Muslim Salikhov confirmed via social media that his fight at UFC Macau has been canceled due to an injury. Doctors performed surgery on his elbow today, and recovery is expected to take a couple of weeks. Salikhov expressed disappointment that fans will not see the fight but stated that he will return and continue to deliver good performances. He wrote that injuries sometimes happen unexpectedly even when things seem to be going according to plan. The post wishes him a speedy recovery.
Muslim Salikhov has been forced out of his scheduled bout at UFC Macau after undergoing elbow surgery, the Russian welterweight confirmed through a social media post on May 7.
Salikhov, known as "King of Kung Fu," broke the news himself, writing that the injury arrived without warning despite preparations appearing to be on track. He acknowledged the disappointment for fans while expressing confidence that he would return and continue performing at a high level. Doctors operated on his elbow the same day he made the announcement, and recovery is expected to take only a couple of weeks.
The 42-year-old orthodox striker carries a professional record of 22 wins and 6 losses and competes out of the Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov School in Russia. Standing five-foot-eleven with a 70-inch reach, Salikhov has built a reputation as one of the more entertaining strikers in the welterweight division, averaging 3.37 significant strikes landed per minute at a 49 percent accuracy rate. He also contributes on the grappling side, averaging just over one takedown per 15 minutes, though submission attempts have not featured in his recent output.
Why it matters
- Salikhov's withdrawal leaves an opponent without a fight and forces matchmakers to find a late replacement or shelve the pairing entirely for UFC Macau.
- At 42, every missed card carries added weight in terms of remaining competitive window at the top level of the welterweight division.
- His striking-first style, built around unorthodox Kung Fu techniques, tends to generate fan interest, making the cancellation a notable loss for the event's entertainment value.
