Muslim Salikhov

Russian mixed martial artist (born 1984) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Muslim Salikhov

Muslim Magomedovich Salikhov (Russian: Муслим Магомедович Салихов, Kumyk: Муслим Салигь Мугьамматны уланы; born June 9, 1984) is a Russian professional mixed martial artist and Sanda fighter. He currently competes in the Welterweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). A multiple-time Wushu Sanda world champion, Salikhov occupies a place alongside Hossein Ojaghi as one of only two non-Chinese athletes to have won the Wushu Sanda King's Cup.

Quick Facts Born, Other names ...
Muslim Salikhov
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Muslim Salikhov in 2020
BornMuslim Magomedovich Salikhov[1]
(1984-06-09) June 9, 1984 (age 40)
Buynaksk, Dagestan ASSR, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
Other namesKing of Kung Fu[2]
NationalityRussian
Height5 ft 11 in (180 cm)[2]
Weight170 lb (77 kg; 12 st 2 lb)
DivisionWelterweight
Reach70 in (178 cm)[2]
StyleSanda
Fighting out ofKhasavyurt, Dagestan, Russia
TeamBerkut FC[3]
American Top Team[4]
RankHonored Master of Sports and 5th dan in Wushu Sanda[5]
Master of Sports in Complex Martial Arts[5]
Purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu[5]
Years active2011–present
Kickboxing record
Total199
Wins185
By knockout76
Losses13
By knockout1
Draws1
Mixed martial arts record
Total26
Wins21
By knockout14
By submission2
By decision5
Losses5
By knockout2
By submission2
By decision1
Other information
Notable school(s)Five Directions of the World
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog
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Quick Facts Medal record, Representing Russia ...
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Early life

Muslim Salikhov was born in Buynaksk, Dagestan. His ethnicity is Kumyk.[6] In 1995, he began to practice Wushu Sanda while attending the Five Directions of the World, a school famous for combining general and martial arts education.

Wushu

Wushu Sanda

Salikhov faced Liu Hailong who held the title "King of Sanda" at the 2003 World Wushu Championships in Macau. Both were evenly matched, with Liu Hailong declared the winner.[7] Salikhov was the Sanshou champion at the 2004 European Wushu Championships held in Moscow and he became the World Champion in 2005.

In February 2006, he participated in the first international "King of Sanda" tournament in Chongqing and became the first non-Chinese to win the title.[8] He again won the world title in 2007[9] and 2009.[10] At the World Wushu Championships, he became one of the most decorated sanda athletes of all time and was the first sanda athlete to win five gold medals.[11] He was also a gold medalist at the 2008 Beijing Wushu Tournament,[12] and won medals at the 2009 World Games and the World Combat Games.[13]

Muslim Salikhov is often acknowledged as one of the best Wushu Sanda competitors in history.[9]

Mixed martial arts

Summarize
Perspective

Early career

Salikhov made his professional MMA debut in July 2011. Over the next year and a half, he earned a record of two wins and one loss.

M-1 Global

By early 2013, Salikhov signed with M-1 Global, preparing with Phuket Top Team for his mixed martial arts debut.[14][15] He fought three times for the promotion, going undefeated during this run.

Other promotions

Beginning in 2015, Salikhov fought for various regional promotions in China and Russia. He fought seven times over two years, going undefeated during this run with six of the seven wins coming via knockout.

Salikhov earned his biggest win to date when he earned a victory over UFC and Bellator veteran Melvin Guillard by spinning hook kick.[16]

Ultimate Fighting Championship

On October 19, 2017, Salikhov signed with the UFC.[17]

In his debut for the promotion, Salikhov faced Alex Garcia on November 25, 2017, at UFC Fight Night 122.[18] He lost the fight via submission in the second round.[19]

Salikhov faced Abdul Razak Alhassan on April 14, 2018, on UFC on FOX 29.[20] However, Alhassan was pulled from the card, citing injury, and he was replaced by promotional newcomer Ricky Rainey.[21] He won the fight via technical knock out in round two.[22]

