Welterweight

Muslim Salikhov

King of Kung Fu

22-6

Age
42
Height
5'11"
Reach
5'10"
Stance
Orthodox
Camp
Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov Martial Arts School
Out of
Russia
Style
striker
Fight IQ
C+ · 63
Finish rate
9%
Win rate
79%

Career methods

KO/TKO
8
Sub
2
Dec
12

FightMetric

SLpM

3.37

SApM

3.42

Str Acc

53%

Str Def

61%

TD Avg

1.07

TD Acc

32%

TD Def

81%

Sub Avg

0.00

Tape read

Pocket striker

Fight IQ

63C+

Built from FightMetric rates, method shares, and 6 loaded UFC rows. Timing and agility are tape proxies, not lab measurements.

IQ

C+

Ground

D

Defense

C+

Counter

C+

Reaction

proxy

C+

Agility

proxy

D

TD react

C

Chin

B

What they do well

  • Durability

    Standard UFC durability. Can be hurt, usually recovers if the shot is not clean.

Where they leak

  • Ground game

    Thin offensive ground game. Wins come standing; once taken down this fighter is hunting a stand-up, not a sweep chain.

  • Punching agility

    Heavy or economical. Combinations are chosen, not sprayed — opponents can time the entries.

  • Takedown reaction

    Hips arrive late. A committed wrestler will get them down; the question is what happens next.

Scouting report

Muslim Salikhov “King of Kung Fu” is a 42-year-old Orthodox welterweight out of Russia, camped at Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov Martial Arts School. The tape read: pocket striker. Career mark 22-6-0 — 8 by KO/TKO, 2 by submission, 12 by decision. Fight IQ grades C+ (63).

What works. Durability is the standout at 73 (B). Standard UFC durability. Can be hurt, usually recovers if the shot is not clean. Ground game D on 1.07 TD/15 and 0.00 sub attempts. Striking defense C+ at 61% / 3.42 SApM. Counter punching C+; punching agility D (output × accuracy × age curve). Takedown reaction C on 81% TD defense. These are tape proxies — not lab reaction times — built from FightMetric rates, finish shares, and 6 loaded UFC rows.

Where it breaks. Ground game is the soft spot (26, D). Thin offensive ground game. Wins come standing; once taken down this fighter is hunting a stand-up, not a sweep chain. Opponents who force wrestling and keep the fight on the fence have historically been the ones who make this résumé leak. Losses lean decision more often than a highlight — the issue is usually control of minutes, not a glass jaw.

Recent tape (6 bouts): L 4685870 (KO/TKO R1) · W 3146349 (KO/TKO R1) · W 4284870 (KO/TKO R1) · W 3043484 (Decision - Split R3) · L 3960071 (KO/TKO R1). Form index positive over the last 5. 1 of those wins reached the championship minutes — cardio and late IQ are real.

Ground game

26 D

Thin offensive ground game. Wins come standing; once taken down this fighter is hunting a stand-up, not a sweep chain.

  • 1.07 takedowns / 15 at 32% accuracy
  • 0.00 submission attempts / 15 · 2 career sub wins

Striking defense

61 C+

Eats more than a championship pocket should. High SApM or a porous guard will get taxed against power.

  • 61% striking defense · 3.42 SApM
  • 0 KO/TKO losses in 6 defeats

Counter punching

61 C+

Limited counter threat. Opponents can miss without paying a finishing tax.

  • 53% accuracy on 3.37 SLpM
  • 0.50 knockdowns / 15 · 8 KO/TKO wins

Timing & reaction

62 C+

Late on the read. High absorb or a leaking TD defense suggests the first move often belongs to the opponent.

  • Str def 61% · TD def 81% — the two read-and-react rates
  • 3.42 shots absorbed / min (lower = sees it earlier)

Punching agility

48 D

Heavy or economical. Combinations are chosen, not sprayed — opponents can time the entries.

  • 3.37 SLpM at 53% — output with cleanliness
  • Throws without paying full retail: 3.42 SApM

Takedown reaction

57 C

Hips arrive late. A committed wrestler will get them down; the question is what happens next.

  • 81% takedown defense — the live reaction to level changes
  • 2 submission losses (once the fight hits the mat)

Durability

73 B

Standard UFC durability. Can be hurt, usually recovers if the shot is not clean.

  • 0 times finished by strikes in 6 losses
  • 12 decision wins — proof they last and still score

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Fight history

DateOpponentResMethodRndSig
Nov 9, 2025Fighter 4685870LKO/TKO1 1:032/5
Jul 26, 2025Fighter 3146349WKO/TKO1 0:423/9
Nov 23, 2024Fighter 4284870WKO/TKO1 3:4920/28
Jul 14, 2024Fighter 3043484WDecision - Split3 5:0046/121
Feb 4, 2024Fighter 3960071LKO/TKO1 3:1710/22
Jun 18, 2023Fighter 3026267LDecision - Unanimous3 5:0057/88