'Fighting is like a Rubik's Cube': Axel Sola opens up after UFC Paris
Axel Sola breaks down his KO over Ziam and charts his path toward the UFC top 15.
- Show : Aldric & Herbi of Jab Life, aired on September 16, 2026, 29:26.
- People discussed : Axel Sola, Fares Ziam, Mason Jones.
- Topics : UFC, fight analysis, technical progression, MMA career, fighter mindset.
- Source : transcript of the show, 56 090 views on YouTube.
What is said in the show
A few days after UFC Paris, Axel Sola sits down with Jab Life from Nice. He starts by explaining why he went back to training the day after his victory: the phases between fights are, in his view, the most fertile ground for technical improvement. He details his priority areas of work, particularly lower-body wrestling and ground positions, and mentions an upcoming trip to Grozny to join Magomed Dakayev for a training camp. On the fight against Fares Ziam, he analyzes the dynamics of the first 90 seconds, the outside foot battle in a southpaw-orthodox matchup, the double feint that sets up the overhand, and how Ziam's unusual aggressiveness may have worked against him. He admits he did not enjoy his interview with Ariel Helwani due to a lack of preparation. Reflecting on his first year in the UFC, he calls it a great season while stressing the role of luck and circumstance. Financially, he says his lifestyle has not changed, his only notable purchase being a Ninja Creami. He also expresses frustration on behalf of Virgil Augen, who is still waiting for a UFC opportunity, and sets entering the top 15 and signing a new contract as his goals for 2027.
Chapters
- 0:00Intro
- 0:40Back to training and the start of a phase for improvement
- 5:00His areas for progression
- 7:10His victory over Fares Ziam broken down
- 19:00His strategy going forward
- 23:10His feelings on his first year in the UFC
- 24:00A strong financial year - any "wild" purchases?
- 26:45The frustration over Virgil Augen
- 28:25What he hopes for in his second year in the UFC
Questions raised in the show
Axel Sola : « I have never really had money problems. I am not rich but I am not poor either. My life, my lifestyle, does not change. » 24:26
Key moments
« Fighting is like a Rubik's Cube, and in training you have to figure it out on your own - not necessarily completely on your own, you have coaches guiding you, but in terms of your own feel, you have to find out at some point how to solve it. »
Axel Sola · at 6:12
« I am pretty cool-headed. I do not even get stressed anymore when it comes to fighting. I feel the importance of the moment but I am not necessarily stressed. »
Axel Sola · at 9:18
« It is not something I deserved as such, it is just something I seized because the spot was open, and I also had a lot of luck. »
Axel Sola · at 23:50
« I have never really had money problems. I am not rich but I am not poor either. My life, my lifestyle, does not change. »
Axel Sola · at 24:26
« I know he deserves it, I know he needs to compete. A fighter fights, and he is at the best level he has ever been. It is frustrating because I want him to be able to express all the work he has put in over these last few years. »
Axel Sola · at 27:25
« Ideally I would like to break into the top 15 and I would like to sign a new contract with the UFC. That means having at least two very good fights or three fights with a majority of strong performances. »
Axel Sola · at 28:43
