Axel Sola didn't love that the UFC Paris co-main event was France vs. France, but it's part of the job.
Luckily for Sola (13-1-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC), he was on the giving end, not the receiving end, of a brutal first-round knockout. A friend and fellow countryman, Fares Ziam, paid the price for zigging when he should've zagged.
"I have a lot of respect for Firas Ziam," Sola said at a post-fight news conference. "I was happy to get the win cleanly and quickly, but a little bit sad for him because it's not good for your health. But I'm sure he's going to do what he has to do in order to come back safely and perform again inside the UFC."
A brutal left hand put the lights out. Sola drilled Ziam (18-6 MMA, 8-4 UFC) with a few more follow-up shots before
the referee stopped the fight. Ziam was down for a while afterward.
The victory is now the most impactful highlight on Sola's reel. It extended his winning streak to two and likely sets him up for an even bigger opportunity next time out. He thinks the more he fights, the better he'll get.
"It's experience," Sola said (via UFC). "When you multiply experience in different sports, then there is a moment that you find things that are more acceptable than the other. Then, you start to make it a routine. This knockout reminded me of my first knockout when I was fighting in the muay Thai amateur (leagues) in France. That was exactly the same way."
As for what's next, Sola deferred to the UFC. He would like a full camp for his next outing, though, and perhaps a little time off before the offer comes.
"Not my call," Sola said. "I definitely think it's a long-run thing, not short-run. It's more about being able to have multiple performances inside the UFC that will get me to the top."
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Axel Sola felt 'a little bit sad' unleashing brutal KO on UFC Paris opponent
