Career Averages - Muslim Salikhov
Career Averages - Francisco Trinaldo
Muslim Salikhov
Francisco Trinaldo
Muslim Salikhov - Fight History
Angelo picks Jake Matthews to win and finish, noting that his original opponent Muslim Salikhov was replaced by Carlston Harris. He believes Harris is past his prime, less durable, and stepping up on short notice, while Matthews is well-rounded and should find a finish.
Lucrative James picks Jake Matthews, citing his youth (31 vs 38), better boxing, head movement, and overall skill set compared to Carlston Harris. He notes Matthews' unfortunate last loss due to a referee error but believes he is the better fighter everywhere. He highlights Harris's poor durability, cardio, and recent knockout losses, and expects Matthews to land clean shots and get a knockout. He also mentions Matthews' improved chin and comfort in the UFC.
The MMA Guru picks Jake Matthews to win by knockout. He notes that Muslim Salikhov is a one-dimensional grappler at 39 years old with poor striking, while Matthews is a good offensive boxer and grappler. He believes Matthews will keep the fight on the feet and land a knockout.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Muslim Salikhov | 0 | 2 of 5 | 40% | 2 of 5 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Uroš Medić | 1 | 8 of 13 | 61% | 9 of 14 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:05 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Muslim Salikhov | 0 | 2 of 5 | 40% | 2 of 5 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Uroš Medić | 1 | 8 of 13 | 61% | 9 of 14 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:05 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Muslim Salikhov | 2 of 5 | 40% | 0 of 1 | 0 of 1 | 2 of 3 | 2 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Uroš Medić | 8 of 13 | 61% | 5 of 9 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 1 | 5 of 9 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 4 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Muslim Salikhov | 2 of 5 | 40% | 0 of 1 | 0 of 1 | 2 of 3 | 2 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Uroš Medić | 8 of 13 | 61% | 5 of 9 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 1 | 5 of 9 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 4 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Medic (-180); Salikhov (+150)
Round 1
If rankings and relevant pairings do not litter the lineup, at least the matchmakers have lined up a few bangers. At 41, Salikhov (22-5, 9-4 UFC) may be looking as good as ever, with three wins in a row including two knockouts making his twilight years quite something. He will have to contend with brick-fisted Serb Medic (11-3, 5-3 UFC), who has come from Alaska to train down in California at Kings MMA. The two welterweights will be joined in the Octagon by referee Kerry Hatley, who has already donned his proverbial hard hat, fully cognizant that this one could be a doozey. There is a touch of gloves to open things up.
Medic tries early to swat away Salikhov’s staging left hand, stomping his way forward to threaten with strikes to the lead knee. Both men lash out with blows at the same time, and they need some time before re-engaging. They kick simultaneously, with Medic putting a scare in the Dagestan native by going upstairs. Medic tosses one out with his other leg, wrapping it around the back of the Russian’s melon.
Salikhov has to back off, and Medic rifles off a straight left hand that puts Salikhov on his seat. Salikhov tries to scoot around to grab hold of the leg of “The Doctor,” but Medic slams him in the side of the head with his angry Alaskan fist a few times until Salikhov shells up.
Hatley sees that Salikhov has physically surrendered at that point and steps in to save the Russian from any further harm. That is two knockouts in a row for Medic right around one minute, as he iced Gilbert Urbina in August in 63 seconds. The 100% finish rate remains intact as well, as Medic calls for bigger opportunities in the future.
The Official Result
Uros Medic def. Muslim Salikhov R1 1:03 via TKO (Punches)
Angelo picks Uros Medic because he is younger, faster, and more technical, but he is not confident. He notes that Muslim Salikhov hits extremely hard and has wrestling, making him a phenomenal underdog. He acknowledges that Medic was almost finished by Gilbert Urbina, which raises concerns about his chin.
Big Brady has a hot take predicting Salikhov wins by spinning wheel kick knockout in the first round. He highlights Salikhov's patented spinning wheel kick, which he has used to knock out multiple opponents, including Carlos Leia. He questions Medić's durability, noting he got knocked down by Gilbert Urbina, which is a bad sign. He expects an early knockout.
Cody picks Salikhov, noting his power and counter-striking ability. He thinks Medić's aggressive, forward-moving style plays into Salikhov's hands, and that Salikhov will land a knockout early.
Lucrative James picks Muslim Salikhov despite acknowledging the volatility of the matchup. He notes Salikhov's higher level of competition and experience, as well as his recent training camp improvements. However, he admits both fighters have poor chins and heavy hands, making it a coin flip. He predicts Salikhov wins by knockout in round one, but also considers betting on the under or 'doesn't go to decision'.
The host expects a firecracker fight and loves the under 1.5 rounds. He believes Medic will snipe Salikhov from distance and win by knockout within five minutes.
Paul also picks Salikhov, calling the fight a 'car crash' and expecting a knockout. He likes the plus money on the older fighter and thinks Medić's durability issues will be exposed.
The Guru picks Muslim Salikhov to win by first-round KO. He believes Uroš Medić is too easily hit and erratic, lunging in with punches, while Salikhov has powerful spinning attacks and counters. He expects Salikhov to catch Medić coming in and finish him early.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Muslim Salikhov | 1 | 3 of 9 | 33% | 3 of 9 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Carlos Leal | 0 | 5 of 9 | 55% | 5 of 9 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Muslim Salikhov | 1 | 3 of 9 | 33% | 3 of 9 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Carlos Leal | 0 | 5 of 9 | 55% | 5 of 9 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Muslim Salikhov | 3 of 9 | 33% | 1 of 4 | 1 of 4 | 1 of 1 | 3 of 9 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Carlos Leal | 5 of 9 | 55% | 5 of 9 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 5 of 8 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Muslim Salikhov | 3 of 9 | 33% | 1 of 4 | 1 of 4 | 1 of 1 | 3 of 9 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Carlos Leal | 5 of 9 | 55% | 5 of 9 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 5 of 8 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Leal (-400); Salikhov (+320)
Round 1
The old guard of the UFC is not entirely falling apart as of late. The example in this matchup is Salikhov (21-5, 8-4 UFC), who has won two in a row—his last victory via his beloved spinning wheel kick—and now is at the tender age of 41. He will be trying to show Leal (22-6, 1-1 UFC), 10 years his junior, that age is nothing but a number. The welterweight strikers will be joined in the Octagon by referee Dan Movahedi, who initiates the proceedings and bears witness to a brief fist bump.
Salikhov gets right on his bike firing off kicks to the lead leg and body. Leal marches him down to reach boxing range, where he intends on lining up one-twos down Broadway. The Brazilian swings hard, not giving Salikhov much space, and a straight left hand gets Salikhov’s attention.
The 41-year-old bites down on his mouthpiece to give his foe back some fire, slipping a jab and lobbing a massive right hand from his hip that careens into the forehead of Lean. The Brazilian hits the deck, devoid of his senses, and Salikhov walks away knowing that his work here is done.
He strides over to the commentary team to remind them of his age, and it is hard to say if he knows that he just became the first fighter to ever knock out the ultra-durable Leal. This marks the first time since 2019 that “The King of Kung Fu” picked up back-to-back consciousness-depriving knockouts, as he obliterated Kenan Song last November with a spinning wheel kick. To stick the landing, Salikhov calls for a matchup against Stephen Thompson that would undoubtedly display some traditional martial arts fireworks.
The Official Result
Muslim Salikhov def. Carlos Leal R1 0:42 via KO (Punch)
Angelo picks Carlos Leal, citing his dangerous Muay Thai, forward pressure, durability, and power. He notes Muslim Salikhov is 41 with a declining chin, and Leal's pressure will prevent Salikhov from using his unorthodox karate. He considers -400 odds appropriate but will parlay Leal rather than bet straight.
Big Brady picks Carlos Leal Miranda, citing his pressure style and power. He notes Salikhov is old (calls him 60+), needs space to throw spinning attacks, and does not like being pressured. He compares it to the Leech fight where pressure led to a finish. He predicts a second-round knockout, warning only about a potential spinning wheel kick.
Leal is a big favorite and deservedly so. He is expected to walk down Salikhov, take his best shots, but throw even harder in return, leading to a knockout victory.
The MMA Guru picks Carlos Leal, calling him a 'monster' and noting his physicality and pressure. He believes Salikhov is aging and has a reach disadvantage, and that Leal will get in his face and beat him up against the cage. He predicts a second-round TKO after a tricky first round.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Muslim Salikhov | 0 | 9 of 21 | 42% | 11 of 23 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:19 |
| Song Kenan | 1 | 20 of 28 | 71% | 20 of 28 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:02 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Muslim Salikhov | 0 | 9 of 21 | 42% | 11 of 23 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:19 |
| Song Kenan | 1 | 20 of 28 | 71% | 20 of 28 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:02 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Muslim Salikhov | 9 of 21 | 42% | 4 of 15 | 1 of 2 | 4 of 4 | 8 of 20 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Song Kenan | 20 of 28 | 71% | 7 of 14 | 3 of 4 | 10 of 10 | 19 of 27 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Muslim Salikhov | 9 of 21 | 42% | 4 of 15 | 1 of 2 | 4 of 4 | 8 of 20 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Song Kenan | 20 of 28 | 71% | 7 of 14 | 3 of 4 | 10 of 10 | 19 of 27 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogRound 1
Two welterweights with finish rates of 75% or above collide as the main card continues, with two relative elder statesmen in the weight class plying their trade against one another. Song (22-8, 6-4 UFC) celebrates an equal number of knockouts to submissions, while “King of Kung Fu” Salikhov (20-5, 7-4 UFC) is all about the former. Referee Mark Craig will serve as the cage commander for a tense showdown, one that kicks off as the fighters clap hands. Song comes in, and before he can throw, Salikhov kicks his front leg. Song tries again, this time reaching out with a left hand first. Salikhov chops at the leg again, and he blocks a high kick. They both attempt leg kicks, and Salikhov doubles up on his efforts. Song guards against a few punches and throws a few back to counter, and he is driven away with a spinning back kick that lands square on his ribs. Salikhov kicks and then opens up with two left hooks, and as there are lulls in the action, the crowd begins riling up in support of the Chinese competitor. Salikhov darts in and out to attack, picking his shots until getting met with a spinning back kick coming back his way. Salikhov grits it out and blasts the lead wheel with a kick. Song does not like this, and he blitzes forward, drilling Salikhov in the side of the head and stunning him. As Song closes in, he clinches, and a knee bangs into Salikhov’s cup. Song backs away apologetically to allow Craig to call time, and Salikhov takes 40 seconds to get his wind back. They restart, and Salikhov picks up where he left off with calf kicks. Salikhov scores a right hand, catches a head kick and dumps Song to the mat. Salikhov backs off, with no interest in exploring the ground game, and instead he keeps adding money in the bank with these vicious calf kicks. Song shakes his leg out and hops away from a spinning back fist, and he races forward with a left hand.