On July 20, 2018, Salikhov was notified of a potential doping violation by USADA from an out-of-competition sample collected on June 7, 2018.[23] On March 4, 2019, Salikhov was cleared of USADA suspension as USADA could not determine if Salikhov had ingested oral Turinabol a year before he was signed to the UFC and entered the USADA drug-testing program.[24]

Salikhov faced Nordine Taleb on September 7, 2019, at UFC 242.[25] He won the fight via knockout in the first round.[26] This win earned him the Performance of the Night award.[27]

Salikhov faced Laureano Staropoli on October 26, 2019, at UFC on ESPN+ 20.[28] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[29]

Salikhov was expected to face Niko Price on April 11, 2020, at UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs. Harris.[30] However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the event was eventually postponed and pairing scrapped.[31]

Salikhov faced Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos on July 11, 2020, at UFC 251.[32] He won the fight via a split decision.[33]

Salikhov was scheduled to face Cláudio Silva on October 18, 2020 at UFC Fight Night 180.[34] However, on October 4, it was announced that Salikhov pulled out due to undisclosed reasons and was replaced by James Krause.[35]

Salikhov was scheduled to face Santiago Ponzinibbio on January 16, 2021, at UFC on ABC 1.[36] However, Salikhov pulled out of the bout in mid-December citing health issues after contracting COVID-19.[37]

Salikhov faced Francisco Trinaldo on June 5, 2021, at UFC Fight Night 189.[38] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[39]

Salikhov was scheduled to face Michel Pereira on January 15, 2022, at UFC on ESPN 32.[40] However, Salikhov withdrew from the bout for undisclosed reasons and the bout was cancelled.[41]

Salikhov faced Li Jingliang on July 16, 2022, at UFC on ABC 3.[42] He lost the fight via technical knockout in the second round.[43]

Salikhov faced André Fialho on November 19, 2022, at UFC Fight Night 215.[44] He won the fight via technical knockout in round three.[45] With this win, Salikhov earned the Performance of the Night award.[46]

Salikhov faced Nicolas Dalby on June 17, 2023, at UFC on ESPN 47.[47] He lost the bout via unanimous decision.[48]

Salikhov was scheduled to face Randy Brown on December 16, 2023, at UFC 296.[49] However, the bout was scrapped after Brown withdrew due to illness.[50] The pair was rescheduled to meet at UFC Fight Night 235 on February 3, 2024.[51] Salikhov lost in the first round by knockout.[52]

Salikhov faced Santiago Ponzinibbio on July 13, 2024 at UFC on ESPN 59.[53] He won the fight by split decision.[54] 9 out of 13 media outlets scored the bout for Ponzinibbio.[55]

Salikhov faced Song Kenan on November 23, 2024 at UFC Fight Night 248.[56] He won the fight via a spinning wheel kick knockout in the first round.[57] This fight earned him another Performance of the Night award.[58]

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts

Muay Thai

Wushu - Sanda

  • Kung Fu King Tournament
    • 2006 KFK Tournament (80kg).
    • 2009 KFK Tournament Runner Uo (80kg).
  • Sanda World Cup
    • 3rd Sanda World Cup Winner

