Tom Nolan has made a significant leap into the lightweight top 15 following his impressive performance against Fares Ziam at UFC Vegas 118.
The initial round was dominated by Nolan, who skillfully closed the distance with a well-timed right hand, leading to a crucial takedown just 90 seconds into the fight. Nolan maintained control on the mat for the remainder of the first round.
In the second round, Nolan again managed to bring the fight to the ground after Ziam slipped while attempting a spinning backfist during an exchange. Despite Ziam’s efforts to return to his feet as the round neared its end, he was unable to mount significant offensive pressure.
Entering the third and final round, Nolan was seemingly in a commanding 2-0 lead.
Ziam found some success in the final round, quickly securing a takedown and establishing position within Nolan’s guard before transitioning to Nolan’s back. However, Nolan quickly reversed the position, gaining the advantage and landing strikes on the ground. Ziam managed to stand up and attempted a late surge, but time ran out before he could make a decisive impact.
Official Result: Tom Nolan defeated Fares Ziam by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28).
