TLDR
- Tom Nolan defeated Fares Ziam by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) at UFC Vegas 118
- The victory ended Fares Ziam’s five-fight winning streak in the UFC lightweight division
- Nolan controlled the pace and distance throughout most of the three-round fight
- All three judges gave Nolan at least two rounds in the closely contested matchup
- The bout took place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas as part of the UFC Vegas 118 card
Sources: Cageside Press | Yahoo Sports | Sherdog | MMA Mania | UFC.com
Tom Nolan earned a unanimous decision victory over Fares Ziam at UFC Vegas 118 on Saturday night at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The lightweight bout saw Nolan extend his own winning streak while ending Ziam’s five-fight run.
The judges scored the fight 30-27, 30-27, and 29-28 in favor of Nolan. All three judges gave Nolan at least two rounds in the closely contested matchup.
Nolan entered the fight looking to build on his recent success inside the octagon. The Australian fighter controlled the pace throughout most of the three-round contest.
Ziam had been riding momentum from five consecutive victories before facing Nolan. The French fighter struggled to find his rhythm against Nolan’s game plan.
THE 'BIG TRAIN' MOVES ALONG 🚂
Tom Nolan earns the biggest win of his career with a UD win!
[ #UFCVegas118 | LIVE on @ParamountPlus ] pic.twitter.com/m4uKZeFneF
— UFC (@ufc) June 7, 2026
Fight Breakdown
Nolan used his striking and movement to keep Ziam at bay during the opening round. He mixed in takedown attempts to keep his opponent guessing.
The second round saw both fighters exchange in the center of the cage. Nolan landed the cleaner shots and continued to control the distance.
Ziam made adjustments in the third round and pushed forward more aggressively. However, Nolan defended well and landed enough strikes to secure the round on two of the three scorecards.
The victory marks another step forward in Nolan’s UFC career. He has now won multiple fights in the promotion’s lightweight division.
Ziam’s loss comes as his first defeat since joining the UFC roster. The 28-year-old had impressed with five straight wins before this setback.
UFC Vegas 118 Card
The Nolan vs Ziam fight was part of the UFC Vegas 118 card headlined by Belal Muhammad vs Carlos Prates. The event took place at the UFC Apex facility in Las Vegas.
UFC Vegas events are held at the Apex without a live crowd. These Fight Night cards feature fighters looking to climb the rankings in their respective divisions.
Nolan’s win puts him in position to face higher-ranked opponents in future bouts. The lightweight division remains one of the deepest weight classes in the UFC.
Ziam will need to regroup after seeing his win streak come to an end. He had been building momentum toward potential ranked opponents before this loss.
The official scorecards from the fight showed Nolan winning rounds one and two on all three judges’ cards. One judge gave Ziam the final round while the other two scored it for Nolan.
Both fighters showed toughness and skill throughout the 15-minute contest. Neither man was in serious danger of being finished during any point of the fight.
Nolan improved his professional MMA record with the victory. Ziam suffered his first loss after a successful run that had elevated his profile in the division.
The fight went the full three rounds with Nolan’s hand raised at the end. He celebrated the victory as another important win in his UFC journey.