Mixed martial arts record

Summarize
Perspective
Professional record breakdown
26 matches 21 wins 5 losses
By knockout 14 2
By submission 2 2
By decision 5 1
More information Res., Record ...
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Win 21–5 Song Kenan KO (spinning wheel kick) UFC Fight Night: Yan vs. Figueiredo November 23, 2024 1 3:49 Macau SAR, China Performance of the Night.
Win 20–5 Santiago Ponzinibbio Decision (split) UFC on ESPN: Namajunas vs. Cortez July 13, 2024 3 5:00 Denver, Colorado, United States
Loss 19–5 Randy Brown KO (punches) UFC Fight Night: Dolidze vs. Imavov February 3, 2024 1 3:17 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Loss 19–4 Nicolas Dalby Decision (unanimous) UFC on ESPN: Vettori vs. Cannonier June 17, 2023 3 5:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 19–3 André Fialho TKO (spinning wheel kick and punches) UFC Fight Night: Nzechukwu vs. Cuțelaba November 19, 2022 3 1:03 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Performance of the Night.
Loss 18–3 Li Jingliang TKO (punches and elbows) UFC on ABC: Ortega vs. Rodríguez July 16, 2022 2 4:38 Elmont, New York, United States
Win 18–2 Francisco Trinaldo Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Rozenstruik vs. Sakai June 5, 2021 3 5:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 17–2 Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos Decision (split) UFC 251 July 12, 2020 3 5:00 Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Win 16–2 Laureano Staropoli Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Maia vs. Askren October 26, 2019 3 5:00 Kallang, Singapore
Win 15–2 Nordine Taleb KO (punch) UFC 242 September 7, 2019 1 4:26 Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Performance of the Night.
Win 14–2 Ricky Rainey KO (punches) UFC on Fox: Poirier vs. Gaethje April 14, 2018 2 3:56 Glendale, Arizona, United States
Loss 13–2 Alex Garcia Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC Fight Night: Bisping vs. Gastelum November 25, 2017 2 3:22 Shanghai, China
Win 13–1 Melvin Guillard KO (spinning hook kick) Kunlun Fight MMA 12 June 1, 2017 1 1:33 Yantai, China Catchweight (181 lb) bout; Guillard missed weight.
Win 12–1 Akoundou Epelet Evy Johannes Submission (arm-triangle choke) YunFeng Showdown 2017 May 25, 2017 1 3:23 Shandong, China
Win 11–1 Ivan Jorge KO (spinning back kick) Kunlun Fight: Cage Fight Series 6 October 21, 2016 1 1:04 Yiwu, China
Win 10–1 Gang Zhang Submission (arm-triangle choke) Superstar Fight 3 May 21, 2016 1 N/A Harbin, China
Win 9–1 Artem Shokalo KO (spinning back kick) Cage Fighting: Dagestan April 2, 2016 1 2:31 Makhachkala, Russia
Win 8–1 Kurbanjiang Tuluosibake TKO (spinning back kick and punches) Bullets Fly FC 3 January 16, 2016 1 0:18 Hebei, China Catchweight (174 lb) bout.
Win 7–1 Tsuyoshi Yamashita TKO (punches) W.I.N. FC July 18, 2015 1 N/A Guangdong, China
Win 6–1 Gele Qing KO (punches) CKF World Federation: Zhong Wu Ultimate Fighting April 18, 2015 1 3:50 Beijing, China
Win 5–1 Victor Sckoteski TKO (punches) M-1 Challenge 53 November 25, 2014 1 4:27 Beijing, China
Win 4–1 Filip Kotarlic KO (punch) M-1 Challenge 44 November 30, 2013 1 3:05 Tula, Russia Welterweight debut.
Win 3–1 Deyan Topalski Decision (unanimous) M-1 Challenge 38 April 9, 2013 3 5:00 Saint Petersburg, Russia
Loss 2–1 Kris Hocum Submission (rear-naked choke) Beirut Elite FC: First Blood December 15, 2012 1 1:40 Beirut, Lebanon
Win 2–0 Dankao Sakda KO (punch) Top of the Forbidden City 4 August 19, 2011 1 6:56 Beijing, China
Win 1–0 Tao Wang-hong TKO (arm injury) Top of the Forbidden City 2 July 22, 2011 1 0:51 Beijing, China Middleweight debut.
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Sanda and kickboxing professional record (incomplete)

