UFC Paris' Fares Ziam views Matt Frevola as top-15 opponent: 'It's a big fight'

For Fares Ziam, Matt Frevola is his biggest fight to date.

Ziam (15-4 MMA, 5-2 UFC) meets Frevola (11-4-1 MMA, 5-4-1 UFC) in Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 243 (ESPN+) main card opener at Accor Arena in Paris. Ziam’s had Frevola in his sights for a while now, and even though “Steamrolla” is no longer ranked, Ziam sees a win propelling him a big step forward.

“I called him out like one year ago after my fight in London, and today I’m happy to fight him,” Ziam told reporters at Wednesday’s UFC Fight Night 243 media day (h/t La Sueur). “He’s no longer top 15, but for me he’s a top-15 guy, so for me it’s a big fight.”

Ziam expects an aggressive Frevola right off the bat but sees his technique making the difference.

“I think he’ll engage in the beginning of the fight, where he’ll close the distance. But after, I’ll impose my technique and my tactics,” Ziam said. “I changed my style a bit in training to adapt to whatever situation with my coaches, whether I’m on the offensive or defensive. He’s going to lunge in, try to touch me, but he won’t succeed. I, on the other hand, will succeed in touching him.”

Frevola is excited to compete in Paris after gathering some French fans in his loss to Benoit Saint Denis at UFC 295, but Ziam said the crowd will completely be on his side.

“The fans will be there for me,” Ziam said. “There won’t be fans for him and at the end, he’ll leave with a loss.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 243.