Fares Ziam vs Tom Nolan set for UFC Vegas 118 on June 6

A lightweight matchup between France's Fares Ziam and Australia's Tom Nolan has been added to UFC Vegas 118, scheduled for June 6. The bout was reported by the MMA Odds Breaker podcast, with no additional details about card placement disclosed at the time of announcement.

Ziam, nicknamed "Smile Killer," carries an overall professional record of 18-4-0 and has gone 8-2 inside the Octagon, making him one of the more experienced fighters in the lightweight division's upper-middle tier. The 29-year-old out of Kill Cliff FC stands six-foot-one with a 75-inch reach and fights out of an orthodox stance. He lands 2.85 significant strikes per minute at a 51 percent accuracy rate, and also mixes in wrestling with 1.62 takedowns per 15 minutes.

Nolan, known as "Big Train," is 10-1-0 overall and has posted a 4-1 record in the UFC since making his Octagon debut. The 26-year-old Australian trains out of Team Compton Training Centre and presents a contrasting physical profile — standing six-foot-three at 191 cm with a southpaw stance. His striking output is notably high at 5.87 significant strikes per minute, though his accuracy sits at 45 percent. Nolan also averages 1.9 submission attempts per 15 minutes, suggesting he looks for finishes on the ground as well.

Why it matters

• Ziam's 8-2 UFC record gives him a significant experience edge, with proven durability in the division
• Nolan's striking volume is among the highest in the lightweight class, setting up a potentially fast-paced fight
• A win for either man would strengthen a case for a ranked opponent in one of the UFC's most competitive divisions
• The orthodox-versus-southpaw dynamic and contrasting styles — Ziam's precision against Nolan's output — makes for an intriguing stylistic puzzle