Muslim Salikhov confirmed on social media that his bout at UFC Macau has been cancelled due to injury. He underwent elbow surgery and stated that recovery will take a couple of weeks. Salikhov expressed disappointment that fans will not see the fight but promised to return and deliver good performances. He noted that injuries can happen unexpectedly, and the reality did not match his expectations. The post included well-wishes for his speedy recovery.
Muslim Salikhov has confirmed that his scheduled bout at UFC Macau has been called off after he underwent elbow surgery, ending his participation in the event before fight week could begin.
Salikhov, known by his nickname "King of Kung Fu," shared the news on social media, explaining that the injury required surgical intervention and that recovery is expected to take a couple of weeks. The 42-year-old expressed clear disappointment that fans would be denied the fight, but assured them he would return and put on strong performances when healthy. He acknowledged that injuries can arrive without warning and that circumstances had not played out the way he had hoped.
The Russian welterweight competes out of the Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov School and carries a professional record of 22 wins and 6 losses. Standing five-foot-eleven with a 70-inch reach, Salikhov is an orthodox striker who lands 3.37 significant strikes per minute at a 49 percent accuracy rate, reflecting the sharp, unorthodox stand-up game that has defined his UFC career. He also adds a modest takedown threat, averaging 1.07 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- Salikhov is 42 years old, meaning extended time away from competition carries added significance at this stage of his career.
- His removal leaves a hole on the UFC Macau card that the promotion will need to address, either through a replacement opponent or by pulling the bout entirely.
- Welterweight cards frequently lose bouts to late injuries, and the ripple effect on divisional momentum for fighters involved can be meaningful.
