Tom Nolan
Big Train
Australia
Runs winning streak to five
Nolan defeated Fares Ziam via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) at UFC Fight night on Saturday in Las Vegas.
ANALYSIS
With all due respect to names like Charlie Campbell, Slava Borshchev, Alex Reyes, and Victor Martinez, this was Nolan's best UFC performance by a country mile. Facing an opponent that hadn't lost in six fights, Nolan stuck to the game plan and made this a dog fight. He turned two successful takedowns into 6:47 worth of control time, and while he faded some in the final frame, he had already banked each of the first two rounds on all three scorecards. It was an encouraging performance on multiple fronts. The 26-year-old Aussie has won five straight and is looking at a notable fight his next time out.
With all due respect to names like Charlie Campbell, Slava Borshchev, Alex Reyes, and Victor Martinez, this was Nolan's best UFC performance by a country mile. Facing an opponent that hadn't lost in six fights, Nolan stuck to the game plan and made this a dog fight. He turned two successful takedowns into 6:47 worth of control time, and while he faded some in the final frame, he had already banked each of the first two rounds on all three scorecards. It was an encouraging performance on multiple fronts. The 26-year-old Aussie has won five straight and is looking at a notable fight his next time out.
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Will face massive challenge
Nolan will take on Fares Ziam in a lightweight bout at UFC Vegas 118 on June 6, according to Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl.
ANALYSIS
Nolan is coming off the first submission win of his career after defeating Charlie Campbell on Sep. 27, and the arrow is trending up for him since he's a 25-year-old, 6-foot-3 fighter who has the size to compete with anyone in the division. However, this fight against Ziam is probably his biggest challenge to date at the UFC level. Ziam is on a run of six straight wins dating back to 2022.
Nolan is coming off the first submission win of his career after defeating Charlie Campbell on Sep. 27, and the arrow is trending up for him since he's a 25-year-old, 6-foot-3 fighter who has the size to compete with anyone in the division. However, this fight against Ziam is probably his biggest challenge to date at the UFC level. Ziam is on a run of six straight wins dating back to 2022.
Scores first submission win
Nolan defeated Charlie Campbell via submission (rear-naked choke) at 4:08 of Round 1 at UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Perth, Australia.
ANALYSIS
It was a wild affair for as long as it lasted. Nolan has always been known as an all-action guy that is willing to eat a strike in order to land two of his own. What he hasn't been known for is his submission game, having entered the evening without a victory via that method. Yet, he was able to drag an exhausted Campbell to the mat and take his back without issue, leading to the rear-naked choke and $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus. Nolan is still just 25 years old and at 6-foot-3, is about as big as any lightweight on the roster. Those two things alone making him worth monitoring moving forward.
It was a wild affair for as long as it lasted. Nolan has always been known as an all-action guy that is willing to eat a strike in order to land two of his own. What he hasn't been known for is his submission game, having entered the evening without a victory via that method. Yet, he was able to drag an exhausted Campbell to the mat and take his back without issue, leading to the rear-naked choke and $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus. Nolan is still just 25 years old and at 6-foot-3, is about as big as any lightweight on the roster. Those two things alone making him worth monitoring moving forward.
Will face Campbell
Nolan will face Charlie Campbell at UFC Perth on Sep. 27, Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl reports.
ANALYSIS
Nolan needed a new opponent after Evan Elder withdrew due to injury earlier this week, and Campbell has stepped up to keep the bout alive. Nolan has won his last three fights, and he's aiming to continue the run while fighting in his native Australia. His most recent fight ended in a win via unanimous decision against Slava Borshchev at UFC 312 in Sydney on Feb. 8 this year.
Nolan needed a new opponent after Evan Elder withdrew due to injury earlier this week, and Campbell has stepped up to keep the bout alive. Nolan has won his last three fights, and he's aiming to continue the run while fighting in his native Australia. His most recent fight ended in a win via unanimous decision against Slava Borshchev at UFC 312 in Sydney on Feb. 8 this year.
Needs new opponent
Nolan will no longer face Evan Elder at UFC Perth on Sept. 27, as the latter has withdrawn due to a leg injury, Nolan King of USA Today reports.
ANALYSIS
Given the withdrawal occurred roughly a month before the scheduled event, it's plausible the UFC will look to find a new opponent for Nolan, who was looking to run his winning streak to four in his home country of Australia.
Given the withdrawal occurred roughly a month before the scheduled event, it's plausible the UFC will look to find a new opponent for Nolan, who was looking to run his winning streak to four in his home country of Australia.
Booked vs. Elder
Nolan will face Evan Elder in a lightweight bout at UFC Perth on Sept. 27, per Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl.
ANALYSIS
Nolan is off to a great start in his UFC career after dropping his first fight to Nikolas Motta. He's won three straight, most recently taking down Viacheslav Borschev back in February. He'll look to make it four in a row against an opponent in Elder who is also coming off three straight wins.
Nolan is off to a great start in his UFC career after dropping his first fight to Nikolas Motta. He's won three straight, most recently taking down Viacheslav Borschev back in February. He'll look to make it four in a row against an opponent in Elder who is also coming off three straight wins.