UFC"King of Kung Fu"Muslim Salikhov Record: 22-6-0
WelterweightRecord22-6-0
Age42
DivisionWelterweight · #32
Combat Edge Elo1745
Last fightMay 30 2026
Muslim Salikhov has a 22-6-0 professional record and is 42 years old in the Welterweight division, representing Fighting Eagle. This profile tracks fight history, UFC stats, ELO rating, record, age, and opponent links.
Last updated Jun 17, 2026 · Combat Edge fight database
Muslim Salikhov bio
Personal background
Muslim Salikhov, nicknamed "King of Kung Fu," is a Russian welterweight competing in the UFC and one of the most decorated striking technicians on the roster. Born on June 9, 1984, in Buynaksk, in the Russian republic of Dagestan, he is of Kumyk ethnicity and began studying martial arts as a boy. From 1995 he trained Wushu Sanda, the full-contact Chinese kickboxing discipline that became his life's work, and he developed into a five-time Sanda world champion. In 2006 he became the first non-Chinese fighter to win the prestigious Sanda "King's Cup," a feat that cemented his legend in China, where he is revered. A compact 5'11" striker fighting out of the Fighting Eagle team, Salikhov also holds a high-level grappling background to complement his world-class kicking arsenal.
Path to the UFC
After dominating the Sanda and kickboxing worlds, Salikhov transitioned to MMA in 2006 and gradually built his record across Russian and Chinese promotions, most notably M-1 Challenge and Kunlun Fight. Early on he showed both his ceiling and his learning curve, suffering a 2012 submission loss that exposed the grappling gaps a striker of his pedigree had to close. He answered by stacking knockouts – many of them via the spinning kicks that became his signature – including a brutal 2016 spinning-back-kick stoppage of veteran Ivan Jorge and a spinning-hook-kick knockout of former UFC fighter Melvin Guillard in 2017. That highlight reel earned him a UFC contract.
UFC welterweight run
Salikhov's UFC debut in November 2017 ended in a second-round submission loss to Alex Garcia, again at the hands of a wrestler-grappler. He responded the way champions do, knocking out Ricky Rainey in 2018 and then putting together a strong stretch. He knocked out Nordine Taleb on the UFC 242 card in 2019 and outpointed Laureano Staropoli that same year. He edged Elizeu Zaleski by split decision at UFC 251 in 2020 and added a unanimous-decision win over veteran Francisco Trinaldo in 2021, climbing into the divisional rankings well into his thirties.
Veteran knockouts and late-career swings
Salikhov's later UFC years showcased both his enduring power and the volatility of his veteran status. After a 2022 TKO loss to Jingliang Li, he produced one of his trademark spectacles, stopping Andre Fialho with a spinning wheel kick and punches that same year. Losses followed to Nicolas Dalby in 2023 and a first-round knockout from Randy Brown in 2024, but Salikhov kept reloading: he edged Santiago Ponzinibbio by split decision and then flattened Kenan Song with a spinning wheel kick in 2024. He opened a strong 2025 with a one-punch knockout of Carlos Leal before a first-round TKO loss to Uros Medic closed the year.
Fighting style
Salikhov is a Sanda-bred knockout artist whose spinning kicks – back kicks, wheel kicks and hook kicks – are among the most dangerous weapons in the welterweight division. His 22-6 record carries a 77 percent finish rate, headlined by 15 knockouts, and many of those finishes are the kind of jaw-dropping rotational strikes that few fighters can land at the highest level. The consistent thread in his losses is the ground: four of his six defeats have come by submission or grappling-heavy stoppage, underlining that pressure wrestlers remain his toughest stylistic puzzle. When the fight stays standing, however, he is a constant highlight-reel threat with elite distance control and timing.
Career highlights
- Five-time Sanda world champion — the first non-Chinese fighter to win the Sanda "King's Cup," a foundation matched by few strikers in MMA.
- Spinning-kick specialist — multiple UFC knockouts via spinning wheel and back kicks, including a memorable finish of Kenan Song.
- Ranked late-career contender — beat names like Santiago Ponzinibbio and Francisco Trinaldo to stay relevant at welterweight deep into his thirties.
Career snapshot
Muslim Salikhov career snapshot
EloCombat Edge Elo
1745Good ratingElo trajectory (last 3 years)
Overall#168
Welterweight#32of 211 active
Peak1763
Last move-18
Opponent quality1708avg. pre-fight Elo · last 10
Career-high 1763 Elo after defeating Carlos Leal (2025-07-26)
Similar Elo in Welterweight
Muslim Salikhov quick answers
What is Muslim Salikhov's record?
Muslim Salikhov's professional MMA record is 22-6-0.
How old is Muslim Salikhov?
Muslim Salikhov is 42 years old.
What weight class is Muslim Salikhov?
Muslim Salikhov fights at Welterweight in UFC.
How tall is Muslim Salikhov?
Muslim Salikhov is 5'11" tall with a 70″ reach.
How much does Muslim Salikhov weigh?
Muslim Salikhov competes at Welterweight, with a most recent weigh-in of 170 lbs.
What is Muslim Salikhov's Combat Edge Elo?
Muslim Salikhov's Combat Edge Elo is 1745, with a peak Elo of 1763.
How strong is Muslim Salikhov's recent opposition?
Muslim Salikhov's latest 10 counted opponents averaged 1708 Elo immediately before their fights. This avoids using opponents' later career results with hindsight.
When was Muslim Salikhov's last fight?
Muslim Salikhov's latest tracked pro fight was against Jake Matthews at UFC Fight Night on May 30 2026.
What is Muslim Salikhov's recent form?
Muslim Salikhov's recent tracked pro form is L-W-W-W-L over the latest 5 decisive pro results.
How does Muslim Salikhov usually win?
Muslim Salikhov's 22 recorded wins include 15 knockouts, 2 submissions, and 5 decisions, with 77% ending before the final bell.
15Wins by knockout
2Wins by submission
5Wins by decision
3Loss by knockout
2Loss by submission
1Loss by decision
Muslim Salikhov stats
Record : 22 / 6 / 0Significant strikes landed per minute
3.37Fighter2.97Division average
Significant striking accuracy
50%Fighter43%Division average
Significant strikes absorbed per minute
2.96Fighter3.82Division average
Significant strike defenseThe % of opponents strikes that did not land
62%Fighter52%Division average
Average takedowns landed per 15 minutes
1.07Fighter1.38Division average
Takedown accuracy
32%Fighter37%Division average
Takedown defenseThe % of opponents TD attempts that did not land
72%Fighter51%Division average
Average submissions attempted per 15 minutes
0Fighter0.63Division average
Pro fight history
ResultOpponentMethodTimeRoundEventDateFight details
Amateur fight history
ResultOpponentMethodTimeRoundEventDateFight details
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