The Russian, known for his spinning arsenal, dips into the well with a wheel kick that smashes cleanly into the melon of Song. “The Assassin” crumples to the ground in a heap, rolling to his side as he is bordering on the edge of consciousness. Salikhov drums him out with two hammerfists that are academic at best, and Craig gets between them to tend to the defeated fighter.
Song comes to before long and he graciously accepts the loss. Meanwhile, Salikhov becomes the first fighter in company history to deliver multiple knockouts via wheel kick. The “King of Kung Fu” is for real, even at the ripe age of 40.
The Official Result
Muslim Salikhov def. Kenan Song via R1 3:49 via KO (Spinning Wheel Kick)
Angelo picks Muslim Salikhov, criticizing Song Kenan's low fight IQ and lack of killer instinct. He notes Salikhov's wrestling and striking power, and expects him to capitalize on Song's mistakes. He calls Song 'one punch or bust' and an idiot inside the cage.
Big Brady picks Muslim Salikhov to win by knockout. He admits he usually picks against Salikhov due to his age (40, possibly older), low volume, and questionable cardio, but he sees Song Kenan as a walking punching bag with low volume and poor durability. Brady thinks Salikhov can knock out Song, who has been knocked out four times. However, he is hesitant and wants to stay away from this fight.
Cody picks Salikhov but with low confidence, citing Song Kenan's poor defensive striking and tendency to absorb high volume. He thinks Salikhov's flashy, low-volume style can land the more significant shots and potentially clip Song. He expects a close decision or a late knockout for Salikhov, but warns that Song could outwork him if he walks into the fire.
Connor agrees with Zane, noting that Song Kenan's pace is exactly what Salikhov thrives on—slow and methodical, allowing Salikhov to use feints and set up his strikes. He also points out that Salikhov's traditional martial arts background gives him a soft landing for aging, and he remains uninjury-prone. Connor acknowledges Song's power but thinks Salikhov's technical edge wins.
Daniel Vreeland picks Muslim Salikhov but expresses concern about his age (40). He acknowledges Salikhov's superior skills, spinning attacks, and counter striking, but worries about durability and slowing down. He notes Song Kenan has heavy hands but lacks volume and takedown defense. Vreeland thinks Salikhov has more ways to win and should stay at range to avoid exchanges.
James confidently picks Song Kenan as an underdog, believing Muslim Salikhov is washed at 40 years old with declining durability and cardio. He thinks Song's power and youth can lead to a knockout, and sees value at +160.
Paul also picks Salikhov, noting that Song Kenan is hittable and Salikhov is more defensively sound. He acknowledges Salikhov is 40 years old but believes his experience and ability to land flashy techniques will edge him a close decision. He expects a low-volume, tactical fight where Salikhov steals rounds with significant strikes.
The MMA Guru picks Muslim Salikhov over Song Kenan, despite initially considering Song. He notes Song has been tricky but has losses to Max Griffin and a split decision with Santiago Ponzinibbio. He criticizes Song's win over Ricky Glenn as not dominant. He acknowledges Salikhov is 40 but coming off a win and active. He believes Salikhov is powerful and faster.
Zane picks Salikhov, arguing that Song Kenan's one-punch-at-a-time striking style will be neutralized by Salikhov's educated jab and range control. He notes that Song loses to good strikers who can out-volume him, and Salikhov's feints and kicking game will keep Song guessing. Zane also mentions Salikhov's durability and consistent activity despite being 40.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Muslim Salikhov | 0 | 41 of 117 | 35% | 42 of 118 | 2 of 5 | 40% | 0 | 0 | 2:29 |
| Santiago Ponzinibbio | 0 | 46 of 121 | 38% | 69 of 146 | 0 of 5 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Muslim Salikhov | 0 | 14 of 43 | 32% | 14 of 43 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:06 |
| Santiago Ponzinibbio | 0 | 17 of 37 | 45% | 17 of 37 | 0 of 4 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Muslim Salikhov | 0 | 16 of 45 | 35% | 16 of 45 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:22 |
| Santiago Ponzinibbio | 0 | 14 of 48 | 29% | 16 of 50 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 3 | Muslim Salikhov | 0 | 11 of 29 | 37% | 12 of 30 | 1 of 4 | 25% | 0 | 0 | 2:01 |
| Santiago Ponzinibbio | 0 | 15 of 36 | 41% | 36 of 59 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Muslim Salikhov | 41 of 117 | 35% | 31 of 102 | 5 of 7 | 5 of 8 | 40 of 116 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Santiago Ponzinibbio | 46 of 121 | 38% | 20 of 87 | 20 of 27 | 6 of 7 | 45 of 120 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Muslim Salikhov | 14 of 43 | 32% | 9 of 36 | 4 of 5 | 1 of 2 | 14 of 43 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Santiago Ponzinibbio | 17 of 37 | 45% | 7 of 27 | 8 of 8 | 2 of 2 | 16 of 36 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Muslim Salikhov | 16 of 45 | 35% | 13 of 41 | 0 of 1 | 3 of 3 | 16 of 45 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Santiago Ponzinibbio | 14 of 48 | 29% | 7 of 37 | 4 of 8 | 3 of 3 | 14 of 48 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Muslim Salikhov | 11 of 29 | 37% | 9 of 25 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 3 | 10 of 28 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Santiago Ponzinibbio | 15 of 36 | 41% | 6 of 23 | 8 of 11 | 1 of 2 | 15 of 36 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Ponzinibbio (-205), Salikhov (+170)
Round 1
From one pair of knockout artists to another we go, this time in the welterweight division. The co-main event presents powerful Argentinian Ponzinibbio (29-7, 11-6 UFC) against the self-proclaimed “King of Kung Fu” Salikhov (19-5, 6-4 UFC), and both men celebrate the majority of their victories via strikes. Unfortunately for the aging 170ers, they have each gone 1-3 in their last four, so a win would mean keeping things going while a defeat might push them closer towards the end. Referee Dan Miragliotta will be the third man in the Octagon, and he steps back as the heavy hitters touch ‘em up. Ponzinibbio pushes the pace early, jabbing his way forward only to get pushed back by a front kick. Salikhov delivers a solid kick to the body as he shifts to the side, and he lands one on the lead leg and has a head kick blocked right after. Ponzinibbio whiffs on a low kick, and Salikhov leaps at him with a left hook that grazes the jaw. Salikhov tries that strike again, and Ponzinibbio sees it coming and parries it, following with a high kick. Salikhov blocks it and gives him one back, and that too bounces off the guard. Salikhov lands a body kick backing up, and he cannot get away from a jab to his ribs. Salikhov spins with no telegraphing and has it ricochet off the shoulder, and he bursts his way into a short combo of punches. Ponzinibbio lands with two of three punches on his way forward, catching the Russian and bullying him back to the wire. Ponzinibbio lands a calf kick and protects his mug from an overhand right, and he ducks a spinning back fist and stumbles—not from absorbing the blow, but from dodging it. Ponzinibbio wags his finger to signal the strike did not land, and he recovers and stays evasive to not get caught with subsequent strikes from the “King of Kung Fu.” Salikhov connects with a left hand, and Ponzinibbio counters and drops Salikhov. The Russian gets back to his feet, and Ponzinibbio is marching him down winding up with serious power. Salikhov drives him back with a solid uppercut, but not before a cut opens up on the inner eyebrow. Both men appear to slip on the canvas surface but not because of damage, and they race at one another to trade. Salikhov lands a heavy right hand, and the round ends.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Ponzinibbio
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Ponzinibbio
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Ponzinibbio
Round 2
The fighters clap hands to begin the second stanza, and Salikhov takes two attempts to blitz forward and pulls back each time. He then spins with a wheel kick that buzzes past the jaw, and he keeps spinning, this time with a back fist. Ponzinibbio backs him away with a few jabs and a head kick, and he pushes aside a front kick to wing a right hand. Salikhov scores two left hooks before spinning with a back kick to the ribs, and Ponzinibbio no-sells it and tries to respond with a left. Salikhov has another spin broken up when Ponzinibbio rushes him, and they bounce off one another and reset. Salikhov jabs out with his toes outstretched, and they tag one another with punches. Ponzinibbio appears to get the worse of a left hand, and Salikhov gives chase and swarms him with big punches. Ponzinibbio absorbs a spinning wheel kick, where even while blocked it further staggers him. Ponzinibbio rebounds off the fencing and finds his footing again, and he swings his way forward to close the distance and stay out of kicking range. Salikhov responds with a looping right hook that does not connect and a low kick that does. Salikhov tries another wheel kick, but Ponzinibbio is wise to it and gets up close and personal. The Russian allows him to do this so he can time an uppercut, and he plants the ball of his foot on Ponzinibbio’s sternum for good measure. Ponzinibbio drives home a one-two, and Salikhov trips him up with a takedown effort. Salikhov cannot keep him down, and they return upright to trade hands. The Argentinian fighter swings inaccurately with two hooks, and his foe answers him with a front kick and a leaping punch. Salikhov has a left hook parried, and he jumps forward with a second that is ducked. Spinning with a kick to the body, Salikhov lands the strike but finds himself on his seat a moment later when Ponzinibbio surprises him with a takedown. Ponzinibbio hangs on until the horn sounds.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Salikhov
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Salikhov
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Salikhov
Round 3
The fighters shake hands and bro-hug to commence the last round, and strikes are soon to follow. Salikhov lands a swiping left hook and hops back to avoid a low kick, and the Argentinian ducks to avoid a second. Salikhov spams front kicks, and Ponzinibbio lets fly a right hook that bangs into the temple. Salikhov wears it well and is jabbed back by subsequent strikes, but he gathers steam and marches forward landing a front kick. Both fighters trade hooks, and Salikhov dodges a leg kick and spins with a wheel kick that does not connect. A trio of punches from the Russian do not find their home, and he whips a left hook that grazes the top of his foe’s head. Ponzinibbio rushes after him with a pair of punches and is pushed back by a teep kick, only to crash the pocket and push “King of Kung Fu” to the cage wall. Salikhov breaks away and strafes one direction and then the other, and he has a telegraphed left hook miss the mark by a wide margin. Ponzinibbio attempts a single that is easily stopped, although he does manage to put Salikhov against the cage wall. A second attempt manages to bring Salikhov to his knees, and he drapes himself over Salikhov while keeping him on a single knee. Salikhov takes a seat, and Ponzinibbio thinks about moving around to take the back but decides instead to pursue top position. Ponzinibbio slows the fight to a crawl by holding the Russian down, and Salikhov sucks wind and tries with all his might to stand. He eventually gets back to his feet, and Ponzinibbio is dead set on getting that takedown again. The last try fails, and the close fight ends in a clinch while the crowd showers them with boos.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Ponzinibbio (29-28 Ponzinibbio)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Ponzinibbio (29-28 Ponzinibbio)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Ponzinibbio (29-28 Ponzinibbio)
The Official Result
Muslim Salikhov def. Santiago Ponzinibbio via Split Decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
Angelo picks Santiago Ponzinibbio, believing he will dominate the striking exchanges and that Muslim Salikhov will fade at elevation. He notes that both fighters are older and coming off losses, but Ponzinibbio's volume and range management should be key. He thinks the odds are too wide for a favorite and would only bet if the line moves to around -120.
