Welterweights Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos, Muslim Salikhov to Clash at UFC 251

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Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos will lock horns with Muslim Salikhov in a welterweight bout at UFC 251.

Combate first reported the matchup. UFC 251 takes place at Yas Island in Abu Dhabi on July 11 and features a trio of title fights, including a welterweight championship clash pitting Kamaru Usman against Gilbert Burns in the evening’s headliner. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+.

Dos Santos has been victorious in eight of his last nine Octagon appearances. After an eight-bout winning streak was halted by Jingliang Li at UFC Fight Night 157, “Capoeira” rebounded to outpoint Alexey Kunchenko in his most recent outing at UFC Fight Night 170. The 33-year-old Brazilian owns a 22-6 career mark and has finished 17 of his victories inside the distance.

Salikhov, meanwhile, has won three straight since fallling to Alex Garcia in his promotional debut at UFC Fight Night 122. The 36-year-old Dagestani followed knockout triumphs against Ricky Rainey and Nordine Taleb with a unanimous decision over Laureano Staropoli in his last outing at UFC Fight Night 162. “The King of Kung Fu” is 16-2 as a professional, with 12 wins coming via knockout or technical knockout.