Islam Makhachev was so awed by Muslim Salikhov’s KO win over Song Kenan at UFC Macau that he was lost for words, much like most fans. But when he did find the words to congratulate, the three he used were not just celebratory, but also aptly described the 40-year-old Russian fighter’s martial superiority in the octagon. “King of KungFu,” exclaimed Makhachev.
After losing two fights in a row last year, Salikhov is on a comeback trail. And he is doing it some style, with back-to-back wins including the spinning kick victory over Kenan.
Salikhov’s leg kicks are dangerous, and he sets them up beautifully with well-disguised feints. He misleads the opponent into thinking that he is going after the calf. But then he catches them by surprise with a sudden pivot, executing a spinning heel kick.
A little under four minutes in the first round against Kenan, he did something similar to become the only fighter in UFC history with two wheel kick KOs under his belt. His spectacular performance also won him a $50k bonus.
“King of KungFu @MuslimSalikhov”
King of KungFu @MuslimSalikhov https://t.co/CL3iMBRivn
— Makhachev Islam (@MAKHACHEVMMA) November 23, 2024
It will be interesting to see if the veteran can carry this momentum forward to string a bunch of wins together so that he gets paired with some ranked opponents. At an age where most fighters start thinking of hanging up their gloves, Salikhov clearly wants more.
Salikhov puts down his demands
After his spectacular UFC Macau performance, Salikhov has reassured fans that he was here to stay.
“You know, I’m just beginning, I’m just understanding what’s going on here, let’s do it. Like more better fights, I want more fights, and I’m ready,” added the Russian.
However, the 40-year-old is still fighting unranked opponents. If he keeps his kicking and KO spree he may yet jump into the top 15 of the welterweight division. Of course, the stacked division presents its own set of difficulties for Salikhov.
Realistically, a title shot in the 170-lb division is far-fetched. Michael ‘Venom’ Page and Steven ‘Wonderboy’ Thomson are lurking at 15 and 10 respectively, while others like Ian Garry and Joaquin Buckley are fighting their way into the top 5, which is occupied by former champions like Kamaru Usman and Leon Edwards.
Salikhov may not have enough time to reach up there. But that doesn’t mean he can’t rack up a few KOs along the way, wowing not just the fans, but fighters too.