Cody picks Ponzinibbio but is hesitant, noting both fighters are past their prime and have cardio issues at altitude. He thinks Ponzinibbio's speed and volume will outwork Salikhov, but fears Salikhov could land a big shot late. He calls it a dog-or-pass situation.
Daniel Vreeland picks Muslim Salikhov to upset Santiago Ponzinibbio. He believes Ponzinibbio has never been the same after a severe bacterial infection, losing speed and durability. He notes that both fighters are past their primes, but at the odds, he prefers the underdog Salikhov. He mentions that Ponzinibbio's recent performances have been poor, including a life-and-death fight with Miguel Baeza and knockout losses. He calls it a 'dog or pass' situation and goes with Salikhov.
Santiago Ponzinibbio is slightly favored. He is a bit faster and slicker with his shots. Durability is shaky on both sides, but Ponzinibbio's speed should allow him to land the first big shot and put Salikhov away. The line has dropped from -220 to -180, still a bit wide.
Paul picks Ponzinibbio but is cautious, citing Salikhov's power and cardio concerns for both. He believes Ponzinibbio's speed and volume will be key, but acknowledges the fight could end violently for either. He expects a competitive fight.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Randy Brown | 1 | 13 of 46 | 28% | 13 of 46 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:03 |
| Muslim Salikhov | 0 | 10 of 22 | 45% | 10 of 22 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Randy Brown | 1 | 13 of 46 | 28% | 13 of 46 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:03 |
| Muslim Salikhov | 0 | 10 of 22 | 45% | 10 of 22 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Randy Brown | 13 of 46 | 28% | 6 of 33 | 1 of 5 | 6 of 8 | 12 of 45 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 |
| Muslim Salikhov | 10 of 22 | 45% | 0 of 9 | 1 of 2 | 9 of 11 | 10 of 22 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Randy Brown | 13 of 46 | 28% | 6 of 33 | 1 of 5 | 6 of 8 | 12 of 45 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 |
| Muslim Salikhov | 10 of 22 | 45% | 0 of 9 | 1 of 2 | 9 of 11 | 10 of 22 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Brown (-245), Salikhov (+200)
Round 1
A killer welterweight matchup originally scheduled for UFC 296 in December, rescheduled due to Brown falling ill, now blesses “UFC Vegas 85.” While Brown and Salikhov lose the full-arena vibe, they do see their scrap promoted from curtain-jerker to feature fight. Lubbock, Texas’ own Kerry Hatley draws his final referee assignment of the night. The “Rude Boy” and “King of Kung Fu” immediately begin exchanging kicks. Salikhov goes low with quick calf kicks, which Brown counters with long flicking front kicks to the midsection. Salikhov tries a spinning wheel kick which falls short, but had murderous speed on it. A minute and a half in, not much has landed outside of low kicks, but it feels as though either man might bust this fight—and maybe his foe—wide open at any moment. Salikhov’s chopping kicks to Brown’s lead leg are starting to land with increasing frequency and force. Brown reaches out with his left hand and the extended fingers swipe Salikhov’s eye. The two touch hands in recognition of the foul before Hatley even calls time, but Salikhov does take his time to blink it out. They go back to work and Brown stocks out a fast jab, feints with his right hip and then comes back with a kick from the other side.
Out of nowhere, Brown crushes Salikhov with a jab and a blistering right cross. Salikhov goes down and Brown appears to hesitate before following up. With no stoppage forthcoming Brown lands a single standing-to-ground right on the turtled Russian, and that’s enough to spur Hatley into action.
Highlight-reel knockout from Randy Brown.
The Official Result
Randy Brown def. Muslim Salikhov R1 3:17 via KO (Punches)
Angelo picks Randy Brown, citing his length and range management. He notes that Muslim Salikhov is dangerous but slowing down at 39, losing cardio and power. He expects Brown to use his reach, work takedowns, and out-technique the aging veteran.
Big Brady picks Randy Brown to win by second-round submission (club and sub). He notes that Brown is younger, bigger, has a massive reach advantage, better cardio, and better grappling. He questions Salikhov's age (believes he's older than 39) and notes his low volume, poor cardio, and grappling holes. Brady has been burned by Brown as a favorite before but thinks this is a good matchup.
Cody picks Brown, citing Salikhov's age (39), poor cardio, and low volume. Brown's reach and movement should keep him safe, and he expects Brown to win a decision or possibly a late finish. He notes Salikhov's only path is an early KO.
Brown uses his long reach and distance striking to pick opponents apart, and should be able to circle away from Salikhov's power. Salikhov is 39 and slowing down, with a speed disadvantage. Brown's takedown defense and ability to get back to his feet if taken down will be key. The host expects Brown to win decisively by decision.
Paul picks Brown, agreeing with Cody. He notes Brown's 9-inch reach advantage and Salikhov's decline. He likes Brown by decision at +120 but says the market is accurate and he may not bet it heavily.
The MMA Guru picks Randy Brown over Muslim Salikhov, predicting a late TKO. He notes Salikhov is 39 and has looked his age, while Brown has an 8-inch reach advantage. He believes Brown can keep Salikhov at range with jabs, teeps, and low kicks, and that Salikhov's power is limited to a few shots. He trusts Brown's ability to avoid Salikhov's right hand, as he did against Khaos Williams.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nicolas Dalby | 0 | 86 of 140 | 61% | 104 of 158 | 2 of 5 | 40% | 0 | 0 | 6:36 |
| Muslim Salikhov | 0 | 57 of 88 | 64% | 70 of 101 | 2 of 2 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:55 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nicolas Dalby | 0 | 21 of 44 | 47% | 22 of 45 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:07 |
| Muslim Salikhov | 0 | 27 of 45 | 60% | 27 of 45 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:18 | |
| 2 | Nicolas Dalby | 0 | 17 of 27 | 62% | 24 of 34 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 0 | 0 | 3:21 |
| Muslim Salikhov | 0 | 10 of 14 | 71% | 18 of 22 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:27 | |
| 3 | Nicolas Dalby | 0 | 48 of 69 | 69% | 58 of 79 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 3:08 |
| Muslim Salikhov | 0 | 20 of 29 | 68% | 25 of 34 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:10 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nicolas Dalby | 86 of 140 | 61% | 41 of 84 | 36 of 43 | 9 of 13 | 43 of 91 | 36 of 41 | 7 of 8 |
| Muslim Salikhov | 57 of 88 | 64% | 34 of 58 | 21 of 28 | 2 of 2 | 47 of 78 | 10 of 10 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nicolas Dalby | 21 of 44 | 47% | 7 of 25 | 6 of 8 | 8 of 11 | 17 of 40 | 4 of 4 | 0 of 0 |
| Muslim Salikhov | 27 of 45 | 60% | 14 of 26 | 11 of 17 | 2 of 2 | 27 of 45 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Nicolas Dalby | 17 of 27 | 62% | 9 of 17 | 7 of 9 | 1 of 1 | 6 of 13 | 8 of 10 | 3 of 4 |
| Muslim Salikhov | 10 of 14 | 71% | 5 of 9 | 5 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 8 of 12 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Nicolas Dalby | 48 of 69 | 69% | 25 of 42 | 23 of 26 | 0 of 1 | 20 of 38 | 24 of 27 | 4 of 4 |
| Muslim Salikhov | 20 of 29 | 68% | 15 of 23 | 5 of 6 | 0 of 0 | 12 of 21 | 8 of 8 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Salikhov (-190), Dalby (+160)
Round 1
A potential all-action welterweight tilt will kick off the main card, as blood-and-guts Dalby (21-4-1, 2 NC; 5-3-1, 1 NC UFC) stands across the cage from “King of Kung Fu” Salikhov (19-3, 6-2 UFC). This will be the eldest bout on the billing, as Dalby is over 38 while Salikhov just turned 39, so the clock is absolutely ticking for these two 170-pound competitors in hopes of making a run. They do not plan on touching gloves, and referee Mark Smith sits back to observe the proceedings. Dalby slings a high kick early, and Salikhov replies with a solid calf kick as if he had watched the last bout and wanted to replicate that success. Dalby goes for another head kick that is blocked, and he puts a jab in the Russian’s face. Salikhov rifles out a left hand, and he absorbs a kick on the inside of his knee. Salikhov aims a front kick to the chest, and Dalby is quick to kick low again. Salikhov scores a pair of dangerous leg kicks, and they trade punches until Dalby decides to give Salikhov a taste of his own medicine with a kick. Salikhov reaches out with a left hook, and he pushes out with a front kick. The two trade leg kicks, and Dalby ducks a Superman punch right in time. Salikhov spins suddenly with a back fist, and Dalby raises his guard and takes a clean spinning back kick right after to the chest. Dalby picks at the lead leg with a kick, and they both go after one another with heavy right hooks. Dalby aims a shin to the midsection, and he walks into a solid right hand. When Dalby tries to kick low, Salikhov stands him up with an overhand right. Both men crash together with thudding fists, and Salikhov reaches his man in a subsequent strike. “King of Kung Fu” beats Dalby to the punch, and he clips him with a left hand to stagger Dalby. Dalby gathers his thoughts and retaliates with a right hand and a huge head kick. Salikhov is damaged from the blow, and he pursues a takedown to drag Dalby to the ground to recover. The two both stand up in the clinch, and the round ends.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Salikhov
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Salikhov
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Salikhov
Round 2
The welterweights come together in the center of the cage, and Dalby initiates offense with a head kick that is blocked. Salikhov replies with a front kick, leading Dalby into a charge that pushes him against the cage to the wall. Salikhov turns him around, and Dalby reaches him with high knees even with his back against the fence. Salikhov breaks off, and he defends a body kick and spins with a back kick to the midsection. The two measure one another with one-twos, and Dalby ducks straight into a knee when pursuing a takedown. Salikhov keeps his back to the wire as he stays upright, and Dalby lifts up a high knee. This is the worst thing Dalby can do, as Salikhov grabs hold of it, turns Dalby around and deposits him to the canvas. Dalby calmly works his way back up with the fence behind him, and he spams short knees to the side. Dalby wrenches the Dagestan native to the mat, and he moves straight into mount. Salikhov turns to the side and ends up giving up his back, and Dalby gets a hook in and drapes his arm around the chest. Salikhov turns enough to free himself from a hook, and Dalby traps Salikhov’s left leg while turning the torso. Dalby nearly has a twister set up, and he threatens with a choke that transitions from a rear-naked choke to an arm-triangle choke. This is a means to an end, as Dalby steps over into half guard and looks for ground-and-pound. Salikhov explodes back to his feet with a minute to go, and Dalby presses on the Russian when standing up and knees him a few times. Dalby fishes for a trip with his foot, and Salikhov breaks away with an elbow. Dalby chases after him with a head kick, and Salikhov replies with one and falls to his knees. The round ends as Dalby jumps on top.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Dalby
