UFC Paris Cancels Main Lightweight Bout After Fighter Withdrawal Due to Family Death

Fares Ziam has withdrawn from his scheduled UFC Paris lightweight bout against Kaue Fernandes due to the sudden death of his grandmother, prioritizing family over his fight career. Ziam, a French lightweight contender riding a five-fight winning streak and known for recent victories over Matt Frevola and Mike Davis, expressed his regret on social media, citing funeral arrangements both in France and abroad. His withdrawal leaves Fernandes without an opponent on the main card of UFC Paris, which remains one of the largest European MMA events of the year, headlined by a middleweight title eliminator between Nassourdine Imavov and Caio Borralho. It remains unclear whether the UFC will seek a replacement opponent for Fernandes or cancel the bout entirely. Fans and the MMA community have shown sympathy and support for Ziam during this difficult time, recognizing the impact on his career momentum and the importance of his family commitments. Despite the setback, Ziam, at 28 years old, is expected to return to competition after attending to his family matters.