Muslim Magomedovich Salikhov born June 9, 1984 is a Russian professional mixed martial artist and Sanda fighter, currently competing in the UFC’s Welterweight division. A multiple-time Wushu Sanda world champion, he is one of only two non-Chinese athletes, alongside Hossein Ojaghi, to have won the prestigious Wushu Sanda King’s Cup.
Muslim Salikhov Biography 2025
Salikhov competed against Liu Hailong, the reigning “King of Sanda,” at the 2003 World Wushu Championships in Macau. The two fighters were evenly matched, with Liu Hailong ultimately being declared the winner. However, Salikhov triumphed as the Sanshou champion at the 2004 European Wushu Championships in Moscow, and in 2005, he claimed the World Championship title. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest Wushu Sanda competitors in history.
In February 2006, Salikhov participated in the inaugural international “King of Sanda” tournament in Chongqing, where he made history as the first non-Chinese fighter to win the title. He successfully defended his world title in 2007 and 2009. Throughout his career, Salikhov became one of the most decorated sanda athletes of all time, earning five gold medals at the World Wushu Championships. He also secured a gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Wushu Tournament and won multiple medals at the 2009 World Games and the World Combat Games.
Muslim Salikhov Biography Details
| Born |
Muslim Magomedovich Salikhov
June 9, 1984 (age 40)
Buynaksk, Dagestan ASSR, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union |
| Other names |
King of Kung Fu |
| Nationality |
Russian |
| Height |
5 ft 11 in (180 cm) |
| Weight |
170 lb (77 kg; 12 st 2 lb) |
| Division |
Welterweight |
| Reach |
69+1⁄2 in (177 cm) |
| Style |
Sanda |
| Fighting out of |
Khasavyurt, Dagestan, Russia |
| Team |
Berkut FC
American Top Team |
| Rank |
Honored Master of Sports in Wushu Sanda
Master of Sports in Complex Martial Arts
Blue belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu |
| Years active |
2011–present |
Muslim Salikhov Early Life
Salikhov was born in Buynaksk, Dagestan, and is of Kumyk ethnicity. He began practicing Wushu Sanda in 1995 at the renowned “Five Directions of the World” school, which is known for its unique blend of general education and martial arts training. Salikhov is also an alumnus of this prestigious sports-focused boarding school in Dagestan.
Muslim Salikhov Bio
| Information Type |
Details |
| Full Name |
Muslim Magomedovich Salikhov |
| Date of Birth |
June 9, 1984 |
| Nationality |
Russian |
| Ethnicity |
Kumyk |
| Height |
5 ft 11 in (180 cm) |
| Weight |
170 lb (77 kg) |
| Fighting Style |
Sanda |
| Current Division |
Welterweight |
| Team |
Berkut FC, American Top Team |
| Rank |
Honored Master of Sports in Wushu Sanda |
| Professional Record |
25 matches (20 wins, 5 losses) |
Wushu Achievements
| Achievement |
Year |
| World Champion (85 kg) |
2005 |
| King of Sanda (First non-Chinese) |
2006 |
| World Champion (85 kg) |
2007 |
| World Champion (85 kg) |
2009 |
| Gold Medal at 2008 Beijing Wushu Tournament |
2008 |
| Five-Time World Wushu Champion |
2007-2015 |
Career Milestones in MMA
| Milestone |
Year |
| Professional MMA Debut |
2011 |
| UFC Debut |
November 25, 2017 |
| UFC Performance of the Night Award |
September 7, 2019 |
| Knockout Win Over Melvin Guillard |
June 1, 2017 |
| UFC Knockout Victory Over Nordine Taleb |
September 7, 2019 |
UFC Fight Record
| Opponent |
Method |
Event |
Date |
Result |
| Santiago Ponzinibbio |
Split Decision |
UFC on ESPN: Namajunas vs. Cortez |
July 13, 2025 |
Win |
| Randy Brown |
KO (Punches) |
UFC Fight Night: Dolidze vs. Imavov |
February 3, 2025 |
Loss |
| Nicolas Dalby |
Decision (Unanimous) |
UFC on ESPN: Vettori vs. Cannonier |
June 17, 2023 |
Loss |
| André Fialho |
TKO (Spinning Wheel Kick) |
UFC Fight Night: Nzechukwu vs. Cuțelaba |
November 19, 2022 |
Win |
MMA Knockout Record
| Knockout Method |
Number of Wins |
| Knockout (Punches) |
5 |
| Knockout (Spinning Back Kick) |
3 |
| Knockout (Spinning Hook Kick) |
2 |
Early Career in M-1 Global
| Opponent |
Method |
Event |
Date |
| Kris Hocum |
Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) |
M-1 Challenge 38 |
December 15, 2012 |
| Deyan Topalski |
Decision (Unanimous) |
M-1 Challenge 38 |
April 9, 2013 |
| Filip Kotarlic |
Knockout (Punch) |
M-1 Challenge 44 |
November 30, 2013 |
UFC Fight Night Performance Awards
| Opponent |
Award |
Event |
Date |
| Nordine Taleb |
Performance of the Night |
UFC 242 |
September 7, 2019 |
| André Fialho |
Performance of the Night |
UFC Fight Night 215 |
November 19, 2022 |
Sanda Tournament Wins
| Tournament |
Year |
Weight Class |
Medal Type |
| World Sanda Championships |
2005 |
85 kg |
Gold |
| World Sanda Championships |
2007 |
85 kg |
Gold |
| World Sanda Championships |
2009 |
85 kg |
Gold |
Career Highlights in MMA
| Achievement |
Year |
Event Details |
| Knockout of Melvin Guillard |
2017 |
Kunlun Fight MMA 12 |
| First Non-Chinese “King of Sanda” Title |
2006 |
Chongqing |
| UFC Victory Over Taleb |
2019 |
UFC 242 |
UFC Records
| Record Type |
Statistic |
| Total UFC Fights |
7 |
| Wins in UFC |
5 |
| Losses in UFC |
2 |
| Performance of the Night Awards |
2 |
Training Background
| School Name |
Location |
Focus |
| Five Directions of the World |
Dagestan |
Wushu Sanda |
| American Top Team |
USA |
MMA |
Career Losses
| Opponent |
Method |
Event |
Date |
| Li Jingliang |
TKO (Punches) |
UFC on ABC: Ortega vs. Rodríguez |
July 16, 2022 |
| Nicolas Dalby |
Decision (Unanimous) |
UFC on ESPN: Vettori vs. Cannonier |
June 17, 2023 |
Notable Victories
| Opponent |
Method |
Event |
Date |
| Francisco Trinaldo |
Decision (Unanimous) |
UFC Fight Night 189 |
June 5, |
Muslim Salikhov Net Worth
His net worth is estimated to be in the range of $1 million to $2 million.
Muslim Salikhov Summary
Muslim Salikhov is a Russian mixed martial artist and Sanda fighter, known for his striking prowess and success in the UFC’s welterweight division. Born in Dagestan, he is a multiple-time world champion in Wushu Sanda, earning numerous gold medals in international competitions. Salikhov transitioned to MMA in 2011, gaining prominence through his wins in regional promotions before joining the UFC in 2017. Throughout his MMA career, he has earned multiple accolades, including Performance of the Night awards. His fighting style, which combines traditional Sanda with modern MMA techniques, has made him a standout fighter in the UFC.