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Dalby
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Dalby
Round 3
Dalby picks up where he left off, with a head kick attempt. Salikhov backs away and holds his arms high to block it and one that follows, but he cannot stop a few punches from Dalby. The Danish fighter attempts a third head kick, and he races forward to either change levels or settle for a clinch. Salikhov looks to muscle out, but Dalby turns him back to the wall, as Salikhov appears frustrated. Dalby grinds and works the body with several active knees, until Salikhov breaks away and gets to striking range. Dalby rushes after him and spears the Russian with a right hand and looks for a head kick. Salikhov is not fazed by the blows, and he jams his foot into Dalby’s midsection. Dalby punches his way into a clinch, but he cannot hold Salikhov there for long. Salikhov escapes, and he rushes backwards. Dalby practically sprints at him, tossing up a head kick and a right hand before engaging in the tie-up once more. When Salikhov drags them away from the cage, Dalby elbows him several times before kneeing him and pushing him to the fencing. Dalby slips a punch over the top and does not lose his clinch grip, and they both give one another mean elbows on the chin. Dalby slings a high kick, and he re-engages Salikhov before dragging him to his knee. Dalby jumps into mount with a little under 15 seconds left, and he beats down on Salikhov with hammerfists and an elbow until the final horn blares.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Dalby (29-28 Dalby)
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Dalby (29-28 Dalby)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Dalby (29-28 Dalby)
The Official Result
Nicolas Dalby def. Muslim Salikhov via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Angelo has a slight lean to Muslim Salikhov because he has better wrestling, but he calls this a 50/50 fight. Both are older strikers with traditional martial arts backgrounds. Dalby's 65% takedown defense could be a factor. Angelo is waiting for props to drop and is not betting the moneyline.
Big Brady picks Nicolas Dalby to win by decision, but he is low on both fighters. He criticizes Salikhov for low volume, poor cardio, and being 39 years old. Dalby is slightly younger and showed high volume in his last fight against Warlley Alves, landing 119 strikes. Brady thinks Dalby can push Salikhov against the cage, tire him out, and be more active. He notes Dalby has never been knocked out and is very tough. However, he admits he is very low on both guys and this is not an exciting fight.
Cody has a tough time reading this fight. He notes Salikhov is a low-volume counter puncher with heavy power, and that opponents often freeze up against him. He thinks Dalby's wrestling is not good enough to take Salikhov down, and if Dalby tries to out-volume him, he risks walking into a big shot. Cody leans Salikhov to land the better strikes and possibly get a knockout, but he doesn't want much exposure. He likes Salikhov by knockout at +240.
Connor picks Dalby, citing his grinding approach as effective against a fighter like Salikhov who needs space. He notes that Salikhov has not been tested by wrestling since Alex Garcia, and Dalby's physicality should be a problem. Connor sees Dalby muscling his way to a win.
Daniel Levi picks Muslim Salikhov, citing a significant firepower advantage and Salikhov's ability to land damaging shots. He notes Dalby's history of being dropped and his lower volume, while Salikhov can knock him out. He gives the cardio edge to Dalby but thinks Salikhov's power will be decisive. He has a good betting history with Salikhov and plans to bet him as long as the line stays under -200.
Dalby has a speed and athleticism advantage, a good output game, and decent takedowns to mix in. Salikhov is one-dimensional with a kung fu striking style and has shown durability issues. Dalby's awkward striking and volume should outwork Salikhov over three rounds. However, Dalby's durability is a slight concern. Dalby wins by decision.
Paul agrees with Cody, noting that Dalby's pitter-patter striking won't work against Salikhov, who hits hard. He points out that Dalby has been knocked down by lesser fighters and that Salikhov's power is a real threat. Paul sees Salikhov by knockout at +240 as a potential small bet, though he wishes the price were higher.
The MMA Guru picks Muslim Salikhov over Nicolas Dalby, stating Salikhov is simply better. He notes Dalby lacks finishing potential, submission ability, and great grappling, while Salikhov has momentum and can finish or win a decision. He mentions Dalby was KO'd by Jesse Ronson, and expects Salikhov to catch Dalby with a right hand.
Zane picks Dalby because he believes Dalby's grinding pressure will overwhelm Salikhov. He notes that Salikhov is a sniper who needs time and space, and that Dalby's high output and physicality will not allow that. Zane acknowledges Salikhov could crack Dalby early, but favors Dalby's consistency.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Muslim Salikhov | 0 | 17 of 66 | 25% | 29 of 80 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:20 |
| André Fialho | 0 | 56 of 95 | 58% | 77 of 123 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 0 | 0 | 3:07 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Muslim Salikhov | 0 | 11 of 38 | 28% | 20 of 49 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:20 |
| André Fialho | 0 | 11 of 22 | 50% | 19 of 35 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 0 | 0 | 1:19 | |
| 2 | Muslim Salikhov | 0 | 5 of 18 | 27% | 7 of 20 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| André Fialho | 0 | 37 of 57 | 64% | 50 of 72 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 1:48 | |
| 3 | Muslim Salikhov | 0 | 1 of 10 | 10% | 2 of 11 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| André Fialho | 0 | 8 of 16 | 50% | 8 of 16 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Muslim Salikhov | 17 of 66 | 25% | 10 of 55 | 4 of 6 | 3 of 5 | 14 of 60 | 3 of 6 | 0 of 0 |
| André Fialho | 56 of 95 | 58% | 38 of 70 | 14 of 21 | 4 of 4 | 35 of 60 | 3 of 8 | 18 of 27 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Muslim Salikhov | 11 of 38 | 28% | 6 of 29 | 3 of 5 | 2 of 4 | 8 of 34 | 3 of 4 | 0 of 0 |
| André Fialho | 11 of 22 | 50% | 5 of 12 | 2 of 6 | 4 of 4 | 9 of 17 | 1 of 4 | 1 of 1 | |
| 2 | Muslim Salikhov | 5 of 18 | 27% | 3 of 16 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 1 | 5 of 18 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| André Fialho | 37 of 57 | 64% | 28 of 47 | 9 of 10 | 0 of 0 | 18 of 28 | 2 of 3 | 17 of 26 | |
| 3 | Muslim Salikhov | 1 of 10 | 10% | 1 of 10 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 8 | 0 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| André Fialho | 8 of 16 | 50% | 5 of 11 | 3 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 8 of 15 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Fialho (-110), Salikhov (-110)
Round 1
Striker faces striker in what has slotted itself in the “featured fight of the night” spot, although their approaches could scarcely be more different even if the end result is the same. The heavy-handed Portugal native Fialho (16-5, 1 NC; 2-2 UFC) will throw down with a spinning specialist nicknamed “King of Kung Fu” in Salikhov (18-3, 5-2 UFC), and referee Chris Tognoni will have his hands full here. The respect is ample with a clap of hands to begin the scheduled melee, and Salikhov strikes first with a calf kick. Fialho responds with two. A front kick from the Dagestan native pushes Fialho back as Fialho delivers a third kick to the lead leg. Fialho gets his balance and leaps forward with a left hook, but it hits the guard of his opponent. Fialho looks to sweep the leg, and Salikhov responds with his own low kick. A left hand from Salikhov splits the guard, and he sits down on a loud low kick to follow. The tense striking match largely consists of single-shot offerings, and Salikhov spins with a wheel kick but misses the mark. Fialho slips a winging right hand and drives Salikhov back with a straight left hand, and he finds the mark with an uppercut shortly thereafter. Salikhov absorbs a right hand and spins with a back kick, and he surprisingly grabs hold of Fialho’s leg and drags him down to the floor. Salikhov wades into the closed guard of his opponent, and Fialho defends with hacking elbows off his back. The fighter from Portugal defends himself from danger as he swats at Salikhov while on his back, and he jumps up and absorbs a spinning back kick right to the midsection. Fialho drives a right hand into the eye socket, and Salikhov blinks it out and swelling develops quickly. Fialho blasts him with an uppercut, with Salikhov grabbing hold of his foe and ramming a few knees to the midsection to slow Fialho down. Fialho settles for a clinch as he gets his back turned to the wall, and he frees himself right as the horn blares.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Fialho
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Salikhov
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Fialho
Round 2
The gloves are touched to start off the second round, and within seconds, Salikhov bull-rushes forward to get a body lock and attempt a takedown. Fialho turns around and protects against a subsequent single, and this too fails from the Russian. Fialho lands a right hand on the break, but Salikhov replies with a kick to the liver. A left hand wraps around the guard of the Portugal native, and Salikhov gets on his bike and takes potshots of front kicks and reaching punches. Fialho prepares himself to take a flush spinning back kick as he plods forward, with his offense falling off a cliff while Salikhov is still swinging for the fences. Salikhov jabs the body and stays light on his feet, and Fialho returns fire with a jab and a low kick. “King of Kung Fu” spins with a back fist that pounds into the side of the head, and Fialho wobbles and takes a clean spinning wheel kick on the neck as well. Fialho bites down on his mouthpiece and throws hammers, leading to Salikhov clinching him up and pursuing some form of takedown. Fialho takes several punches on the chin as he slowly walks forward, still offensively muted as Salikhov picks and rips with single effective strikes. Salikhov is able to put a front kick on the body and a superman punch on the side of the head, and Fialho’s balance is shot as he swings so hard that he falls down to the ground. The Russian looks to finish the job by raining down a long series of powerful hammerfists, and Tognoni implores Fialho to fight back or show some signs of life. Salikhov slows down and makes sure not to fully gas himself out, and the damage on Fialho's face shows his nose is busted up and leaking crimson fluid on the mat. The ground strikes continue until the bell rings.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-8 Salikhov
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-8 Salikhov
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-8 Salikhov
Round 3
The final round begins with an aggressive Fialho, who leaps forward to swing his fists at his opponent. Salikhov hops and springs away from the brunt of the damaging strikes, and he chambers and fires a high kick. Salikhov spins with a perfect spinning back kick to the body, and Fialho falls back against the wall but does not go down. He leans back and allows Salikhov to advance, and he might be playing possum as he suddenly springs to action with huge punches in response.
