The first three times the UFC touched down in Paris, Axel Sola had to be content being a fan, including once in the stands.
Sure, he was more than just an ordinary fan. Sola already was an unbeaten fighter a year into his pro career when the UFC debuted in Paris in 2022. By the next fall and the promotion's September return, he was only a few months shy of winning the ARES FC lightweight title, which he defended multiple times until the UFC finally called.
When that call came, it was for a debut a year ago in Paris, and he came through with flying colors to put Rhys McKee away in the third round.
Sola (12-1-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC) got back in the win column against Ismael Bonfim in March, and that set him up for what is his biggest opportunity yet: The
UFC Fight Night 287 co-main event at Accor Arena in Paris against fellow French fighter Fares Ziam (18-5 MMA, 8-3 UFC).
"To be the co-main event here in Paris is such a great moment for me. Now I have my destiny in my hands," Sola told the UFC. "… The energy is great. It's the best energy of all the UFCs I've been in as a (fan) or a fighter."
Sola is a slight underdog at the betting window against Ziam, who had a six-fight winning streak snapped by Tom Nolan with a decision loss in June. Before that, Sola thinks those six wins might have been suspect.
At the very least, Sola thinks he's figured something out about Ziam the previous six – including Nazim Sadykhov and Matt Frevola, who suffered knockout losses to him – did not.
"He has the best front kick in the UFC, besides myself, so it's a great opportunity," Sola said. "He's a very complete fighter … He has his strengths, and during his win streak, his last six opponents didn't understand his game. I think I have (it figured out)."
Below, Sola previews his fight at Accor Arena on Saturday.
“It's such a great moment for me.”
— UFC News (@UFCNews) September 2, 2026
Axel Sola understands the moment in front of him as he prepares to compete in the co-main event at #UFCParis against Fares Ziam.
Fight by Fight Preview ➡️: https://t.co/fbp0AErhpM pic.twitter.com/8vZp5moUKi
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Axel Sola thinks he's solved the Fares Ziam puzzle for UFC Paris co-main
