Santiago Ponzinibbio faces Muslim Salikhov in the co-main event of UFC Denver (Photo by Carmen ... [+]
A welterweight matchup between two fighters looking to bounce back from losses serves as the co-main event of Saturday’s UFC Fight Night card in Denver. In that matchup, Santiago Ponzinibbio faces Muslim Salikhov.
Neither fighter is currently ranked inside the top 15 of the UFC’s 170-pound weight division heading into the fight card.
UFC Denver takes place on Saturday, July 13, at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado. ESPN and ESPN+ will carry the full fight card. The main event is a women’s flyweight scrap between former UFC strawweight champion Rose Namajunas and Tracy Cortez.
Below, we take a deep dive into the Ponzinibbio vs. Salikhov matchup.
Careers
Santiago Ponzinibbio
LAS VEGAS, NV - DECEMBER 10: Santiago Ponzinibbio celebrates his victory over Alex Morono in their ... [+]
Santiago Ponzinibbio (29-7) was 18-1 when he joined the UFC in November 2013 after his run on The Ultimate Fighter ended when he broke his hand in the semifinal round of the reality show. However, Ponzinibbio’s “Fight of the Season” and “Knockout of the Season” bonus-winning victories impressed the UFC brass enough for them to bring him into the fold. Ponzinibbio lost his UFC debut, dropping a decision to Ryan LaFlare.
Over the next four years, Ponzinibbio went 9-1, with his only loss being a 2015 TKO setback to Lorenz Larkin. The Argentinian did not fight again until 2021, when Li Jingliang knocked him out in the first round. Ponzinibbio’s layoff was due to health issues that left doctors fearing if he would ever compete again.
Ponzinibbio is 2-3 since that defeat. The 37-year-old is coming off an April 2023 knockout loss to Kevin Holland.
Muslim Salikhov
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - FEBRUARY 03: (L-R) Muslim Salikhov of Russia punches Randy Brown of Jamaica in a ... [+]
Muslim Salikhov (19-5) had a record of 13-1 when he signed with the UFC in 2017. Salikhov lost his UFC debut when Alex Garcia submitted him in the second round. Salikhov followed that loss with a five-fight winning streak. That run ended in July 2022 when Li Jingliang knocked him out in the second round of their scrap.
Since the loss to Jingliang, the 4o-year-old Salikhov is 1-2. He is riding a two-fight losing skid, dropping a decision to Nicolas Dalby in 2023 and getting knocked out by Randy Brown in February of this year.
Ponzinibbio and Salikhov were supposed to fight in 2021, but Salikhov withdrew from that contest after he contracted COVID-19.
UFC Denver Betting Odds: Santiago Ponzinibbio vs. Muslim Salikhov
The opening odds for this contest were relatively close. That’s no longer the case as we close in on fight night. When the UFC announced the Santiago Ponzinibbio vs. Muslim Salikhov matchup, Ponzinibbio was a -148 favorite over Salikhov, who came in at +124. Today, Ponzinibbio is the -225 betting favorite over Salikhov, who is a +150 betting underdog.
Significant Stats
Ponzinibbio lands 4.90 significant strikes per minute with an accuracy of 41 percent. His striking defense is decent at 61 percent, but he absorbs 4.67 significant strikes per minute on average from his opponents. Ponzinibbio sticks 0.48 takedowns per 15 minutes. His takedown success rate stands at 30 percent, while his takedown defense is 60 percent.
Salikhov lands 3.36 significant strikes per minute. His striking accuracy is 51 percent. On the defensive side of things, Salikhov absorbs 2.94 significant strikes per minute. His striking defense stands at 62 percent. Salikhov lands 1.27 takedowns per 15 minutes and hits 40 percent of his takedown attempts. Salikhov’s takedown defense is 73 percent.
UFC Denver Prediction and Pick: Santiago Ponzinibbio vs. Muslim Salikhov
Salikhov might have advantages in speed and technique in this matchup, but he doesn’t have the cardio to sustain the output he will start the fight with. If Ponzinibbio can remain patient and not get frustrated and attempt to force his offense, the fight is his to lose. The betting pick is Ponzinibbio to win by decision.
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