“King of Kung Fu” showcases his skills to the finest with a magnificent spinning wheel kick that smashes into the side of Fialho’s head, and Fialho clutches his head and is in a bad way. Tognoni thinks about intervening, but allows Salikhov to bludgeon Fialho with a couple more punches before stepping in for the standing TKO.
Fialho immediately protests the stoppage, but his body language before the finish was anything but positive as he was getting destroyed by the flashier striker. For the fifth time in his career, Salikhov has pulled off a finish with a spinning kick, with this one bigger than any he had registered in the past.
The Official Result
Muslim Salikhov def. Andre Fialho R3 1:03 via TKO (Spinning Wheel Kick and Punches)
Francisco Trinaldo - Fight History
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Randy Brown | 1 | 60 of 141 | 42% | 65 of 148 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 1 | 1 | 0:38 |
| Francisco Trinaldo | 0 | 40 of 67 | 59% | 82 of 111 | 1 of 4 | 25% | 0 | 0 | 5:21 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Randy Brown | 1 | 23 of 49 | 46% | 27 of 53 | 0 of 0 | --- | 1 | 1 | 0:38 |
| Francisco Trinaldo | 0 | 9 of 15 | 60% | 13 of 19 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 0 | 0 | 1:04 | |
| 2 | Randy Brown | 0 | 25 of 69 | 36% | 25 of 69 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Francisco Trinaldo | 0 | 19 of 37 | 51% | 22 of 40 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:50 | |
| 3 | Randy Brown | 0 | 12 of 23 | 52% | 13 of 26 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Francisco Trinaldo | 0 | 12 of 15 | 80% | 47 of 52 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 3:27 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Randy Brown | 60 of 141 | 42% | 30 of 101 | 10 of 16 | 20 of 24 | 56 of 136 | 0 of 1 | 4 of 4 |
| Francisco Trinaldo | 40 of 67 | 59% | 20 of 44 | 9 of 12 | 11 of 11 | 33 of 59 | 0 of 1 | 7 of 7 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Randy Brown | 23 of 49 | 46% | 8 of 28 | 2 of 5 | 13 of 16 | 21 of 46 | 0 of 1 | 2 of 2 |
| Francisco Trinaldo | 9 of 15 | 60% | 1 of 6 | 3 of 4 | 5 of 5 | 9 of 15 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Randy Brown | 25 of 69 | 36% | 15 of 55 | 6 of 9 | 4 of 5 | 25 of 69 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Francisco Trinaldo | 19 of 37 | 51% | 8 of 24 | 6 of 8 | 5 of 5 | 19 of 36 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Randy Brown | 12 of 23 | 52% | 7 of 18 | 2 of 2 | 3 of 3 | 10 of 21 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 2 |
| Francisco Trinaldo | 12 of 15 | 80% | 11 of 14 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | 5 of 8 | 0 of 0 | 7 of 7 |
Cody picks Trinaldo as a plus money underdog, believing the line should be closer to -170/+150. He argues that Trinaldo is very good at making opponents fight at his pace and that Brown's boxing is not as functional as it seems. He expects a close fight and wants to be holding the plus 270 ticket if it goes to decision. He plans to bet Trinaldo and may wait for a better price at weigh-ins.
Paul picks Randy Brown by decision, citing Brown's significant reach advantage, improved striking, and ability to use his jab and footwork to outpoint Trinaldo. He acknowledges Trinaldo's durability and winning streak but believes Brown's superior technique and youth will prevail. He notes that Trinaldo has never been knocked down and hasn't been submitted since 2017, so a decision is the most likely outcome.
The MMA Guru sees this as a complete mismatch, citing Randy Brown's significant advantages in height, reach, and athleticism over the 44-year-old Trinaldo. He expects Brown to use volume striking from distance and possibly mix in wrestling, similar to his win over Cowboy Oliveira. He believes Trinaldo's only path is an early knockout, but Brown's activity and youth should overwhelm him. He calls it a 'free betting boost' and includes Brown in his parlay.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Francisco Trinaldo | 0 | 80 of 124 | 64% | 91 of 137 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 1 | 0 | 4:21 |
| Danny Roberts | 0 | 36 of 118 | 30% | 44 of 128 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:39 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Francisco Trinaldo | 0 | 23 of 37 | 62% | 25 of 39 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:21 |
| Danny Roberts | 0 | 16 of 57 | 28% | 16 of 57 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:04 | |
| 2 | Francisco Trinaldo | 0 | 34 of 48 | 70% | 41 of 57 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 1 | 0 | 3:14 |
| Danny Roberts | 0 | 7 of 17 | 41% | 9 of 20 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:03 | |
| 3 | Francisco Trinaldo | 0 | 23 of 39 | 58% | 25 of 41 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:46 |
| Danny Roberts | 0 | 13 of 44 | 29% | 19 of 51 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:32 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Francisco Trinaldo | 80 of 124 | 64% | 62 of 102 | 16 of 20 | 2 of 2 | 51 of 86 | 21 of 26 | 8 of 12 |
| Danny Roberts | 36 of 118 | 30% | 15 of 92 | 12 of 15 | 9 of 11 | 27 of 103 | 8 of 14 | 1 of 1 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Francisco Trinaldo | 23 of 37 | 62% | 15 of 27 | 8 of 10 | 0 of 0 | 20 of 33 | 3 of 4 | 0 of 0 |
| Danny Roberts | 16 of 57 | 28% | 6 of 44 | 4 of 7 | 6 of 6 | 15 of 55 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Francisco Trinaldo | 34 of 48 | 70% | 28 of 40 | 5 of 7 | 1 of 1 | 14 of 21 | 12 of 15 | 8 of 12 |
| Danny Roberts | 7 of 17 | 41% | 5 of 15 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 1 | 3 of 10 | 3 of 6 | 1 of 1 | |
| 3 | Francisco Trinaldo | 23 of 39 | 58% | 19 of 35 | 3 of 3 | 1 of 1 | 17 of 32 | 6 of 7 | 0 of 0 |
| Danny Roberts | 13 of 44 | 29% | 4 of 33 | 7 of 7 | 2 of 4 | 9 of 38 | 4 of 6 | 0 of 0 |
Angelo picks Francisco Trinaldo, continuing to ride the Trinaldo train. He likes the matchup because Danny Roberts won't initiate takedowns and has poor takedown defense. He acknowledges Trinaldo's age but believes his chin is still intact, though he notes Roberts has the power to test it.
Big Brady picks Danny Roberts to win by decision, but he is leaning and not confident. He notes that Trinaldo is 43 years old and small for welterweight, while Roberts is nine years younger, taller, and has a reach advantage. However, Roberts has shown poor fight IQ and durability issues, being finished in all his losses. Brady thinks the youth and size advantage will be decisive, but it's a close fight and he cannot be confident. He expects a competitive decision.
Cody picks Danny Roberts as his second underdog. He notes that Roberts is faster, has better footwork, and higher output. Cody believes Roberts can win the first two rounds and survive the third. He acknowledges Roberts' history of bonehead decisions but thinks the big cage and Sanford MMA game plan will help. Cody sees it as a close fight that could go either way.
Daniel Levi leans toward Danny Roberts as a slight underdog, citing Roberts' size, power, and prime age versus the 44-year-old Trinaldo. He acknowledges Trinaldo's durability and experience but thinks age may finally catch up. He plans to bet one unit on Roberts if the line improves to around +105 or +110, but has not placed the bet yet.
The host picks Danny Roberts but is not betting the fight. He believes Roberts is the better fighter at this stage, younger and faster, and should outpoint Trinaldo. However, he acknowledges Trinaldo's knockout power and Roberts' questionable chin. He mentions a possible Trinaldo KO prop at +450 to +550 as a small shot. He is staying away from betting due to the volatility.
Paul picks Francisco Trinaldo, despite acknowledging that Roberts will likely be winning early. He believes Trinaldo's durability and power will eventually catch Roberts, similar to the Jai Herbert fight. Paul notes that Roberts has a suspect chin and Trinaldo can land a big left hand late. He expects Trinaldo to be losing on the scorecards before getting a finish.
