Muslim Salikhov confirmed on social media that he has suffered an injury that has forced the cancellation of his bout at UFC Macau. Salikhov revealed that doctors performed surgery on his elbow and that recovery will take a couple of weeks. He expressed regret that UFC fans will not see this fight, but promised to return and deliver good performances. The fighter acknowledged that expectations and reality do not always align, and injuries can occur unexpectedly.
Muslim Salikhov has confirmed via social media that an elbow injury has forced the cancellation of his scheduled bout at UFC Macau, with doctors having already performed surgery on the joint.
Salikhov, known as "King of Kung Fu," revealed that recovery is expected to take a couple of weeks. The 42-year-old Russian welterweight expressed regret that fans would miss the fight but pledged to return and put on strong performances. He acknowledged that injuries can arrive without warning and that expectations do not always match reality.
A veteran of the welterweight division, Salikhov carries a professional record of 22-6-0 and competes out of the Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov School. Standing five-foot-eleven with a 70-inch reach, the orthodox striker has built his reputation on dynamic standup, averaging 3.37 significant strikes landed per minute at a 49 percent accuracy rate. He also contributes on the grappling side, averaging 1.07 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- Salikhov's withdrawal leaves a gap on the UFC Macau card that the promotion will need to address.
- At 42, extended time away from competition carries added significance for a fighter managing the later stages of his career.
- His distinctive kung fu-based striking style had been a marquee draw for the event, and fans lose a stylistically unique matchup.
