Ricky Rainey Replaces Abdul Razak Alhassan, Meets Muslim Salikhov at UFC on Fox 29

Ricky Rainey will step in for the injured Abdul Razak Alhassan and face Muslim Salikhov in a welterweight bout at UFC on Fox 29.

Promotion officials announced the change on Monday. UFC on Fox 29 takes place at Gila River Arena in Glendale, Ariz., on April 14 and is headlined by a lightweight duel between Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje. The main card airs on the Fox Network following prelims on Fox Sports 1 and UFC Fight Pass.

A seven-time Bellator MMA veteran, Rainey enters his Octagon debut on the heels of back-to-back decision wins over Marc Stevens and Gilbert Smith within the California-based promotion. “The Sniper” owns a 13-4 career mark that includes seven triumphs via knockout or technical knockout.

Salikhov came up short in his promotional debut, as he tapped to an Alex Garcia rear-naked choke in the second round at UFC Fight Night 122. That halted an 11-fight winning streak that included victories over UFC veterans Melvin Gulliard and Ivan Jorge. “The King of Kung Fu” is 13-2 as a pro and has finished all but one of his wins inside the distance.