The MMA Guru hesitantly picks Danny Roberts as an underdog, acknowledging Roberts' history of being KO'd but noting Trinaldo's age (43) and lack of power at welterweight. He believes Roberts' reach and rangy style will allow him to fight patiently and win a close decision. He mentions Roberts has momentum with a couple of wins and confidence, while Trinaldo hasn't had many finishes recently. He predicts a razor-close 29-28 decision.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Francisco Trinaldo | 0 | 36 of 70 | 51% | 61 of 101 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 0 | 0 | 4:45 |
| Dwight Grant | 0 | 31 of 133 | 23% | 41 of 145 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:11 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Francisco Trinaldo | 0 | 11 of 20 | 55% | 11 of 20 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Dwight Grant | 0 | 14 of 51 | 27% | 14 of 51 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Francisco Trinaldo | 0 | 15 of 28 | 53% | 16 of 31 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 1:08 |
| Dwight Grant | 0 | 8 of 48 | 16% | 13 of 55 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:11 | |
| 3 | Francisco Trinaldo | 0 | 10 of 22 | 45% | 34 of 50 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 3:37 |
| Dwight Grant | 0 | 9 of 34 | 26% | 14 of 39 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Francisco Trinaldo | 36 of 70 | 51% | 20 of 50 | 11 of 14 | 5 of 6 | 26 of 57 | 4 of 5 | 6 of 8 |
| Dwight Grant | 31 of 133 | 23% | 20 of 114 | 7 of 14 | 4 of 5 | 28 of 128 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 4 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Francisco Trinaldo | 11 of 20 | 55% | 4 of 12 | 5 of 6 | 2 of 2 | 11 of 20 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Dwight Grant | 14 of 51 | 27% | 6 of 39 | 4 of 7 | 4 of 5 | 14 of 51 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Francisco Trinaldo | 15 of 28 | 53% | 9 of 19 | 4 of 6 | 2 of 3 | 11 of 23 | 4 of 5 | 0 of 0 |
| Dwight Grant | 8 of 48 | 16% | 8 of 44 | 0 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 5 of 43 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 4 | |
| 3 | Francisco Trinaldo | 10 of 22 | 45% | 7 of 19 | 2 of 2 | 1 of 1 | 4 of 14 | 0 of 0 | 6 of 8 |
| Dwight Grant | 9 of 34 | 26% | 6 of 31 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 9 of 34 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Angelo leans Trinaldo because he thinks the shorter, stockier fighter can get inside Grant's reach, get to the hips, and grind. He notes Grant has questionable cardio and was knocked out in his last fight despite winning early. However, he's worried about Trinaldo's age (43) and when he'll start to decline. He likes the more/more on the monkey knife fight and will have Trinaldo in his DraftKings lineup.
Big Brady picks Grant to knock out the 43-year-old Trinaldo, citing Trinaldo's age, size disadvantage, and recent knockdowns. He notes Grant's power and Trinaldo's never-been-KO'd record, but believes the chin will crack. He predicts a first-round knockout.
Cody picks Francisco Trinaldo, admitting it's a heart-over-mind bet. He notes Trinaldo's durability and veteran savvy, and criticizes Dwight Grant's tendency to run away and his unimpressive UFC performances. Cody points out that Grant has looked abysmal, losing to low-level competition and barely beating Stefan Sekulich. He believes Trinaldo's toughness and forward pressure will be enough to win, though he acknowledges the risk.
Lock picks Trinaldo based on pressure and durability. He notes Trinaldo has never been knocked down and should stalk Grant, who tends to backpedal. He expects Trinaldo to win by decision, citing Grant's lack of volume and Trinaldo's superior kickboxing.
Paul does not make a clear pick. He notes that Trinaldo is now the favorite and he is not interested at that price. He also points out that Dwight Grant could win by staying on the outside and landing chip shots. Paul seems to lean towards passing on the fight.
The MMA Guru picks Francisco Trinaldo, trusting his chin and durability. He criticizes Dwight Grant for being gun-shy and compares him to Uriah Hall. He believes Trinaldo's pressure and chin will carry him to a decision win, though he notes Grant has KO power.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Muslim Salikhov | 0 | 39 of 128 | 30% | 51 of 148 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:40 |
| Francisco Trinaldo | 1 | 62 of 118 | 52% | 71 of 129 | 2 of 3 | 66% | 0 | 0 | 2:07 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Muslim Salikhov | 0 | 13 of 39 | 33% | 13 of 40 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:02 |
| Francisco Trinaldo | 1 | 26 of 49 | 53% | 27 of 50 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:30 | |
| 2 | Muslim Salikhov | 0 | 16 of 48 | 33% | 17 of 52 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:10 |
| Francisco Trinaldo | 0 | 16 of 39 | 41% | 18 of 41 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:16 | |
| 3 | Muslim Salikhov | 0 | 10 of 41 | 24% | 21 of 56 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:28 |
| Francisco Trinaldo | 0 | 20 of 30 | 66% | 26 of 38 | 2 of 2 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 1:21 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Muslim Salikhov | 39 of 128 | 30% | 22 of 101 | 16 of 26 | 1 of 1 | 34 of 119 | 5 of 9 | 0 of 0 |
| Francisco Trinaldo | 62 of 118 | 52% | 29 of 84 | 26 of 27 | 7 of 7 | 48 of 98 | 1 of 1 | 13 of 19 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Muslim Salikhov | 13 of 39 | 33% | 9 of 31 | 4 of 8 | 0 of 0 | 11 of 34 | 2 of 5 | 0 of 0 |
| Francisco Trinaldo | 26 of 49 | 53% | 13 of 36 | 10 of 10 | 3 of 3 | 17 of 35 | 0 of 0 | 9 of 14 | |
| 2 | Muslim Salikhov | 16 of 48 | 33% | 7 of 34 | 9 of 14 | 0 of 0 | 14 of 46 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Francisco Trinaldo | 16 of 39 | 41% | 6 of 28 | 9 of 10 | 1 of 1 | 16 of 39 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Muslim Salikhov | 10 of 41 | 24% | 6 of 36 | 3 of 4 | 1 of 1 | 9 of 39 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Francisco Trinaldo | 20 of 30 | 66% | 10 of 20 | 7 of 7 | 3 of 3 | 15 of 24 | 1 of 1 | 4 of 5 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogRound 1
For the first time in many years, Trinaldo (26-7, 16-6 UFC) is fighting outside of the lightweight division. In this return to welterweight – Trinaldo started his UFC career at middleweight but his pro career in this 170-pound category – he will meet “King of Kung Fu” Salikhov (17-2, 4-1 UFC). The Octagon ranger for this interesting style matchup is referee Mark Smith, and the two fighters do not touch gloves to begin their melee. Trinaldo wades forward to pressure Salikhov, and “King of Kung Fu” jabs at him from a distance. Trinaldo catches his man on the way in with a looping shot, and a body kick surprises Salikhov. The two are not committing on strikes of note, preferring to find their range and fake the other out. Salikhov unleashes a nasty body kick that slaps on the midsection of his opponent, and the sound echoes throughout the empty UFC Apex. The Brazilian tries to chase Salikhov down to make him pay, but Salikhov keeps his man at bay with kicks. “Massaranduba” rushes through strikes to land a left hand of his own, and Salikhov laughs it off to tag Trinaldo with a huge right hand. Trinaldo chases after him with a swarm of inaccurate punches, but he does bully the Dagestani fighter into the cage to knee him in the chest. Salikhov swipes at him with a left hand, and he chops the lead leg of the Brazilian on the way out. Trinaldo scores a right hand and just narrowly avoids a head kick and a subsequent spinning heel kick. “Massaranduba” bites down on his mouthpiece to throw hands, but Salikhov slips and rips with counters. A quick uppercut from “King of Kung Fu” clips Trinaldo on the chin, and the Brazilian falls to his back in serious danger. Salikhov chases him down and slams his fists on the side of his head, but Trinaldo survives by throwing his legs up for a desperation heel hook to occupy Salikhov’s time until the bell sounds.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Salikhov
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Salikhov
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Salikhov
Round 2
The welterweights meet in the center of the cage, and Trinaldo is ready to go back to battle as he presses forward to land a left hand on the backpedaling Dagestan native. Salikhov sits on an uppercut, but he comes up just short of the mark. Trinaldo comes forward confidently and knees the body a few times, but Salikhov tags him with fierce punches on the way out. “King of Kung Fu” gets off a crisp uppercut and a follow-up punch, and a low kick to the calf nearly puts Trinaldo down. Trinaldo times a big left hand as Salikhov advances, and Salikhov does not even register the strike as he puts his own combination together. A nasty right hand shocks Trinaldo, who is on wobbled legs but not going down this time, and Salikhov leaps in the air with a knee that glances off the target. The Brazilian only appears enraged, as he takes a punch on the chin and lashes out with a huge strike that Salikhov can barely dodge. The two are loading up on their strikes with everything they have, until they come together in a clinch. Salikhov does not way to stay here for long, as he backs off and pins a one-two on the chin. A few jabs from Salikhov find their home, and a high kick blazes up and just gets blocked in time. Salikhov ducks a looping shot to tag his foe with an uppercut, and he escapes as Trinaldo bears down on him with reaching shots. Trinaldo throws so hard he nearly falls over, and Salikhov lands a few quick strikes on the way out. A heavy body kick from Salikhov finds its mark on the midsection, and he steps forward to throw the Brazilian down to his back. “Massaranduba” slowly climbs to a knee and back up, and the tense round ends.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Salikhov
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Salikhov
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Salikhov
Round 3
The two men are amped up to get after it, and Smith needs them to back off before he calls time. Seconds into the round, as Salikhov is readying a strike, Trinaldo lunges his fingers out and one goes deep into the eyeball. Salikhov falls to the ground in pain, clutching his eye, and Smith rushes over to attend to him while calling in the doctor. Salikhov’s eye appears bloodied and his eyelid is not opening all the way, but he tells the doctor that his vision is blurry but returning. The doctor wipes Salikhov’s eye clear, and Smith issues Trinaldo a hard warning. The action resumes after about two minutes in the break, and the two offer a glove touch before getting back down to business. Trinaldo winds up a bomb of a left hand that clacks off Salikhov’s chin, and Salikhov wobbles but backs off. Trinaldo knows the vision is compromised, and his left hand finds its home on that eye repeatedly, doing some serious damage. Trinaldo pushes in for a clinch to land a few knees, and Salikhov backs out of the clinch and catches a charging Trinaldo with an uppercut. The Brazilian swings with reckless abandon, with looping shots nowhere near the mark. The Dagestani fighter blocks a big head kick, and he lances Trinaldo with a straight right hand. Trinaldo falls over throwing so hard, and Salikhov backs off and kicks his leg a few times before Smith stands him up. Salikhov gets off a one-two when they start up, and he dances out of the way as Trinaldo bears down on him. Salikhov sits down on a left hand, and a spinning heel kick glances off the shoulder. Trinaldo is not afraid, taking strikes on the jaw and marching forward to throw haymakers. Salikhov absorbs a stern body kick that makes him drop his right hand, and Trinaldo follows the kick with a big right hand. Salikhov stings him with a few punches, and the Brazilian maintains his composure and takes another one-two on the chin. Ever the Terminator, Trinaldo plods forward through a few strikes to land his own, but Salikhov is much faster, putting a few punches together in rapid succession. Salikhov ends a combination by lifting Trinaldo in the air and slamming him down. From on top, Salikhov delivers a wild barrage of ground-and-pound to end the round in style.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Salikhov (30-27 Salikhov)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Salikhov (30-27 Salikhov)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Salikhov (30-27 Salikhov)
The Official Result
Muslim Salikhov def. Francisco Trinaldo via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Big Brady expects a low-volume, boring fight likely going to decision. He notes Trinaldo is 42 with a great chin but poor cardio, while Salikhov has flashier strikes and slightly more volume. He acknowledges Salikhov has struggled with grapplers in the past but thinks Trinaldo lacks the cardio to implement a ground game. He predicts Salikhov wins a boring decision, with a possible late finish if Trinaldo gasses.
