UFC on ABC 3: Li Jingliang vs. Muslim Salikhov Picks and Predictions

Li Jingliang and Muslim Salikhov face off on Saturday afternoon in a welterweight showdown on the main card of UFC on ABC 3 at UBS Arena in Elmont, New York. Jinliang is ranked 14th in the division while Salikhov is unranked. 

Li “The Leach” Jingliang comes into this fight with an 18-7 record overall but he has lost two of his last three fights. Jingliang’s last fight came against Khamzat Chimaev in October of 2021 and it was an ugly fight. He was outstruck 25-0 and three minutes and 16 seconds into the fight he lost by rear naked choke. Jingliang is averaging 4.42 significant strikes per minute while absorbing 3.75 significant strikes per minute. He is averaging 1.25 takedowns every 15 minutes, and he is successful on 39 percent of his takedown attempts. He also stops 58 percent of his takedown attempts. Jingliang does have a ton of power and two fights ago he won the fight in the first round by knockout. 

On the other side of this fight is Muslim Salikhov who sits with an 18-2 record overall and he has won five fights in a row. Salikhov’s last fight came against Francisco Trinaldo in June of 2021 and he dominated that fight on the way to the unanimous decision victory. Each of his last three wins has been by decision. Salikhov is averaging 3.13 significant strikes per minute while absorbing 2.36 significant strikes per minute. He is averaging 1.12 successful takedowns every 15 minutes and he is successful on 38 percent of his takedown attempts. He also stops 81 percent of his takedown attempts.