Fares Ziam plans to shift to the U.S. to train with Justin Gaethje’s team

French UFC lightweight Fares Ziam has announced plans to relocate his family to Denver to train full-time under Justin Gaethje's renowned head coach Trevor Wittman. The move represents a significant commitment to developing his game at the elite level ahead of his co-main event bout against fellow Frenchman Alex Sola at UFC Paris on September 5.

Ziam conducted most of his recent training camp in Denver under Wittman's guidance and credits the coaching staff with sharpening his skills. The Frenchman acknowledges that while he previously relied on a collective team environment without a dedicated head coach, competing at the UFC's highest level demands more specialized oversight and direction.

"My plan is to move with my family to the U.S. to be in Denver," Ziam explained to MMA Junkie. "Two to three years in Denver. For me, it's important to evolve in this game, to be focused. At this level, we need a head coach, a guy who is looking out for you. For me, Trevor is the best for me."

Ziam's connection to Wittman's camp developed during his work as a sparring partner for Gaethje's recent fight against Paddy Pimblett. When he expressed interest in joining the gym, manager Ali Abdelaziz cautioned that Wittman is selective about his athletes. However, Wittman's positive impression of Ziam during the Pimblett camp led to his acceptance into the elite training facility, marking a pivotal step in Ziam's UFC career progression.