Li Jingliang’s clash with Muslim Salikhov at UFC on ABC 3 this weekend was a fight ten years in the making. Both men are sanda specialists and the Russian is revered in China for his legendary exploits in the sport.
Aptly nicknamed ‘King of Kung Fu’ Salikhov came into this bout on the back of five straight victories. ‘The Leech’ meanwhile, was looking to bounce back after suffering a first round submission loss to Khamzat Chimaev on his last outing,
Salikhov is known for spinning attacks and saw a spinning wheel kick blocked early on. Li responded with leg kicks but soon found himself on his back after his opponent launched a solid double leg.
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Top pressure
From there the 38 year old showed good top pressure and scored with some ground and pound before allowing the Sanford MMA man back to his feet. The Makhachkala-born fighter landed with more spinning attacks and a big low kick late on to secure the round.
But Li came biting back in some style in the second. The 34 year old took his opposite number down with a body lock before the pair got back to their feet. Li found a home for a pair of body shots before getting clipped with a right cross.
The Chinese fighter teased with leg kicks, feints and jabs before stinging Salikhov with a right straight of his own and rocked him. An explosive right hook followed. Two right hands to the body and another right hook continued the onslaught.
He then stuffed the Russian’s takedown attempt and stung him with an elbow. A massive right hand dropped him before some ground and pound with the elbows brought a close to proceedings. The finish earned Li a 50k USD bonus and extended his record to 19-7. Salikhov slips to 18-3.
LI KNEW HE HAD THE FINISH 🤯 #UFCLongIsland pic.twitter.com/BZjcH2INen
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) July 16, 2022
Best of the rest
Da Un Jung (15-3 ) suffered a stoppage loss at the hands of Dustin Jacoby (18-5). The hard hitting Korean light heavyweight got a taste of his own medicine as he was floored by a right hand midway through the first round.
Miesha Tate (19-9) didn’t make the sort of impact she had hoped to on her flyweight debut. The former ONE Championship executive dropped a decision to Lauren Murphy (16-5).
UFC on ABC 3, Long Island, July 16th
Yair Rodríguez def. Brian Ortega via TKO (shoulder injury) at 4:11 of R1
Amanda Lemos def. Michelle Waterson via Submission (guillotine choke) at 1:48 of R2
Li Jingliang def. Muslim Salikhov via TKO (punches and elbows) at 4:38 of R2
Matt Schnell def. Su Mudaerji via Technical Submission (triangle choke) at 4:24 of R2
Shane Burgos def. Charles Jourdain via Decision (majority)
Lauren Murphy def. Miesha Tate via Decision (unanimous)
Punahele Soriano def. Dalcha Lungiambula via KO (punches) at 0:28 of R2
Ricky Simón def. Jack Shore via Submission (arm-triangle choke) at 3:28 of R2
Bill Algeo def. Herbert Burns via TKO (retirement) at 1:50 of R2
Dustin Jacoby def. Da Un Jung via KO (punch) at 3:13 of R1
Dustin Stoltzfus def. Dwight Grant via Decision (unanimous)
Emily Ducote def. Jessica Penne via Decision (unanimous)