More information Date, Result ...
Kickboxing record (incomplete)
Date Result OpponentEventLocation MethodRoundTime
2017-07-16WinChina Fang QingquanFight King international Championship FinalLantian, ChinaDecision (Unanimous)33:00
2016-12-10WinChina Nuerla MulaliKunlun Fight 55 80 kg 2016 Tournament Reserve FightQingdao, ChinaKO (Spinning Backfist)22:00
2016-01-31WinChina Fu GaofengChangbai Mountain Hero 2016Jilin, ChinaDecision (Unanimous)33:00
2014-01-11LossChina Nuerla MulaliHongdu Real estate & Qiancheng group ChampionshipDalian, ChinaDecision (Unanimous)33:00
2012-12-31LossChina Xu YiWu Lin Feng Global Kung Fu FestivalBeijing, ChinaDecision (Unanimous)33:00
2012-01-01WinChina Li BaomingUltimate Fighter 2012Changsha, ChinaDecision (Unanimous)33:00
2011-10-22LossChina Fu GaofengShandong Heroes 2011Yantai, ChinaDecision (Unanimous)33:00
2011-06-18WinChina Li BaomingWBC Muaythai China Championships[61]Hunan, ChinaDecision (Unanimous)33:00
Wins WBC Muaythai international challenge in China at Cruiserweight
2011-04-23WinChina Guo QiangWBC Muaythai China ChampionshipsNanning, ChinaKO2
2011-01-18LossChina Fu Jiachun2011 China vs Russia Sanshou Tournament -80 kgHarbin, ChinaDecision (Unanimous)33:00
2009-07-17LossAustralia Steve McKinnon1st World Kung Fu King Championship (世界功夫王争霸赛) 75–90 kg, Quarter FinalsGuangzhou, ChinaDecision (Unanimous)55:00
2009-06-26WinFrance Stéphane Attelly1er Gala International Multi-boxes[62]Paris, France
2009-03-14LossChina Yu Jin4th Kung Fu King Tournament (国际武术搏击争霸赛), Finals[63]Chongqing, ChinaKO2
Fight was for 2009 KFK Tournament (80kg) title.
2009-03-14WinChina Xu Jiaheng4th Kung Fu King Tournament (国际武术搏击争霸赛), Semi FinalsChongqing, ChinaDecision (Unanimous)33:00
2009-03-12WinChina Yang Yuanfei4th Kung Fu King Tournament (国际武术搏击争霸赛), Quarter FinalsChongqing, ChinaKO2
2009-03-10WinBrazil Eduardo Bernadette Filho4th Kung Fu King Tournament (国际武术搏击争霸赛), 1/8 FinalsChongqing, ChinaKO2
2007-08-01WinChina Fang Bian2007 China vs Russia Sanshou Tournament -80 kgHarbin, ChinaDecision (Unanimous)33:00
2007-03-23LossChina Bai Jinbin2nd Kung Fu King Tournament (国际武术搏击争霸赛), Semi Finals[64]Chongqing, ChinaDecision (Unanimous)33:00
2006-02-26WinChina Gele Qing1st Kung Fu King Tournament (国际武术搏击争霸赛), Finals[65]Chongqing, ChinaDecision (Unanimous)33:00
Wins the 2006 KFK Tournament (80kg).
2006-02-26WinChina Zhang Tingbin1st Kung Fu King Tournament (国际武术搏击争霸赛), Semi FinalsChongqing, ChinaDecision (Unanimous)33:00
2006-02-25WinChina Aotegen Bateer1st Kung Fu King Tournament (国际武术搏击争霸赛), Quarter FinalsChongqing, ChinaDecision (Unanimous)33:00
2006-02-24WinChina Xue Fengqiang1st Kung Fu King Tournament (国际武术搏击争霸赛), 1/8 FinalsChongqing, ChinaDecision (Unanimous)33:00
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Sanda amateur record (incomplete)