Cody picks Trinaldo, agreeing with Paul. He notes Salikhov's takedown defense issues and Trinaldo's grappling advantage. Cody thinks Trinaldo's cardio is overblown and that he can win via takedowns and top control. He sees great value at +210.
Daniel picks Salikhov via second-round knockout, citing his sharp counter-striking, accuracy, and improving takedown defense. He notes that Trinaldo is 42 and only has one round of wrestling in him, as seen in his last fight. Daniel believes Trinaldo will slow down and get countered by Salikhov's spinning attacks and straight punches. He respects Trinaldo but thinks father time is undefeated, and that Salikhov's distance management and power will be too much.
Trinaldo is durable, never knocked out, and can mix in takedowns. Salikhov is low-output and overvalued due to the 'Russian tax'. This fight will be close and go to decision, with Trinaldo having the edge.
Paul picks Trinaldo as a dog, citing his experience and well-rounded skills. He notes Salikhov's takedown defense issues and that Trinaldo has a path via grappling. Paul thinks the odds are too high for a fighter of Trinaldo's caliber. He already bet Trinaldo at +210.
The Guru picks Muslim Salikhov, expecting a striking stalemate but believing Salikhov will be too strong in grappling and more technical on the feet. He thinks Salikhov will give Trinaldo a rude awakening to welterweight, being bigger and faster. He predicts a 30-27 unanimous decision in a somewhat boring fight.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Francisco Trinaldo | 1 | 30 of 58 | 51% | 37 of 66 | 2 of 3 | 66% | 2 | 1 | 3:18 |
| Jai Herbert | 1 | 21 of 70 | 30% | 37 of 90 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 3:20 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Francisco Trinaldo | 0 | 9 of 20 | 45% | 13 of 24 | 2 of 3 | 66% | 2 | 0 | 3:15 |
| Jai Herbert | 0 | 4 of 14 | 28% | 13 of 25 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:43 | |
| 2 | Francisco Trinaldo | 0 | 9 of 22 | 40% | 12 of 26 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 1 | 0:00 |
| Jai Herbert | 1 | 14 of 32 | 43% | 21 of 41 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 2:37 | |
| 3 | Francisco Trinaldo | 1 | 12 of 16 | 75% | 12 of 16 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:03 |
| Jai Herbert | 0 | 3 of 24 | 12% | 3 of 24 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Francisco Trinaldo | 30 of 58 | 51% | 15 of 35 | 7 of 14 | 8 of 9 | 19 of 45 | 3 of 4 | 8 of 9 |
| Jai Herbert | 21 of 70 | 30% | 15 of 63 | 4 of 5 | 2 of 2 | 16 of 61 | 5 of 6 | 0 of 3 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Francisco Trinaldo | 9 of 20 | 45% | 4 of 13 | 4 of 6 | 1 of 1 | 3 of 12 | 3 of 4 | 3 of 4 |
| Jai Herbert | 4 of 14 | 28% | 4 of 14 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 11 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 1 | |
| 2 | Francisco Trinaldo | 9 of 22 | 40% | 4 of 12 | 2 of 6 | 3 of 4 | 8 of 21 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 |
| Jai Herbert | 14 of 32 | 43% | 9 of 27 | 4 of 4 | 1 of 1 | 11 of 26 | 3 of 4 | 0 of 2 | |
| 3 | Francisco Trinaldo | 12 of 16 | 75% | 7 of 10 | 1 of 2 | 4 of 4 | 8 of 12 | 0 of 0 | 4 of 4 |
| Jai Herbert | 3 of 24 | 12% | 2 of 22 | 0 of 1 | 1 of 1 | 3 of 24 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogRound 1
Headlining the prelims that might have felt like an eternity to some is a catchweight fight between longtime UFC vet Trinaldo (25-7, 15-6 UFC) and hard-charging British striker Herbert (10-1, 0-0 UFC), with the latter making his UFC debut while Trinaldo has already fought in the Octagon 21 times. As Trinaldo missed weight by four pounds, this is a 160-pound affair, and it will be overseen by referee Herb Dean. There is no glove touch, and Herbert starts out with a wide stance as he paws out his left. Trinaldo winds up with a left hook that comes up well short, and Herbert is dancing around the cage while avoiding strikes. Herbert stings him with a right hand, and lands another, forcing the Brazilian to bite down on his mouthpiece and land a left hook and a body kick. “Massaranduba” mashes him against the fence, where it leads to a simple takedown as he hops into half guard. Trinaldo drops down a hard elbow, and fishes for an arm-triangle choke that leads him to fall off. Herbert springs back up, but Trinaldo snags his neck on the way up and clamps on a guillotine choke. The Brit stays calm, and he pulls his head free and returns to his feet as Trinaldo squeezes him on the fence. When Herbert tries to gain separation, Trinaldo redoubles his effort to get the fight down, and he tosses his man to the canvas. Herbert tries to get to his knees and stand up, but he gives up his neck as Trinaldo steps over to hunt for a rear-naked choke. Herbert falls to his back to defend the choke, so Trinaldo lashes at him with vicious elbows. Herbert manages to kick off, but Trinaldo comes back forward to bully Herbert on the fence. Herbert turns out and lifts up a few knees that ring Trinaldo’s bell, but the Brazilian winds up with a right hand that does some damage as well. When they are still holding tight, Herbert hits his own takedown, and he wings a big elbow at his opponent from on top. Herbert rides out the rest of the round with a few punches from half guard.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Trinaldo
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Trinaldo
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Trinaldo
Round 2
Herbert opens the round with a few jabs, and he follows one with a piston-like right straight that sets Trinaldo down on the ground. The Brit dives on top and drills him with an elbow, so Trinaldo scrambles but inadvertently gives up his back. Herbert gets both his hooks in, and he secures a body triangle as he fishes for a neck. Herbert tries to set up a rear-naked choke, and the Brazilian defends it well, so Herbert softens him up with a few punches. Trinaldo bucks like a bronco, but Herbert has him locked down from turning. Trinaldo gets two-on-one wrist control to force a sweep, and after they jockey for position, Trinaldo gets him off and gets to his knees. The Brazilian takes a moment to get up, so Herbert blasts him on the chin again. Trinaldo looks tired as he tries to get back up, and he swings wildly and inaccurately but zings one off the chin. Herbert stuffs a takedown attempt, and he sticks Trinaldo with another right hand. Trinaldo is wobbling around like he is on an ice-covered canvas, and Herbert nearly drops him again with a right hand. Trinaldo gets his knees back beneath him but his punches are labored and not finding their mark in time. Herbert is loose, and when they clinch, Herbert knees him in the face before breaking position. Herbert sneaks in another right hand, and Trinaldo greets him with a thumping low kick. Trinaldo tries another one of those kicks, but Herbert checks it and sticks him with a right. The round ends with both men swinging to the horn.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-8 Herbert
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Herbert
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Herbert
Round 3
Trinaldo opens the last round up with some hard leg kicks, and Herbert replies in kind with long left hands. Trinaldo kicks to the body, and Herbert can do nothing but take it and aim right hands down the pipe. They trade kicks, and Herbert doubles up on a jab while blocking the counter left coming at him. Trinaldo sends a body kick skimming off the midsection of the debuting Brit.
The Brazilian winds up with a crazy left hand that bounces off the forehead, and there is a delayed reaction as Herbert loses his equilibrium and falls back with his arms outstretched and could be out cold! Unfortunately for Herbert, Dean stands there and urges Trinaldo to pound on him, but Herbert is already done. Trinaldo does not want to finish the job, and waits a moment before reluctantly slamming down four more jackhammering left hands to officially seal the deal.
That was not a good display of refereeing, and not the first potentially late stoppage from Dean tonight; more than anything, what a surprising win for the Brazilian.
The Official Result
Francisco Trinaldo def. Jai Herbert R3 1:30 via TKO (Punches)
Big Brady picks Herbert as his first underdog of the card, citing Herbert's speed, volume, and youth. He thinks Trinaldo is on the decline and doesn't throw enough. He is concerned about Trinaldo's takedowns but notes Trinaldo rarely uses them. He predicts Herbert wins a decision by outworking Trinaldo.
Daniel leans Trinaldo but acknowledges Herbert's knockout power. He thinks Trinaldo will mix in takedowns and have success on the mat if Herbert can't knock him out. He notes Trinaldo's experience and toughness but also that Herbert's right hand is a real threat. He sees Trinaldo winning a decision.
Herbert is a good striker with movement and kicks, and Trinaldo is 41 and may start to slow down. Herbert can manage distance and avoid Trinaldo's power shots. However, Trinaldo has power and experience, making this a tough fight to cap. Herbert likely wins by decision if he stays safe.
