Fares Ziam vs. Nazim Sadykhov prediction, odds, pick for UFC 323

UFC 323: Merab Dvalishvili vs. Petr Yan 2 continues on the prelims with a fight between Fares Ziam and Nazim Sadykhov within the lightweight division on Saturday. Check out our UFC odds series for our Ziam-Sadykhov prediction and pick.

.Fares Ziam (17-4) rides a five-fight UFC win streak, edging Claudio Puelles by split decision before stopping Matt Frevola with a third-round knee and outworking Mike Davis over three rounds. The rangy French-Algerian technician blends clean kickboxing with timely wrestling as he comes into his fight this weekend against Nazim Sadykhov.

Nazim Sadykhov (11-1-1) enters UFC 323 on a four-fight win streak, stopping Ismael Bonfim via doctor stoppage and Nikolas Motta with a second-round knockout after a majority draw with Viacheslav Borshchev. The Azerbaijani-American’s aggressive striking and slick submissions shine as he comes into his fight this weekend against Fares Ziam.

Listed below are the UFC 323 Odds, courtesy of DraftKings. 

UFC 323 odds: Fares Ziam-Nazim Sadykhov odds

Fares Ziam: -130

Nazim Sadykhov: +110

Over 2.5 rounds: -215

Under 2.5 rounds: +165

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Why Fares Ziam will win

• Last Fight: (W) Mike Davis – DEC
• Last 5: 5-0
• Finishes: 10 (5 KO/TKO/5 SUB)

Fares Ziam has the form of disciplined, range-based kickboxing game that may frustrate Nazim Sadykhov over three rounds at UFC 323. With a five-inch reach edge and a various arsenal of jabs, teeps, and calf kicks, he can keep Sadykhov at the tip of his strikes and deny the pocket brawls Nazim prefers.​

Technically, Ziam is the cleaner striker, with higher shot selection and defense, while Sadykhov often relies on marching mixtures and high-pressure entries to interrupt opponents. If Ziam circles, pivots off the fence, and punishes those linear rushes with counters and intercepting knees, he can steadily bank damage without trading recklessly.​

Ziam’s underrated wrestling and clinch game provide a vital safety valve each time exchanges get too wild. He has shown the flexibility to hit reactive takedowns and control from top, which may each steal rounds and force Sadykhov to think twice before crashing forward behind big hooks.​

Cardio and composure also favor Ziam, who has gone the gap multiple times against solid competition while maintaining output and structure. Over fifteen minutes, expect his range management, number of kicks, and occasional takedowns to outpoint Sadykhov’s bursts, resulting in a measured decision win on Saturday night.​

Why Nazim Sadykhov will win

• Last Fight: (W) Nikolas Motta – KO/TKO R2
• Last 5: 4-0-1
• Finishes: 10 (8 KO/TKO/2 SUB)

Nazim Sadykhov’s relentless pressure, southpaw power, and ending instinct give him a transparent path to overwhelm Ziam at UFC 323. Averaging way more significant strikes per minute with comparable accuracy, he can simply outwork the Frenchman if he consistently gets inside that long kicking range.​

Stylistically, Sadykhov excels at cutting off the cage, attacking the body, and forcing opponents into ugly pocket exchanges. If he occupies the middle, walks Ziam down, and rips mixtures to the midsection before chaining hooks upstairs, he can steadily erode Ziam’s movement and confidence.​​

Sadykhov’s underrated wrestling and top control also offer a priceless wrinkle each time Ziam overcommits to counters. He has shown the flexibility to combine in well-timed takedowns, ride heavy from top, and punish opponents with ground-and-pound that swings close rounds on the scorecards.​

Most significantly, Nazim carries real ending upside late, not only in early bursts, often constructing momentum because the fight wears on. If he survives the early kicking game, expect his volume, body work, and pressure to pull Ziam into the form of dogfight he dislikes, resulting in a late stoppage or clear decision for Sadykhov on Saturday.​​

Final Fares Ziam-Nazim Sadykhov prediction & pick

This can be a compelling clash of styles between Ziam’s rangy, measured kickboxing and Sadykhov’s pressure-heavy power punching. On paper, it shapes up as one among those classic “minutes vs moments” fights, with Ziam higher suited to win rounds and Nazim more prone to produce a finish.​

Ziam’s best path is evident: manage distance, stick behind the jab and teep, and blend within the occasional reactive takedown when Sadykhov crashes forward. If he can consistently circle off the fence and avoid getting stuck in prolonged pocket exchanges, his cleaner technique and variety should help him edge close rounds.​

Nonetheless, Sadykhov brings a big advantage in forward pressure, body work, and fight-changing power. He tends to construct momentum because the fight goes on, chewing up space, ripping to the midsection, and forcing opponents to fight off the back foot at a pace they don’t enjoy.​

Given Nazim’s ability to chop the cage, his cardio, and his ending instincts, the slight lean is toward Sadykhov to make this his form of fight most of the time. Expect Ziam to have early success at range, but Sadykhov’s pressure and volume likely snowball right into a hard-fought decision win by the ultimate horn.​

Final Fares Ziam-Nazim Sadykhov Prediction & Pick: Nazim Sadykhov (+110), Over 2.5 Rounds (-215)