Muslim Salikhov started thinking about a Li Jingliang matchup years before he came to MMA

UNIONDALE, N.Y. – Muslim Salikhov has been itching to get back in the cage.

He fought just once in 2020 and once in 2021 about a year apart. Saturday at UFC on ABC 3, he’ll return after a layoff of 13 months. He said two bouts with COVID-19 contributed to his lack of activity.

“I’m a warrior,” Salikhov told MMA Junkie at Wednesday’s media day in Elmont, N.Y. “Fighters have a lot of problems – injuries, their health, COVID. But I understand I have to keep going – training every day. Of course, it’s not easy when you don’t have a fight, training two times a day. But I understand I should do it because I’m not young. If I stop, I can’t come back in my best shape.”

Salikhov (18-2 MMA, 5-1 UFC) has one of the biggest matchups of his career when he takes on Li Jingliang (18-7 MMA, 10-5 UFC) on Saturday’s main card at UBS Arena on Long Island. The welterweight matchup is one Salikhov has had his eye on for a while.

They even spent some time training together before Salikhov transitioned from kickboxing to MMA.

“When I fought in China (before I came to the UFC), many fans in China asked me, ‘You want a fight with Li Jingliang now?’ I said, ‘This guy fights in the UFC. I fight in China. I’m not an MMA fighter – I’m just a kickboxing fighter.’ But now I’m in the UFC and I’m an MMA fighter.

“After my first win in the UFC, I called out Jingliang and said I want a fight with him because a lot of people in China would like to see this fight. I’m very excited for this fight. I think a lot of fans are waiting for this.”

Check out Salikhov’s full interview in the video above.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ABC 3.