Summarize
Perspective
More information Date, Result ...
Kickboxing record (incomplete)
Date Result OpponentEventLocation MethodRoundTime
2015-11-17WinChina Fu Gaofeng13th World Wushu Championships, FinalJakarta, IndonesiaDecision32:00
2015-11-17WinKazakhstan Bagdat Kenzhetayev13th World Wushu Championships, Semi FinalsJakarta, IndonesiaDecision32:00
2015-11-17WinAlgeria Moumou Abdelhakim13th World Wushu Championships, Quarter FinalsJakarta, IndonesiaDecision32:00
2013-11-05LossIran Amir Fazli12th World Wushu Championships, FinalKuala Lumpur, MalaysiaDecision (2–1)32:00
2013-11-04WinUnited States Alejandro Cisne12th World Wushu Championships, Semi FinalsKuala Lumpur, MalaysiaDecision (2–0)22:00
2013-11-03WinKazakhstan Mergen Bilyalov12th World Wushu Championships, Quarter FinalsKuala Lumpur, MalaysiaDecision (2–0)22:00
2013-11-02WinBelarus Rolich Vadzim12th World Wushu Championships, 1/8 FinalsKuala Lumpur, MalaysiaDecision (2–0)22:00
2013-10-26WinCanada Nacereddine Zemmal2nd World Combat Games, FinalSaint Petersburg, Russia
2013-10-25WinEgypt Ashraf Mohamed Abdelgawad Abdelhamid2nd World Combat Games, Semi FinalsSaint Petersburg, Russia
2011-10-15WinEgypt Abdelhamid El-Sayad11th World Wushu Championships, FinalAnkara, TurkeyDecision (2–0)22:00
2011-10-14WinCanada Nacereddine Zemmal11th World Wushu Championships, Semi FinalsAnkara, TurkeyDecision (2–0)22:00
2011-10-12WinSpain Velaz Miguel11th World Wushu Championships, Quarter FinalsAnkara, TurkeyDecision (2–0)22:00
2011-10-11WinChile Salvador Gajardo Lopez11th World Wushu Championships, 1/8 FinalsAnkara, TurkeyAbsolute Victory
2011-10-11WinIran Amir Fazli11th World Wushu Championships, 1/16 FinalsAnkara, TurkeyDecision (2–0)22:00
2010-08-28LossChina Xu Jiaheng1st World Combat Games, Semi FinalsBeijing, ChinaDecision (2–1)32:00
2009-10-30WinIran Hamid Reza Gholipour10th World Wushu Championships, FinalToronto, CanadaDecision (2–0)22:00
2009-10-28WinChina Xu Jiaheng10th World Wushu Championships, Semi FinalsToronto, CanadaDecision (2–0)22:00
2009-10-27WinPoland Igor Kolacin10th World Wushu Championships, Quarter FinalsToronto, CanadaDecision (2–0)22:00
2009-10-26WinNetherlands Masood Rahimi10th World Wushu Championships, 1/8 FinalsToronto, CanadaAbsolute Victory
2009-07-26LossIran Hamid Reza Gholipour8th World Games, FinalsKaohsiung, Taiwan
2008-08-24WinIran Hossein Ojaghi2008 Beijing Wushu Tournament, FinalBeijing, ChinaDefault
2008-08-23WinUnited Kingdom Nick Evagorou2008 Beijing Wushu Tournament, Semi FinalsBeijing, ChinaKO
2008-08-22WinAzerbaijan Elshad Ibrahimov2008 Beijing Wushu Tournament, Quarter FinalsBeijing, ChinaDefault
2007-11-17WinIran Hossein Ojaghi9th World Wushu Championships, FinalBeijing, ChinaDecision (2–0)22:00
2007-11-16WinUnited Kingdom Nick Evagorou9th World Wushu Championships, Semi FinalsBeijing, ChinaAbsolute Victory
2007-11-15WinRomania Eugen Preda9th World Wushu Championships, Quarter FinalsBeijing, ChinaDecision (2–1)32:00
2007-11-14WinUzbekistan Elyorbek Akbarov9th World Wushu Championships, 1/8 FinalsBeijing, ChinaAbsolute Victory
2007-11-12WinEgypt Mohamed Yousef Ramdan9th World Wushu Championships, 1/16 FinalsBeijing, ChinaDecision (2–0)22:00
2006-09-23WinIran Eslam Ghorbani3rd Sanda World Cup, FinalXi'an, ChinaDecision32:00
2006-09-23WinItaly Daniele Chiofalo3rd Sanda World Cup, Semi FinalsXi'an, ChinaDecision32:00
2005-12-14WinIran Eslam Ghorbani8th World Wushu Championships, FinalHanoi, Vietnam
2005-12-13WinFrance Stéphane Attelly8th World Wushu Championships, Semi FinalsHanoi, Vietnam
2005-12-13WinN&A8th World Wushu Championships, Quarter FinalsHanoi, Vietnam
2004-11-14LossChina Zheng Yuhao2nd Sanda World Cup, 1/8 FinalsGuangzhou, ChinaDecision3
2003-11-05LossChina Liu Hailong7th World Wushu Championships, 1/8 FinalsMacau, ChinaDecision32:00
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