowns. That gave him a strong 60.0% takedown success rate and showed that he was able to bring wrestling into the fight.
Nolan also worked his grappling, landing 2 of 6 takedowns. Even though Ziam had the better takedown numbers, Nolan did not allow the fight to become completely one-sided on the mat.
Ziam also had one submission attempt, while Nolan had none. That gave Ziam another strong grappling moment, but it was not enough to overcome Nolan’s striking output and overall activity.
Tom Nolan’s decision win over Fares Ziam was built on volume, significant strikes, and steady pressure. Ziam was accurate, landed more takedowns, and created a submission threat, but Nolan landed more total strikes and more significant strikes.
This was a tough, competitive lightweight fight. Nolan showed composure, stayed active in every round, and found a way to win against an experienced opponent.
Key Information Section
Fighters Involved: Fares Ziam vs. Tom Nolan
Event: UFC Fight Night: Muhammad vs. Bonfim
Weight Class: Lightweight
Fight Position: Lightweight Bout
Fight Result: Tom Nolan wins via decision
Time: Round 3, 05:00
Fares Ziam Record: 18-5-0
Tom Nolan Record: 11-1-0
Knockdowns: Ziam (0), Nolan (0)
Ziam Total Strikes: 48 of 70
Nolan Total Strikes: 65 of 116
Ziam Significant Strikes: 16 of 32
Nolan Significant Strikes: 31 of 66
Takedowns: Ziam 3 of 5, Nolan 2 of 6
Submission Attempts: Ziam (1), Nolan (0)