The MMA Guru picks Jai Herbert, citing his good wins, training with Leon Edwards, and his amateur career showing seriousness. He notes Herbert has quick KOs and a gas tank for later rounds. He predicts Herbert will have big moments and win a decision, as Trinaldo has never been TKO'd and has a good chin.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Francisco Trinaldo | 0 | 55 of 126 | 43% | 55 of 126 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| John Makdessi | 0 | 67 of 123 | 54% | 68 of 124 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Francisco Trinaldo | 0 | 12 of 30 | 40% | 12 of 30 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| John Makdessi | 0 | 25 of 35 | 71% | 25 of 35 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Francisco Trinaldo | 0 | 19 of 44 | 43% | 19 of 44 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| John Makdessi | 0 | 19 of 38 | 50% | 19 of 38 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 3 | Francisco Trinaldo | 0 | 24 of 52 | 46% | 24 of 52 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| John Makdessi | 0 | 23 of 50 | 46% | 24 of 51 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Francisco Trinaldo | 55 of 126 | 43% | 34 of 100 | 17 of 22 | 4 of 4 | 53 of 124 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| John Makdessi | 67 of 123 | 54% | 15 of 54 | 16 of 26 | 36 of 43 | 65 of 121 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Francisco Trinaldo | 12 of 30 | 40% | 5 of 22 | 6 of 7 | 1 of 1 | 12 of 30 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| John Makdessi | 25 of 35 | 71% | 5 of 9 | 7 of 10 | 13 of 16 | 25 of 35 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Francisco Trinaldo | 19 of 44 | 43% | 12 of 33 | 6 of 10 | 1 of 1 | 19 of 44 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| John Makdessi | 19 of 38 | 50% | 4 of 18 | 5 of 8 | 10 of 12 | 19 of 38 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Francisco Trinaldo | 24 of 52 | 46% | 17 of 45 | 5 of 5 | 2 of 2 | 22 of 50 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| John Makdessi | 23 of 50 | 46% | 6 of 27 | 4 of 8 | 13 of 15 | 21 of 48 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
Daniel picks Trinaldo, citing his power and aggression. He thinks Trinaldo's left hand will find Makdessi's chin, which has been broken before. He predicts a decision win for Trinaldo by landing harder shots, even without the crowd.
The host picks John Makdessi over Francisco Trinaldo. He notes that Makdessi has been on a three-fight win streak since a KO loss, while Trinaldo is older and coming off a win over Bobby Green but couldn't beat a one-armed Alexander Hernandez. He expects Makdessi to out-strike Trinaldo for a boring decision win.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Francisco Trinaldo | 0 | 31 of 122 | 25% | 36 of 127 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 1 | 0 | 1:04 |
| King Green | 0 | 50 of 115 | 43% | 67 of 135 | 2 of 2 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 3:45 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Francisco Trinaldo | 0 | 4 of 13 | 30% | 8 of 17 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 1 | 0 | 0:19 |
| King Green | 0 | 9 of 18 | 50% | 25 of 37 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 3:15 | |
| 2 | Francisco Trinaldo | 0 | 15 of 58 | 25% | 15 of 58 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| King Green | 0 | 24 of 50 | 48% | 24 of 50 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 3 | Francisco Trinaldo | 0 | 12 of 51 | 23% | 13 of 52 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:45 |
| King Green | 0 | 17 of 47 | 36% | 18 of 48 | 2 of 2 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:30 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Francisco Trinaldo | 31 of 122 | 25% | 20 of 100 | 5 of 14 | 6 of 8 | 26 of 109 | 5 of 13 | 0 of 0 |
| King Green | 50 of 115 | 43% | 27 of 77 | 13 of 24 | 10 of 14 | 43 of 106 | 1 of 2 | 6 of 7 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Francisco Trinaldo | 4 of 13 | 30% | 4 of 12 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 10 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
| King Green | 9 of 18 | 50% | 3 of 10 | 4 of 5 | 2 of 3 | 4 of 12 | 0 of 0 | 5 of 6 | |
| 2 | Francisco Trinaldo | 15 of 58 | 25% | 4 of 41 | 5 of 10 | 6 of 7 | 13 of 54 | 2 of 4 | 0 of 0 |
| King Green | 24 of 50 | 48% | 14 of 32 | 5 of 12 | 5 of 6 | 24 of 49 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Francisco Trinaldo | 12 of 51 | 23% | 12 of 47 | 0 of 3 | 0 of 1 | 11 of 45 | 1 of 6 | 0 of 0 |
| King Green | 17 of 47 | 36% | 10 of 35 | 4 of 7 | 3 of 5 | 15 of 45 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 1 |
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alexander Hernandez | 0 | 25 of 91 | 27% | 26 of 92 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:20 |
| Francisco Trinaldo | 0 | 25 of 52 | 48% | 28 of 55 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alexander Hernandez | 0 | 8 of 30 | 26% | 8 of 30 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Francisco Trinaldo | 0 | 8 of 14 | 57% | 8 of 14 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Alexander Hernandez | 0 | 6 of 23 | 26% | 6 of 23 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:02 |
| Francisco Trinaldo | 0 | 5 of 17 | 29% | 5 of 17 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 3 | Alexander Hernandez | 0 | 11 of 38 | 28% | 12 of 39 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:18 |
| Francisco Trinaldo | 0 | 12 of 21 | 57% | 15 of 24 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alexander Hernandez | 25 of 91 | 27% | 9 of 53 | 13 of 33 | 3 of 5 | 25 of 90 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 1 |
| Francisco Trinaldo | 25 of 52 | 48% | 13 of 33 | 11 of 18 | 1 of 1 | 24 of 51 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alexander Hernandez | 8 of 30 | 26% | 1 of 17 | 5 of 10 | 2 of 3 | 8 of 30 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Francisco Trinaldo | 8 of 14 | 57% | 5 of 9 | 3 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 8 of 14 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Alexander Hernandez | 6 of 23 | 26% | 4 of 13 | 2 of 10 | 0 of 0 | 6 of 23 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Francisco Trinaldo | 5 of 17 | 29% | 2 of 11 | 3 of 6 | 0 of 0 | 5 of 17 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Alexander Hernandez | 11 of 38 | 28% | 4 of 23 | 6 of 13 | 1 of 2 | 11 of 37 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 1 |
| Francisco Trinaldo | 12 of 21 | 57% | 6 of 13 | 5 of 7 | 1 of 1 | 11 of 20 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogRound 1
It’s time for a lightweight bout between Alexander Hernandez and Francisco Trinaldo. The referee is Frank Collazo. Hernandez comes out flying with a side kick. Trinaldo connects on a long straight right. Hernandez explodes forward with a straight right of his own. Hernandez is circling around Trinaldo, who has posted up in the center of the Octagon. Trinaldo lands a counter straight right after connecting on a kick by Hernandez. Trinaldo lands a low blow that hurts Hernandez and the referee calls time. Time is back in. The round is soon over, but not before Trinaldo lands a flying knee just before the round ends.
Sherdog Scores
Adam Martin scores the round: 10-9 Hernandez
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Trinaldo
Cole Shelton scores the round: 10-9 Trinaldo
Round 2
Round two begins. Trinaldo pushes forward and lands a high kick. Hernandez pushes forward and grabs a hold of Trinaldo, but shakes him off. Hernandez is unable to land anything on Trinaldo right now, but Trinaldo isn’t doing much either. Hernandez lands an overhand right. Trinaldo walks forward and lands a high kick. Neither guy really landed much that round and it’s soon over.
Sherdog Scores
Adam Martin scores the round: 10-9 Trinaldo
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Trinaldo
Cole Shelton scores the round: 10-9 Hernandez
Round 3
The third round begins and right now it could be in either guy’s favor. Hernandez shoves Trinaldo against the fence. They break. Trinaldo throws a kick but slips and Hernandez is unable to take advantage of the slip. There just really isn’t much happening in this fight. Trinaldo has been planted in the center of the Octagon while Hernandez has danced around him. Hernandez finally starts to pick it up near the end of the round but he just hasn’t landed much of anything. Weird fight, and who knows how the judges will score it.
Sherdog Scores
Adam Martin scores the round: 10-9 Hernandez (29-28 Hernandez)
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Hernandez (29-28 Trinaldo)
Cole Shelton scores the round: 10-9 Hernandez (29-28 Hernandez)
The Official Result
Alexander Hernandez def. Francisco Trinaldo via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Expert Picks (6)
Big Brady expects a low-volume, boring fight likely going to decision. He notes Trinaldo is 42 with a great chin but poor cardio, while Salikhov has flashier strikes and slightly more volume. He acknowledges Salikhov has struggled with grapplers in the past but thinks Trinaldo lacks the cardio to implement a ground game. He predicts Salikhov wins a boring decision, with a possible late finish if Trinaldo gasses.
Cody picks Trinaldo, agreeing with Paul. He notes Salikhov's takedown defense issues and Trinaldo's grappling advantage. Cody thinks Trinaldo's cardio is overblown and that he can win via takedowns and top control. He sees great value at +210.
Daniel picks Salikhov via second-round knockout, citing his sharp counter-striking, accuracy, and improving takedown defense. He notes that Trinaldo is 42 and only has one round of wrestling in him, as seen in his last fight. Daniel believes Trinaldo will slow down and get countered by Salikhov's spinning attacks and straight punches. He respects Trinaldo but thinks father time is undefeated, and that Salikhov's distance management and power will be too much.
Trinaldo is durable, never knocked out, and can mix in takedowns. Salikhov is low-output and overvalued due to the 'Russian tax'. This fight will be close and go to decision, with Trinaldo having the edge.
Paul picks Trinaldo as a dog, citing his experience and well-rounded skills. He notes Salikhov's takedown defense issues and that Trinaldo has a path via grappling. Paul thinks the odds are too high for a fighter of Trinaldo's caliber. He already bet Trinaldo at +210.
The Guru picks Muslim Salikhov, expecting a striking stalemate but believing Salikhov will be too strong in grappling and more technical on the feet. He thinks Salikhov will give Trinaldo a rude awakening to welterweight, being bigger and faster. He predicts a 30-27 unanimous decision in a somewhat boring fight.
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