Muslim Salikhov

Muslim Magomedovich Salikhov (Kumyk: Muslim Salih Muhammatnı ulanı; Russian: Муслим Магоме́дович Салихов; 9 June 1984 in Makhachkala) is a Kumyk Dagestani-born Russian heavyweight Sanda kickboxer and mixed martial artist. His name can be written as Salikhov Muslim or Muslim Salihov. A multiple Wushu Sanda world champion and along Hossein Ojaghi, he is the only non-Chinese person who has won the Wushu Sanda King's Cup.

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. Salikhov was the Sanshou champion at the 2004 European Wushu Championships held in Moscow and he became the World Champion in 2005. Muslim Salikhov is often acknowledged as one of the best Wushu Sanda competitors in history.

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, making European Wushu Federation arguably the strongest continental Wushu federation of the world. He again won the world title in 2007 and 2009, also the gold medal at Wushu Tournament Beijing 2008. Salikhov was once again the champion at the 2011 World Wushu Championships.

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. 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 has fought seven times over the last two years, again remaining undefeated in this run with six of the sevens wins coming via knockout.

Salikhov notched his biggest win to date when he earned a victory over UFC and Bellator vet Melvin Guillard by spinning hook kick.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

On 19 October 2017 Salikhov signed with the UFC.

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

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

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. On March 4, 2019 Salikhov was cleared of USADA suspension as USADA cannot determine if Salikhov had ingested oral Turinabol a year before he was signed to the UFC and entered the USADA drug-testing program.

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

Salikhov facedLaureano Staropoli on October 26, 2019 at UFC on ESPN+ 20. He won the fight via unanimous decision.

Salikhov is expected to face Niko Price on April 11, 2020 at UFC Fight Night 172. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the event was eventually postponed .

• Ultimate Fighting Championship
  • Performance of the Night (One time) vs. Nordine Taleb